From Gopuras to Galaxy: LN Tallur’s ‘V+mana’ Reimagines Ancient Flight at Bengaluru Airport
BENGALURU – Travelers passing through the “Terminal in a Garden” at Kempegowda International Airport are now being greeted by a monumental intersection of ancient architecture and modern aerospace. Internationally acclaimed artist LN Tallur has unveiled his latest masterpiece, V+mana, a bronze installation designed to evoke adbutha rasa, the rasa of wonder and surprise.
Standing at a commanding 13.2 x 5.5 feet, the sculpture is a striking sight within the airport’s modern landscape. It features a traditional, intricate temple gopura (tower) that seamlessly transforms into the sleek, utilitarian silhouette of a modern-day rocket launcher.
A Play on Ancient Flight
The title, V+mana, is a deliberate play on the word Vimana. While often popularized in science fiction as an ancient “aircraft,” Tallur returns to the word’s architectural roots. In Sanskrit, Vimana refers to measurement and scale, specifically the structural pinnacle of a temple. By adding the ‘+’ sign, Tallur emphasizes the literal and metaphorical spirit of “taking off”, a fitting theme for the thousands of passengers embarking on their own journeys from Bengaluru.
The Bronze Launchpad
Cast entirely in bronze, the artwork creates a dialogue between the familiar and the futuristic. The “leaning” orientation of the rocket-like structure against the traditional tower suggests that our technological leaps are forever anchored in our cultural foundations.
“The artwork doesn’t offer answers, only questions, curiosity, and a moment of quiet awe,” the artist notes. Created to linger in the memory long after the wheels leave the tarmac, the piece invites passengers to pause and reflect on the magnitude of human ingenuity.
