Cholamandal Artists Village is a community of artists which is located at 1.5 kms from Mahabalipuram. It is 9 kms away from Chennai based in the village of Injambakkam that includes the homes of at least twenty resident painters and artist who live like a community. The Cholamadalam Artist Village has been one of the most popular village of Indian art and culture which carries out shows and exhibition of Indian paintings in Europe, United States and South America. The administration of this village is looked after by Artist Handicraft Association that manages the sales and purchase of the paintings through permanent exhibitions held in the complex. These exhibit the paintings, sketches, terracotta, stone and metal sculptures, batiks and handicrafts.
Cholamadalam Artist Village has been one of the unique tourist spots of Tamil Nadu which attract a number of tourists who are engaged in buying these pieces of handicrafts including paintings which reflect the culture of India. The community was founded by K.C.S. Panikar, the principal of Madras school of Art. This school specialized in mixing art with handicraft which shall produce a unique feature of art and culture of India. Originally this community came into existence in 1966 and derived its name from the Chola dynasty of South India. While literary meaning of Cholamandalam is `reign of Cholas` this name was adopted by this community to relate art with the ancient culture of India.
Cholamadalam Artist Village at present has become popular for highlighting modernism within the ancient art of South India. This developed a new feature of contemporary art in India. As such it developed Cholamandalam centre of Contemporary Art which was established February 1, 2009.This include two commercial galleries for exhibiting the work of various known artists and a museum of the Madras Movement and display the paintings of prominent artists during Madras movement.
Thus, as a unique site of fine arts this village is enlisted among the major tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. With a number of galleries, museums, and an open air theatre on the site this also includes house for dances and theatres.
