Inside Kudla Artist Santhosh Andrade’s Dream Home ‘Art Nest’

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 26, 2018: Having a ‘Dream home’ is a universal aspiration. While the regular folks fall for fancy stuff to fill in for their dreams, Mangaluru artist Santhosh Andrade had other ideas. He decided to make his home itself into a work of art! 

The mission began some time back when his parents Edward and Jecintha inherited a cash windfall. The amount was just enough to rebuild their old ramshackle house into a modern structure. Young Santhosh had lived with them in this house situated on Hat Hill, ever since he was born. When he heard of his parents’ wishes, he got a brainwave. Being a well known professional artist of the city, Santhosh said to himself: “All my life I have lived with art. So why not try to make my house also into a masterpiece?”

His parents agreed to his idea and work began. Today the 1600 sq. ft. house that he has built is a haven of art featuring murals, wood work, pillars and tile work. Some components of the house are made from antique material sourced from vintage homes. A few of the art pieces are made from recycled waste, such as tiles and used bottles.

As you enter the compound, a tiny Buddha greets you. “I wanted all who come here to be blessed with peace,” says Santhosh. The wooden main door depicts the Pancha Bhootas – space, air, fire, water, earth – or the five basic elements, which are the basis of all cosmic creation according to Hinduism.

The chief attraction of Art Nest is a massive wall mosaic with an interesting combination of old and new imagery painted in Santhosh Andrade’s version of Madhubani art which he is famous for. Yet another is a traditional carved wooden door frame which the artist has made into an artistically decorated alter. Santhosh has also found a unique application for traditional clay ceiling tiles by over painting them and lending them an artistic flourish. This could well open new possibilities for the marketing of Mangalore Tiles, and give the ailing industry a big boost. 

The upper story of the house features a dedicated art studio with facilities for display of paintings. To celebrate the housewarming, an exhibition of Santhosh’s works is arranged in this studio. The exhibition will be open to art lovers and visitors from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for three days from Friday 27th April to Sunday 29th April, 2018.

Art Nest is situated at Chilimbi Hill, Adarshnagar, Mangaluru.