A New Artist Residency Opens in Kamshet

When it comes to finding a quiet place to compose, paint, be inspired or simply reflect, Mumbai offers scant choice. Studio space is limited and costly, outdoor space—the seaface or public gardens—come with the hindrance of several hundred spectators. Enter into this, Karthikeyan Ramachandran, a graphic designer by training and profession, and an artist by passion, who has converted a scenic guest house in Kamshet into an artists’ residency called somewhat poetically Shut Up at Calmshet. Ramachandran, who has worked for Ambience and MTV as a designer, and now runs his own firm called Xtrathin, took over popular Kamshet guesthouse Melissa’s Place (officially called PG or Paragliding Ashram) last October.

Ramachandran realised that there were few places for creative sorts to just do what they do best: create. Come Saturday, October 15, the quaint four-bedroom bungalow (three in the main house plus one in an attached cottage) in Kamshet, which is about a two hours drive away from Mumbai, will officially be opened as a residency, offered only to artists and musicians for a daily pittance of about Rs300. “People can come stay for a month at a time, ” says Ramachandran, who would like Shut Up at Calmshet ideally to become a haven that fosters creativity. “The fee is really minimal, just enough to cover food expenses.” The bungalow, situated on about an acre of land, overlooks a scenic reservoir, and is tended to by a gardener and cook. This Saturday, Ramachandran will also officially open his art gallery, False Ceiling in Bandra West. The gallery, on Ambedkar Road, is currently showing a mix of oil works by Karthikeyan Ramachandran and his father, artist K. N. Ramachandran.

For more information, visit the Facebook page. To book a spot in the artists’ residency program or to make an appointment to visit False Ceiling (see the Facebook page here), email karthik@xtrathin.in.