Vox Pops
Voices from the Street

The public are having a say in the project Graphic Travelogue #Murals through comments, observations, philosophical thoughts, and sometimes even suggestions.

By Faizal Khan

Harshita Dua couldn't wait to show her daughter the new mural coming up in their neighbourhood. A video call was soon in progress during which the mother pointed the artwork to her daughter who is away in Mussoorie in Uttarakhand state. "My daughter is an engineering student in Mussoorie. She always loved the murals growing up in Lodhi Colony and has been missing them," says Ms Dua, excited to share news from the neighbourhood with her daughter.

The Graphic Travelogues #Murals project in Lodhi Art District has been drawing attention of many localities ever since it began on February 17. The mural created by artists Aashti Miller and Greta von Richthofen on a giant wall has become an instant attraction for people eager to see colourful objects taking shape in front of their eyes. Not only locals,, the mural has also been making the passersby stop and stare at the unfolding artwork with curiosity.

Sneha Singh and Ritika Gupta, final year mathematics undergraduate students at a nearby college were happy to make the project site an everyday destination during their lunch break. "We saw the work happening on the first day. We wanted to see how it is progressing," say Ms Singh, who says she sometimes tries watercolour painting "when I am tense and have to calm myself down". 

"There are a lot of things happening on the wall. There is a flying fish and many more objects. I am sure it will all come together to make sense in the end," says Ms Gupta, whose interest is in making mandala paintings. "We are determined to see the 'before and after' of the mural," she adds. On the days when they visit, the two students sit on the sidewalk across the mural to eat from their lunchboxes while throwing an occasional glance at the artists at work.

Some onlookers don't shy away from even offering suggestions. "Please use waterproof paint. The murals here always suffer damages from heavy rains during the monsoon," says G Visalakshi, who lives a block away from the project site. "You should protect the mural and also upload it on YouTube for people to see in the future," she adds.

One of the onlookers, a first-year college student from the neighbourhood, would arrive at the project site every evening until she gathered enough courage to offer her assistance to the two artists. "I am interested in wall art. I am here to learn from the artists," explains Rakshita Sharma, helping to fill spaces with colours under the guidance of the two artists.

Pramod Kumar Yadav, an autorickshaw driver, says the murals in Lodhi Art District brings him clients. "I drive people to see the art here at least thrice a week," he says. Vedbir Yadav, who runs a roadside eatery, says the public art in the neighbourhood brings him good business. "A lot of people come here to take photos and shoot for song scenes. Some of them come to eat at my stall too," says Yadav, who inherited the eatery from his uncle, who ran the business for three decades. "I like the artwork. When I get free time, I go and see how the new wall work is coming up."