Indian street artists’ art without doors: How Streets Became Canvas
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Indian street artists have changed streets into open galleries. Explore how Indian street walls became canvas.
A new face of Indian streets:
In the last decade, amazing colors have started appearing on Indian street walls. It is not an advertisement but a powerful art that has started telling many cultural stories and decorating Indian cities as well. The reason behind the entire transformation is Indian street artists. They have been trying to show open art to everyone outside of galleries.
When the movement started:
Apart from all, real life has been given to open wall art from the turning point in 2014. It was the time when St+art India Foundation started its first major public art project in Delhi. Everyone became aware of how public walls were seen as a platform for cultural transformation. Through the support of local government and international artists, the Lodhi colony walls were turned into India’s first open-air art district. After this transformation, Indian street artists have found the path to work across cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Pune.
From walls to wonders:
Generally, murals’ purpose is not only for decoration but also to recall forgotten histories and social facts. Many cities try to reflect important past events based on the location’s background history. In Kochi, the wall art will show the city’s maritime past. You can understand Tamil folk culture through wall art in Chennai. Moreover, many people can see the theme of environment and safety in the wall paintings near the metro construction zone in Pune. These are not random arts; instead, carefully chosen with the support of local municipalities.
Role of Indian street artists:
When we look deeply at the skill side of Indian street artists, some of them gain knowledge in fine arts through training. At the same time, others come from a self-taught background. Through the movement of open wall art, they all work together and give something meaningful to people through their collaborations. These artists have different backgrounds and different languages, but their overall goal is to make public art more inclusive.
Artists like Hanif Kureshi, Yasmin S, and Shilo Shiv Suleman have focused on murals with human emotions and folk culture. They have brought the art not for selling but for seeing by anyone passing by. This open approach has given a fresh meaning to the arts.
Not just a decoration: Urban impact:
Apart from making cities look better, Indian street artists make people respect the walls instead of considering them a spot for garbage dumping. Once the art comes, everyone can see the transformation on the neglected walls. The art festival mainly focused on wall painting in a city like Goa and Hyderabad has started grabbing attention globally. Moreover, street art has a major role and contribution in city planning and cultural tourism.
Beyond the wall: art as belonging:
Most commonly, Indian street artists will not work alone; they will frequently involve people who reside nearby. Therefore, schoolchildren, shopkeepers, and many families have helped them to paint the walls with art. This approach will make the artwork more personal. It will create some pride among the people who have shared their ideas on murals.
These artistic efforts have received strong support from government bodies, NGOs, and metro rail authorities. Through this new transformation, everyone can understand that the walls are something more than barriers. It is an open space for expressing art and culture.
What lies ahead:
Today, even museums and art councils start to recognise street art, and Indian street artists receive institutional support as well. Even though there is a lack of long-term maintenance, funding needs, and weather challenges, the movement is still growing. Because the strong passion of the artists stands behind the wall painting. These artworks have no gallery, but take part in the everyday life of the people.
