Straight out of the future, SOCIAL is going from origins to state-of-art with its latest outlet in New BEL Road, Bengaluru. This cafe combines the best of art, technology and music, complete with India’s first full-time physical NFT gallery.
SOCIAL started its journey in India with the launch of Church Street SOCIAL as the first ever ‘Artlet’. Designed as a shape-shifting gallery, Church Street SOCIAL gave independent artists a space to share their art with the world. The latest outlet in New BEL Road is a natural evolution for the brand that is now offering a NFT gallery where upcoming artists can share their work through a series of events and workshops, be discovered and connect with other artists in the community.
The right fit for the IT hub of Bengaluru, New BEL Road SOCIAL is the first phase of SOCIAL’s induction into the world of Web3 with the primary goal being awareness and education. The outlet serves as an entry point for SOCIAL into the Web3 space and aims to build on its ethos of providing a platform for decentralised art. The NFT gallery would have a monthly curation of artwork.
The first curation by Angad B Sodhi is titled ‘Welcome to Web 3’ & features works of Bangalore based NFT artists such as, Prasad Bhat, Dr Wafu, AB Verse, and more. Customers will not only have the opportunity to enjoy the art on the digital screens but can also purchase the pieces they really love. The outlet has been conceptualised as a physical home for digitally native subcultures where artists, creators, and entrepreneurs can thrive alongside the classic SOCIAL experience we all know and love.
The interiors are conceptualised to capture the work and play nature of the brand with temporary structures, projections, strategically placed lights and ample greenery. The space is layered by a bare and monolithic shell with raw paint finishes.
The defining scaffolding that runs throughout the outlet, featuring pops of fluorescent green lights, serves not only a structural or aesthetic purpose but a functional one as well. The space is a playful fusion of warm earthy tones that transforms it into a cosy workplace during the day and a multidimensional experience by dawn!