Bengaluru: A slice of Bengaluru’s art found its rockstar moment when Vivian Campbell, guitarist of legendary British rock band Def Leppard, picked up a work by city-based artist Devika Sundar.The piece — part of Devika’s series Adrift and at Sea — was acquired for appoximately $800 during a private viewing organised for the band while they were in the city for their show, as part of the ongoing Bengaluru Art Weekend curated by Raihan Vadra.The rock band was in India on a three-city headline tour: It played in Shillong on March 25 and Mumbai on March 27 before winding up its hugely successful run with a gig at Bengaluru on March 29.“I just heard about the purchase, and I’m so glad my work resonated with members of Def Leppard,” said Devika, adding: “This piece is part of a larger body of work that explores the inner world of the human body — a body that is felt, not necessarily seen. I’ve been focusing on the relationship between our bodies and natural waterbodies like the ocean.”“It stems from my interest in Eastern medicine and Ayurveda, and how they approach the body and healing. I’ve used tea, watercolours and pen to give the work the feel of a vintage manuscript,” the artist pointed out.Glam-rock veteran Campbell’s purchase not only reflects a personal appreciation for the work but also adds a global nod to Bengaluru’s evolving contemporary art scene.
