The soft afternoon sun, amid the early onset of summer, veils the Government Museum in a translucent golden hue. One of the city’s favourite venues is back to its pre-pandemic glory, as students once again lounge outside the Connemara Public Library with a book or two, and parents walk in with their little ones for a quick afternoon walkabout. The beloved museum premises once again stands as a world apart, right in the heart of the busy city, surrounded by the relentless weekday traffic: a sight reminiscent of happier, mask-less times.
While the iconic Museum Theatre remains closed, owing to renovations scheduled for the year, other parts of the premises have seen some welcome changes. It now houses an open air theatre (OAT), an exhibition space called Hub that sits comfortably under a canopy of trees, and Plaza: a lounging area in front of Connemara Library.
Hub today holds vignettes from all over the State, as photographs captured by Tamil Nadu’s young talent are exhibited in large format prints. Nestled under the trees, A Land of Stories — the showcase organised by Goethe-Institut and Chennai Photo Biennale, helmed by 40 students from across Tamil Nadu — is the first event the space has seen since its completion in March 2021.
