StoneX brings Stone Portraits to Chennai with a multisensory art and stone showcase

As dusk settled over the Cholamandalam Artists’ Village, a banyan tree stood sentinel to an evening where stone became story. Stone Portraits, an experiential series by StoneX conceived as a multisensory exploration of stone, its origins, and cultural resonances, came to Chennai on August 29, transforming the venue into a living canvas.

“Every stone on this planet has taken millions of years in its creation… our idea is simple: when you buy it, respect it,” says Sushant Pathan, CMO StoneX. It is this perspective, seeing stone not as a commodity but as a medium of memory, and culture, that underpins Stone Portraits. Through immersive experiences, the initiative seeks to reframe stone as more than material, inviting audiences to encounter it as story, tradition, and art. 

StoneX team at the installation
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The setting carried its own gravitas. Guests moved through a series of curated experiences designed to engage every sense. Marble slabs sourced from different provenances stood alongside installations that revealed their geological origins, and guests were welcomed to feel the textures of the raw stone. Each installation was paired with chocolates crafted by ITC’s Fabelle, keeping in mind the flavours from each region. The Lasa Covelano stone from Italian Alps, was paired with cocoa and layers of espresso. Bianco Vogue from Rhodope mountains of northern Greece was paired with a fig compote and whipped feta chocolate. 

At the heart of the evening stood The Monarch, a striking sculpture by artist R Magesh, which was first unveiled at the Stonex Art Soirée in March this year. Carved entirely by hand in Grigio Bronze Amani marble, the work was born from a drawing he sketched a decade ago and finally brought to life over the course of a month. 

Guests at Cholamandalam Artists’ Village
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Known for his explorations of animal forms across media, Magesh returned to the motif of the horse, a recurring symbol in his practice. “The image of a broken warrior horse in a way symbolises the fall of power and, at the same time, the rise of suppressed voices — the making way of a new beginning,” he explained. 

Adding to this sensory journey was the presence of four master artisans from Mamallapuram. Working patiently with chisels on marble slabs, they invited guests to witness and attempt the process of carving. This encounter with stone in its most elemental form created a bridge between traditions and the contemporary lens through which Stone Portraits invites audiences to experience material and meaning. 

Stone Portraits in Chennai closed on a note of continuity rather than finality. “Our intent is to reframe stone as a vessel of cultural memory, imagination, and permanence,” said Sushant, reflecting on the evening. In bringing together artisans, artists, and audiences under one canopy, StoneX signalled that this journey is only beginning, with many more chapters still to unfold.