Maharashtra, 16th April 2025: Every year on April 15 the global community celebrates World Art Day, a moment to pause and reflect on the transformative and healing powers of art – as a mirror to society and a torch for progress. This UNESCO-led initiative was launched in 2019 to mark the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci – a symbol of artistic brilliance and interdisciplinary thinking.Â
This annual celebration consistently highlights values that form the core of Hyundai Motor India Foundation’s (HMIF’s) flagship initiative ‘Hyundai Art for hope’. Inspired by Hyundai’s vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’, the initiative has championed artists as changemakers – voices that amplify endangered traditions, question norms, and reimagine inclusion. Since its inception in 2021, ‘Hyundai Art for hope’ has become a movement, touching the lives of over 25,000 artists and awarding INR 1.65 crore in grants across four seasons. On World Art Day 2025, Hyundai reaffirms its commitment to art as a force for sustainability, echoing UNESCO’s call to harness creativity for planetary and societal well-being.
The fourth season of ‘Hyundai Art for hope’ was a vibrant celebration of India’s artistic diversity. With INR 60 lakh awarded to 50 grantees – including 40 individual artists (5 with disabilities) and 10 collectives – the event showcased art as a tool for social change. Interactive workshops, roundtables on Art from Waste, and tactile exhibits for visually impaired visitors underscored Hyundai’s commitment to accessibility. The three-day festival wasn’t just an exhibition – it was a dialogue, a call to action, and a celebration of art’s power to unite.
Regional Spotlight: Artists Weaving Change Across India
Maharashtra: Art as a Mirror to Society
From Mumbai’s bustling streets to rural hamlets, seven Maharashtrian artists tackled pressing issues. Rokesh Patil’s sculptures (Maji Boat) submerged in sea tides captured the fluid interplay of marine life and local livelihood, while Pratik Jadhav used puppetry to educate tribal children on reviving ancient methods for future minds. Payal Rokade’s textile installation Rebirth confronted fast fashion’s environmental toll, and Tiny Tales Theatre Company reimagined Lavani to amplify marginalised voices. Rohit Suresh Varekar’s wooden sculptures (Fragments of Time) mourned vanishing traditions, and Nagesh Ambadas Kanade’s oceanic waste installation warned of anthropogenic harm.
From Delhi’s urban canvases to Karnataka’s neurodiverse ateliers, each artist’s story is a brushstroke in a larger portrait of resilience and renewal. This World Art Day, as global conversations centre around art’s role in shaping society, ‘Hyundai Art for hope’ stands tall – not as a corporate social responsibility checkbox, but as a cultural commitment.
