DEVELOPE YOUR OWN UNIQUE ABSTRACT STYLE
Exploring Abstraction Through Art, Culture & Personal Expression [ 1000 $USD ] Sarts from : DEC 02 - FEB 28 EACH YEAR
A focused 21-day immersive residency for emerging, self-taught and established artists who want to understand Abstract Art, explore different approaches, develop a personal visual language and create a meaningful body of work.
DAYS 1–2 | INTRODUCTION TO ABSTRACT ART
Understand abstraction, its history, major approaches and philosophies. Explore intuitive, geometric, organic, emotional, conceptual, minimal and expressive abstraction. Begin exercises in line, form, colour and composition.
DAYS 3–4 | BHUBANESWAR: THE CITY AS INSPIRATION
Explore temples, architecture, Udayagiri–Khandagiri Caves, museums, art/craft spaces and local culture. Observe geometry, sculpture, texture, patterns, colour, rhythm, light, symbolism and everyday life—and collect visual research for your practice.
DAYS 5–7 | RESEARCH & PERSONAL DIRECTION
Transform observations into artistic ideas. Build a visual research board, identify personal interests, develop concepts and experiment with composition, colour, form, space and visual language.
DAYS 8–12 | STUDIO PRACTICE & EXPERIMENTATION
Intensive practical work with mark-making, gesture, colour, texture, layering, mixed media and materials. Experiment, take creative risks, overcome blocks and begin developing a connected series of artworks.
DAYS 13–16 | DEVELOP & REFINE YOUR BODY OF WORK
Individual studio mentoring, group critiques and one-to-one feedback. Select, rework and refine artworks; develop consistency without repetition; create a coherent body of work and write your artist statement and series concept.
DAYS 17–18 | PROFESSIONAL ART PRACTICE
Learn portfolio presentation, artwork documentation, pricing basics, gallery and collector approaches, online presentation and professional positioning. Final portfolio and artistic-direction review.
DAYS 19–20 | RELAX • SHOP • EXPERIENCE
After an intensive creative journey, enjoy relaxed personal time, local experiences and shopping for Odisha handicrafts, textiles, traditional art and cultural products, followed by a farewell gathering.
WHAT YOU TAKE AWAY
✓ Deeper understanding of Abstract Art
✓ Personal visual language & artistic direction
✓ New techniques and experimental methods
✓ A developing body/series of artworks
✓ Cultural research from Bhubaneswar
✓ One-to-one mentorship & critical feedback
✓ Artist statement & portfolio guidance
✓ Practical understanding of art-market positioning
✓ Personal roadmap for future artistic development
THE CORE JOURNEY
LEARN → EXPLORE → RESEARCH → EXPERIMENT → CREATE → CRITIQUE → REFINE → PRESENT → RELAX
ART • CULTURE • RESEARCH • MENTORSHIP • NETWORKING • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The goal is not to copy Odisha.
The goal is to discover what Odisha makes you see.
KIAR — KALANIRVANA INTERNATIONAL ARTIST RESIDENCY
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Who Should Apply ?
Emerging artists • Self-taught artists • Fine Arts graduates • Mid-career artists • Artists transitioning from figurative to abstract practice
No particular style of abstraction is required. The residency is designed to help each artist discover and develop their own direction, rather than imitate an established style.
How to Apply
Open Call — Apply [ Minimum 40 days before your selected date]
Artists can apply directly via our website or email [ info@kalanirvana.com ]
with the following:
Artist Statement / Intent
Portfolio or website / Facebook / Instagram page
Preferred residency dates and duration
Project proposal or creative goals (optional, but encouraged)
SELECTION Process
All applications are reviewed by our Art Resident Curator, Ashis Pahi, based on:
Artistic BIODATA and work
Relevance to our program’s mission
Willingness to learn and engage with the local community and context
We conduct a video Interaction for Artists for better understanding about
the Artist residency and the artists intension of application.
FACILITIES :
Accommodation & Common Living Space
- Private Rooms
- Shared Rooms
- Private Cabin or Artist House (limited availability)
- Roof top Tent [ Seasonal ]
Studio & Practice Spaces
- 2 shared art studios Painting & Drawing areas
- Dance/performance rehearsal space
- Woodworking tools & equipment [ Basic cutter, polishing , drilling Machines ]
- Library with art, philosophy, and culture titles [ Limited ]
Amenities
- High-speed WIFI
- Semi-urban green zone setting
- Kitchen access for self-cooking [ common use ]
- Washing Machine [ Common use ]
- Refrizerator [ Common use ]
- Roof top view-zone for Sunrise and sunset
- Common areas
- Weekend open-discussions and art film screenings
- Roof Top Cafe [ in planning stage ]
HOW MUCH IT COSTS ?
KIAR is an independent, artist-run residency, which means artists are required to self-fund their stay.
We provide:
Self Funded Residency Programs ( Artist has to bear the full cost of the residency fee )
Letters of invitation/acceptance to assist with grant applications in your home country
Strong local support for artists interested in research, documentation, or exploration of India
Semi-sponsored MENTORSHIP Residency ( 25-50% discounted from the original fees; based on selection and availablity )
For double shared FEE :
- 21 Days : 1000 $USD or Rs 95,000 PER PERSON [ which ever is higher ]
- 28 Days : 1200 $US or Rs 1,14,500 PER PERSON [ which ever is higher ]
For Single occupancy FEE :
- 28 Days : 1500 $USD or Rs 1,43,000 PER PERSON [ which ever is higher ]
WHAT IS COVERED IN FEE
Expenses Covered by KIAR:
- Airport pickup from Bhubaneswar Airport to KIAR .
- Accommodation [ double sharing / single ]
- Simple Healthy Local Indian Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
- Nice airy Studios To work [ 1. Roof Top 2.Indoor ]
- Free High Speed WIFI
- Open kitchen to make your own food, breakfast ,coffe, tea etc if yoy want.
- Common Refrizerator and Washing machine for use.
- Museum Tour [ Tribal Museum, Craft & Textile Museum, Museum of Natural Science, Odisha State Museum ]
- Cultural tour [ Indian festivals, classical dance, music, bollywood film in local theater, monuments and architectures in and arround Bhubaneswar ] mentioned in the specific Residency Program.
- Local logistics for your project [ artist has to bear the cost but we provide information and guidance and support ]
- Project Support [ project approved by the residency during your application only ]
Expenses Not Covered in Fee :
Air Travel cost to Bhuabneswar and BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY.
Visa fees
- ART materials you can bring with you and can buy at the nearest Art Supply store with a discounted price.
- Project specific aditional costs has to bear by resident artist.
There are restaurants and cafe in walking distance. Also Indian street food, which you can try [ Please take guidance from host for having street food . Recomended ]
If resident artist want to visit any out station places than Bhubaneswar City or the place which is not included in the Residency Program; in that case, the cost has to be born by Artist . [ Residency host will give guidance and information and if the artist want the help of residency; one can dicuss with the host to get clarity and cost.]
- Free Exhibition for the artists staying extra 7 days or more than the mentorship program [ Optional ]