Bengaluru, March 2, 2016 – Bangalore’s latest lifestyle destination, VR Bengaluru nicknamed the “Black Box on Whitefield Road” hosted a unique art auction for the city’s glitterati to raise funds for Solid Waste Management Round Table (SWMRT). A painting that was created live during the evening by renowned artist Niladri Paul and a Mahindra Reva e20 car that was custom painted by Farhad Hussain went under the hammer and raised Rs 10 lakhs for the NGO. The evening was hosted by the Directors of Virtuous Retail and co-hosted by Anisha Bhandary and the auction was conducted by Ms. Priyanka Matthews, Regional Director, Sotheby’s.
The proceeds of the auction will be used by SWMRT to enable thousands of households and institutions to convert to segregation at source, which would allow tons of waste to be recovered and converted into renewed material instead of being dumped at the outskirts of the city.
VR Benagalru through its core philosophy of “Connecting Communities” is conducting a month long art festival called the Whitefield Art Collective. The festival is curated by VR Bengaluru in collaboration with Art Chutney and is on at the Centre until March 13th, 2016. At the auction Niladri Paul through his live art brought to life a vibrant and colorful painting of a festive dancer. Farhad’s creation on the car is an inspiration of realities of human relationships.
Ms. Sumi Gupta, Director, Virtuous Retail said, “It is our endeavor to promote art in public spaces and the Black Box on Whitefield Road is a perfect venue for expression of creative minds in public spaces. We are happy and honored to have raised funds that will go in supporting a very needy cause for Bangalore and we found an earnest partner in SWMRT. We are keen to partner and support various causes in Bangalore through our Connecting Communities initiatives.”
“It’s heartening to see that this city has responsible citizens like VR Bengaluru. Their initiative to protect their environment brings so much relief in an otherwise fast growing concrete jungle. It is imperative to balance growth without hurting the eco system around you. We are very happy to be the recipient of such generosity”, said Myriam Shankar Krafft, Managing Trustee, SWMRT.
Ms. Priyanka Matthews, the first Indian auctioneer in Sotheby’s 270 year history said, “I am absolutely delighted to be part of such a noble cause and contribute in my own small way to help make Bengaluru a better place to live. I feel Virtuous Retail has struck a chord with the local community and has picked the right partner in SWMRT to help ensure a cleaner, greener environment for all of us to live in”.
About VR Bengaluru
VR Bengaluru is one of Virtuous Retail’s 5 Lifestyle centres in India’s top cities. As a first-of-its-kind community centric integrated lifestyle destination, VR Bengaluru plays host to a boutique hotel and residences, collaborative communal work spaces for start-ups and entrepreneurs, a multi-level premium retail arcade, a nine-screen multiplex including an IMAX, several pubs, cafes and restaurants along with an upscale food court, community event spaces, public art, a fitness club, spa and salon, and a rooftop pool alongside a unique banqueting space equipped with a large scale LED screen.
The nickname ‘Black Box on Whitefield Road’ is inspired by the striking black façade, which makes VR Bengaluru stand out from the generic building landscape on Whitefield Main Road. Equally compelling are the unique mix of experiences and the integrated design of the development that enables customers to move seamlessly among the different uses.
With 50 retailers already open for business and a series of additional brand launches and community events planned throughout March and April, including the launch of The Waverly, a 60-key boutique hotel and residence, and The Hive, a unique communal workspace, the ‘Black Box on Whitefield Road’ is set to become a major retail, cultural and community hub in Bangalore.
Visit: www.vrbengaluru.com to learn more.