As Bengaluru grapples with shrinking green spaces and rapid urbanisation, the works of renowned landscape artist Rumale Chennabasaviah are gaining renewed attention for capturing a version of the city that many fear is disappearing.
Often described as Bengaluru’s “painter laureate”, Chennabasaviah spent decades documenting Karnataka’s rivers, hills, forests and the lush greenery that once defined the Garden City. Today, art historians and conservationists believe his paintings offer a powerful visual record of a natural landscape increasingly overshadowed by concrete development.
The artist who painted Karnataka’s natural beauty
Born in Doddaballapura in 1910, Chennabasaviah studied at some of the region’s leading art institutions before participating in India’s freedom movement. After Independence, he returned to painting and went on to become one of Karnataka’s most celebrated landscape artists.
His paintings frequently featured rivers, waterfalls, hillsides, flowering trees and Bengaluru’s iconic avenues. Many of his works also highlighted the relationship between nature and urban life, capturing a city where greenery and architecture coexisted harmoniously.
Among the stories often associated with the artist is his painstaking effort to paint Jog Falls in the 1950s, spending weeks observing the landscape and adapting his techniques to changing environmental conditions.
Bengaluru’s changing landscape
Experts say Chennabasaviah’s paintings have become increasingly relevant as Bengaluru experiences significant environmental changes.
The city has witnessed extensive loss of green cover, lakes and open spaces over the past few decades due to rapid urban growth. Environmental researchers have repeatedly warned that the decline of trees and water bodies has contributed to rising temperatures, water stress and deteriorating ecological conditions.
What once earned Bengaluru the title of “Garden City” is now remembered largely through photographs, archival records and artworks such as those created by Chennabasaviah.
Art as a reminder of what is being lost
Recent exhibitions showcasing the artist’s work have introduced a new generation to Bengaluru’s ecological history. Curators believe his paintings serve not only as artistic achievements but also as reminders of the importance of preserving natural spaces amid urban expansion.
As debates continue over sustainable development, water conservation and environmental protection, Chennabasaviah’s landscapes offer a glimpse into a greener Bengaluru and a reminder of what is at stake for the city’s future.