food for thought

Few places in the world are as turally beautiful as Kashmir. Now some art students are adding more colour to the walls of Srigar. The municipal corporation has given them a task — paint murals on the city’s walls to ‘fill the blank spaces’ and highlight Kashmiri culture. The aim of this initiative is to give the current generation an insight into ‘what the Kashmiris were’, in the words of the city municipal commissioner. The crowds coming to watch this public art display have also encouraged the artists. Such positive responses have been seen in other cities throughout the country. In metros like Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Delhi, wonderful specimens of street art are bringing smiles to the faces of residents and visitors alike. In Cheni, individuals and citizens groups recently adopted the slogan: ‘Stop Talking, Start Doing’ — volunteering to help civic authorities in beautifying various neighborhoods. Civic authorities of Kottayam in Kerala invited artists from all over the world to paint on the city walls. Tourists are now flocking to admire the variety of folk and tribal, traditiol as well as modern art styles and themes on Kottayam’s public surfaces. Two years ago, there was a drive to beautify Guwahati, the gateway to the Northeast. The city municipal corporation’s drive included wall painting in fibre relief, mosaic murals, terracotta wall paneling and other beautification works in central places like Panbazar, the area around Dighalipukhuri and the capital complex in Dispur. However, such a laudable effort by the administration should have received more public support and participation. Usually, city walls are plastered with advertisements, film posters and graffiti as well as political slogans during elections. Once people realize how drab walls can become an artist’s canvas, they will surely be inspired to make their entire locality colourful and vibrant.