MAY 2015

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point out bureau
S
treet
Art also known as ‘Graffiti’
or ‘Wall Mural’ is an art form
not known to many people. A
painting or a sketch drawn on
the walls of a street is known as Street
Art. These paintings make art accessible
to the common man who cannot or does
not wish to visit exhibitions or galleries.
Street art attempts to demystify art and
brings the power of art as a medium of
creative expression to the streets, free and
accessible to all.
Graffiti has been there since the ancient
times of human civilization in the form
of stone paintings and wall inscriptions.
But in the modern world, it has lost its
charm as not many artists prefer being
a street artist because of lack of income
in this profession and other factors. But
lately, this art form is getting popular in
the urban cities and fastly catching on in
other parts of India. Last year the Street
Art Festival, popularly known as ‘St.Art
India’, took place in Delhi and Mumbai. It
was an initiative taken by the ‘St+art India
Foundation’. The urban festival brought
together Indian and international street
artists who decorated the walls of the two
cities like we had never seen them before.
The festival promoted street art and graffiti
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in India with collaboration of street artists
from across the world. India’s tallest wall
mural (150 ft. high) of Mahatma Gandhi
on the Delhi Police Headquarters was
done as a part of this urban exhibition.
Other well-known wall murals include the
pictures of Bollywood actors and actresses,
India’s longest mural on the walls of Tihar
jail, etc.
Earlier the city walls were only covered by
betel stains, trails of urine, and haphazard
posters. But now, they are adorned with
exquisite and quirky murals, crotchet
work, and art installations. Apart from
making the city look beautiful, street art
also helps in spreading awareness about
the prevailing socio-political issues of the
country such as corruption, rhino killing,
etc. The themes can vary from political,
satirical, social and environmental. One
such example is the LPG rocket cylinder at
Malviya Nagar, which highlights the issue
of rising LPG prices.
Although the festival made street art quite
popular, still this art form and its artists are
struggling to find a place for themselves.
Most of the murals are painted free of cost
by artists who do not reveal their actual
names as defacement of public property
is illegal. It is associated with vandalism
because it is created in places without the
consent of the owner, and usually makes
social commentary on the state of affairs
of a place. It is the epitome of ‘freedom of
expression’ and is mostly conducted in wee
hours. Daku, a prominent street artist says,
“We choose walls no one particularly cares
about…. It is a time-consuming process
to identify 'walls' and then to go there
at different times (usually in the night)
to make sure who is around and what is
a safe time to make a hit.” When asked
what does he really do it for? He replies,
“If my artwork can make someone stop
and think what it is, why it is here then
my job is done." Like traditional dakus
or dacoits who rob villages, graffitists ‘rob
walls’ without permission and eventually
own them because their art defines these
walls, making public spaces their own.
Even his name ‘Daku’ suggests the same
concept. One of his famous political works
is in ITO of a blindfolded protester, with
the painted subtext, ‘Blind Nation,’ which
is a comment on the protestors who
joined Anna Hazare’s movement without
knowing what the Lokpal Bill is about or
how the system really works.
Although, the trend of getting graffiti done
on one’s wall in exchange for payment is
not common as of now. But it is bound
to become a usual practice in the future
when street art would be more widely
recognized as an art form in India.