Omnipresence – ARTPODIUM

Kavita, who is an aspiring artist herself has had a keen interest in art for several decades now and it was only natural that she gravitated into the art world quite seamlessly. During her successful career as a senior Banker, she began to build a collection of works that complimented her masterful understanding of art and her keen ability to discern technique and talent. Living with her family in India, Kavita became increasingly impressed by the abundance of gifted artists hailing from her husband’s hometown of Calcutta, the birthplace of the Bengal school of art. She recognized that while in general they possessed great skill and technique, they lacked the exposure deserving of their work. Her passion called for her to rectify the situation, hosting exquisite events to connect the artists of Calcutta with curators and collectors alike from other parts of India. These exhibitions were often sold-out, and Kavita became increasingly convinced that this was where her true calling lay, more so with the values of these works having rapidly appreciated within a short period of time. The opportunity finally came in the year 2000 when she moved to Singapore with her family, allowing her to pivot away from the banking sector all together and plunge headlong into the world of visual arts. Over the past two decades Kavita Raha has established herself firmly as one of the better-known personalities in the Singapore arts scene having hosted numerous distinguished events around art, originally through Phi Events which she co-founded and subsequently through ARTPODIUM.

As 2020 heralded the emergence of a global pandemic, the arts industry faced a devastating and novel issue. An industry that relied on social engagements was left reeling in an unknown age that called for social distancing and isolation. However, the creative capacity of the arts industry knows no boundaries, and Raha was quick to champion and execute online gallery shows that brought the talents of stellar artists safely into the households of any individual with internet access. Hosting an immersive 3-D virtual art exhibition within the visual location of the Arts House Singapore, ARTPODIUM presented the works of 21 second and third generation Singaporean artists. The exhibition, the first of its kind in Singapore, invited viewers into a physical space through augmented reality, teleporting them visually into a new sphere of artistic excellence from the safety of their homes. Many of the works were created amid the pandemic, thereby also allowing the audience to feel a sense of camaraderie and solidarity with the artists even when they were physically miles apart.