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Spirit of Fellowship

Indian street artists are happy to pitch in with support Greta and Aasthi for the Graphic Travelogues #Murals project.

By Faizal Khan

Mahesh Kamble slowly climbs the scaffolding step by step to reach a spot that needs a fresh layer of paint. A Mumbai-born artist, he is happy to be part of the new mural coming up in the Lodhi Art District. From the start of the Graphic Travelogues #Murals project in Delhi, Kamble has been assisting artists Aashti Miller and Greta von Richthofen in negotiating the most difficult stretches of the artwork on the massive wall in Lodhi Colony.

From adding the base paint to climbing to the corners of the wall, many Indian street artists have worked with Miller and von Richthofen on the mural, the newest public art in the national capital. "It is the first time I am working with an artist from abroad," says Kamble, who holds a diploma in painting from the prestigious J J School of Arts, Mumbai. "It's good work and we are sharing our experiences," adds the artist who has painted many murals in Mumbai on themes such as environment and climate change.

For Lucknow-born Israr Ahmad, the work on the Graphic Travelogues #Murals has been a new learning. "It is a big project and I am happy to be part of it," says Ahmad, a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Faculty of Arts, Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. "Working with the two artists on the project has given me a new platform to collaborate on public art," he adds.

Miller and von Richthofen are quick to acknowledge the contribution of the Indian artists who have been with them every step of the project. "Collaboration is as important as the mural itself," says von Richthofen referring to her experience of working with the Indian artists.

The atmosphere of alliance even inspired an aspiring artist from the neighbourhood to ask Miller if she could join them for painting."I asked one of the artists if I could also help. And she said, 'Yes'," beams Rakshita Sharma, a first-year commerce undergraduate student of Delhi University. "I am interested in wall art. I am here to learn from the artists," says Sharma, who began learning how to sketch as a ten-year-old. "I am inspired by all the artists here. It is a lifetime experience."

Delhi-born Rajan (uses only his first name) has been working with St+art India Foundation, the project partner, for the last three years. As part of the foundation's production team, he ensures that the artists receive all the material necessary for the project. "I have been with the artists from the first day of work," says Rajan, who has helped mount the scaffolding, and bring paint bins, trays, and brushes. 

Deepak Kumar, who has been working with St+art India Foundation for eight years, is a stickler for discipline. "We need discipline on the site in order to meet the demands of the schedule," says Kumar. Safety on the site has been another important element of the project. Ramesh Kumar, who operates the boom lift that carries the artists to the top of the giant wall, makes sure safety is the top priority. "It is compulsory to wear safety equipment like helmet, jacket, shoes, and safety belts when the artists board the platform," he says.