Madras Art Weekend launches the Madras Art Salon, a monthly art showcase in Chennai

Amidst murals in green and yellow of lush leaves and foliage spilling across the walls of The Botanical Club, new accents of teal, red, and lavender punctuate the space. 

A social space at the British Deputy High Commission, The Botanical Club has joined hands with the Madras Art Weekend to bring art to the forefront through the Madras Art Salon, a monthly showcase of emerging and established artists. In its first edition, the Madras Art Salon is hosting a solo showcase of Chennai-based journalist and artist Narayan Lakshman’s works. 

Narayan Lakshman’s art on display at The Botanical Club
| Photo Credit:
Johan Sathyadas

“For the next 12 months, we will feature an emerging or established artist and spotlight their work every month by displaying around 15 artworks. For us, it is a means to reach out to a wider community and get them to appreciate art. The purpose is to build an ecosystem with art enthusiasts, collectors, and others who are interested in art in some way,” says Upasana Asrani, founder, Madras Art Weekend.

Speaking about their tie-up with the British Deputy High Commission and The Botanical Club, Upasana adds that they are particularly keen on pushing the narratives of artists largely from the South. 

For Narayan, working on 13 works within a month for this showcase, meant a unique challenge: one that made him apply his mind to questions of discipline, technique, and materials. “From sawdust and wax to sand, and of course my standard acrylics. I have tried to showcase a variety of materials for people to enjoy,” he says. 

Narayan further says that this body of work, created for the Madras Art Salon is focussed on taking forward his own artistic vision, focussed on zen. 

The showcase which will be on for a month, has 13 paintings on display
| Photo Credit:
Johan Sathyadas

“Art for me, has always been about that meditative experience, and my hope always is that any viewer of my artwork connects with themselves because the art gives them a moment, or a pause. Art can provoke, it can be angry, an act of protest, and can be many things to many people, but mine specifically comes from this place of looking for a zen moment,” he adds. 

Much like he describes, Narayan’s art has a gentle, calming stillness to it where colours capture his vision. If greys and whites take centerstage in Cool Peace, where Narayan dabbles in acrylics, sawdust and sand on canvas; flecks of black and gold stand out against red in The Unvarnished Truth, where acrylics and aluminum come together on canvas. 

Artist Narayan Lakshman says he experimented with varied materials while working on this series for the showcase
| Photo Credit:
Johan Sathyadas

“In the breathless rush of producing these works, I actually made some headway this time with new ways of mixing materials. I realised for instance that if I mix molten wax with water colours , it produces fabulous effects on canvas,” Narayan explains. Mystic Earth, a piece that has acrylic and wax on canvas, presents an almost three-dimensional spectrum of colours, from ochre to umber. 

Narayan says that as he largely paints for himself and enjoys being around his art, there are mixed feelings that come with his art leaving the studio. “I am however thrilled to be part of a showcase like this which takes my art to a larger audience. I feel this is necessary for an artist to keep producing more, and innovating,” he says. 

The Madras Salon will now be a part of the Madras Art Weekend’s activities around the year, in its quest for art appreciation and bringing together a community of art lovers in the city. “Inspired by this, I also hope that more venues in the city will open up this way as a platform for artists from the city,” Narayan adds. 

Published – March 18, 2026 12:29 pm IST