Auroville Art Service

It Matters is a space for artists and the community to connect, collaborate, and create. Rooted in Auroville’s spirit of exchange, it fosters dialogue and new ideas beyond the local art scene.

Krishna Devanandan has a background as a dancer, cultural event organiser and teacher of Tai Chi. She helped organise the Auroville Film Festivals and managed the Auroville Art Service from its inception in 2012 until 2023, when the Auroville Foundation appointed new executives.

Marco Feira passed away in his house in Sharnga community on 26 December at the age of 74. He had been suffering from cancer. Marco joined Auroville almost 30 years ago.

Walking into the room of this exhibition curated by Art Service and CREEVA feels like stepping into a conversation in multiple languages – some loud and vibrant, others quiet and subtle.

Krishna Devanandan studied and grew up in the forested hills and valleys of Kodaikanal. She is a Bharatanatyam dancer, she practices and teaches Tai Chi, helps manage Auroville Art Service and the Auroville Film Festival and is a member of the Funds and Assets Resource Group (FARG).

Kirtan and AV Art Service have started a website with an inventory of the artworks of Auroville artists that fellow Aurovilians can temporarily borrow, to enjoy their beauty, and decorate their homes, offices, and activities.

In this month’s installment of our regular column about Auroville’s neighbours, we meet Rashmi Gandaki, who has been living next to Auroville for the last six years.

It’s deceptive… It looks like it could only have been constructed using a JCB or other heavyweight lifting mechanism. But I had a big surprise when Supriya Pava explained to me that her latest sculpture is as light as a feather.

This month, the 5th Art for Land exhibition opened at Unity Pavilion, in collaboration with Auroville Art Service and Acres for Auroville. Until 21 February, a collection of sculptures, paintings, ceramics, photographs, and more offered by Auroville’s artists and well-wishers will be displayed for the community.

From September 30th to October 7th, a course on Film Appreciation – History and Aesthetics was conducted by the Film and Television Institute of India at Auroville’s Cinema Paradiso.

“The procurement of land for Auroville is the most urgent priority in order to ensure the future of the project in its original spirit,” says Sauro Mezzetti, member of the Working Committee and former overall coordinator of L’Avenir d’Auroville.

Sri Aurobindo spoke of free speech as being “an essential requisite for promoting and guarding the true well-being of the people”. The issue of free speech and expression in Auroville has simmered away beneath the surface for many years.

Marco joined Auroville 22 years ago. He reflects here on his many and varied activities, most of which are shaped by a love of the arts.

Marco Saroldi is a Newcomer and works for Art Service. His weekly round-up of photos of Auroville activities is posted on Auronet. Here he talks about his work.

The preliminary planning team for the 50th anniversary will soon be completing its work. What was their task? Their vision? And how have they organized the work?

On March 1st, 2015, the Auroville Festival in Chennai was launched at the ITC Grand Chola by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, His Excellency Dr. K.