Shriya S Seetharam

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA under Neighbourhood Engagements of Project 560, is titled Basavanagudi: Then, Now, Tomorrow. The project looks at the vibrant neighbourhood of Basavanagudi through the lens of past, present, and future. It aims to collect, curate, and celebrate local stories and heroes of Basavanagudi. Shriya S Seetharam is the project coordinator for this project. 

Shriya S Seetharam is a visual designer with a strong foundation in visual art, and illustration. She did her Bachelor’s certification from DSK- ISD, Rubika, Pune, followed by a Masters in Product & Service Design Management from Rubika - ISD, Valenciennes, France. Currently she is working with Spurspace, Bangalore, as the Lead Visual Designer. Previously, Shriya has worked with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ellery Studio, and Accenture, where she engaged with sectors such as environment, sustainable futures, public sector initiatives, and social awareness campaigns. Given her experience, Shriya is best placed to be the Project Coordinator of this Foundation Project of IFA. 

Basavanagudi derives its name from the Bull Temple, home to the statue of Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. 'Basava' in Kannada means bull, and 'Gudi' means temple. This temple was originally built by Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bangalore city who envisioned Basavanagudi as a vibrant hub that balances tradition and progress. Designed to accommodate an upper caste community of that time, the neighbourhood has evolved into a common space for diverse cultures and communities. Today the neighbourhood is known for its rich and lush green spaces, its blend of traditional and colonial architecture, and its vibrant mix of different cultures and traditions co-existing.

In this project, Shriya intends to engage with the neighbourhood through the lens of past, present, and future. By focusing on the human connections that define the area, she highlights the stories of everyday local heroes who contribute to the fabric of the community. Shriya seeks to inspire reflection on the history of the neighbourhood while encouraging proactive engagement with its future. To achieve this, she will gather stories and memorabilia, host monthly community meet-ups, and curate an exhibition that showcases the links between past traditions, current changes, and future possibilities.

The project will unfold in four phases; (a) Planning and outreach: In this phase she will visit local shops and markets, religious and cultural spaces, visit parks and gardens, attend community events, and take part in conversations about the neighbourhood on social media groups, (b) Conduct interviews and Data collections: She will collect stories, ideas, oral histories and anecdotes through interactive interviews both formal and informal, (c) Zine production and Exhibition preparation: In this phase the focus will be on transforming collected stories and insights into visually striking zines while preparing a public exhibit to showcase the journey of the project, and (d) Public Exhibit and Launch: The last phase will see the launch event for the zines and facilitation of the interactive exhibition.

The outcome of this project will be three curated zines, a public exhibition, a digital archive, and meet-ups. The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will be the three zines and audio-visual documentations from the exhibition and meet-ups. This project suitably addresses the broad framework of IFA's Project 560 programme in the manner in which it engages residents of Basavanagudi with explorations of its past, present and future imaginations; and celebrates its local stories and everyday heroes. IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens in a timely manner and funds expended are accounted for. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.

This project is made possible with support from BNP Paribas India Foundation.