Delhi- Different Streets, Different Strokes

“How far is it?”

” You are almost there, walk straight ahead; you can’t miss it.” The autorickshaw driver pointed towards a tree-lined street flanked by blocks of buildings.

It is a bright sunny day in Delhi and I am going to see India’s first public art district at the Lodhi Colony. This ambitious project by the  St+art India Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works on art projects in public spaces kicked off in December 2015. The two- month long art festival had local and international street artists putting up murals and installations to popularise the concept of ‘Art for All.’   I came to know about it through a colleague who also suggested a curated walking tour. It would be interesting to have someone point out the nuances of the art to an ignoramus like me but I would rather wander on my own and explore.

Lodhi Colony is a government residential colony.  It is centrally located and the buildings present a wonderful facade.   Most of the artwork is seen over the walls between Khanna Market and Meherchand Market. There are no signposts;  one can walk around and spot the murals leisurely.

This wall with the bright colored birds by the Mexican artist Senkoe was dazzling.  Feathered friends seem to be a favorite subject for many street artists.  Having seen some of his other works I can now make out his signature style:

Title: Colors of the soul Artist: Senkoe, Mexico

Bursting with color and life

What does the purple heart say?

Right across is the mural by artist Suiko titled The Lotus.  I like the way the artists have made use of the archways and windows of the building.

Title: The Lotus Artist: Suiko, Japan

The next block has a lady on the wall:

Title: Don’t let this symbolism kill your heart    Artist: Nafir, Iran

Now I am looking up and see an astronaut sitting on top of a meteorite. The astronaut represents someone who can see the larger picture or look at things from a different perspective. Interesting!

Title: See through    Artists: Christian Rebecchi & Pablo Togni NEVERCREW,  Switzerland

Here is the  calligraffiti by the Dutch artist Neils Shoe Meulman:

Sans serifs no letters

and no words to read

sans words no signs

no names in the streets

just rows of buildings

and gardens sans weeds.

Untitled     Artist: Neil Shoe Meulman

From the painted poem  I walked over to the next wall which reminded of a classroom: happy children, birds, flowers, and fish.

Moving further I see more blues and fish:

Untitled    Artists: Ishan, Tanya, Nandini, Sharmeen, Pranav, Nikunj, Deepak, and Sid.

Captivating art and a curious onlooker.

The sight of the blazing pink walls stopped me in my tracks.

Title: Pink    Artists: Karolina Zajaczkowska&Stawek Zbiok Czajkowski DWA ZETA

I could not understand the abstract art. The St+art site informs that the duo chose the colour to figuratively mark the feminine element in a public space. Empowering art!

Midway through the ‘art therapy’ hunger pangs forced me to take a break.

 

Reference:

https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/st-art-india