The culture of Street Art is not new for the city. We need more art walks in Mumbai. Nowadays, nothing celebrates the spirit of Mumbai better than its street art. The colorful palette of the city has evolved unlike before. With 30 artists coming together from all over the world to paint the 142-Year-Old Sassoon Docks, with the Asalpha area in Ghatkopar suburb being turned into an open art gallery and with colorfully painted neighborhoods carrying ‘Clean India, Green India’ messages all over Mumbai, the city is definitely exploding with creativity. The medium of graffiti has been put to use in many creative ways to increase awareness around social issues. This definitely asserts that a lot can be said through art.
A riot of colors
Since I am a painter at heart, I love bylanes and streets, bubbling over with graffiti. For me, street art is a celebration of colors perfectly blended with imagination. In Mumbai, some of the iconic wall murals are done by Bollywood art project, a project that came into being in 2012 to celebrate the love and fascination for the popular Hindi Cinema and its artists. In the last few years, it has become an important part of the culture of the city and you can’t talk about it without mentioning about artist Ranjit Dahiya.
Art is an instant and powerful language!
By putting across opinions and emotions, art empowers the citizens of a place. One street art can say more than a thousand words. Street Art and graffitti can create vivid cityscapes. It not only enhances the aesthetic value of the place but also gives a peep into the culture and lifestyle of the city. The silent drawings and vibrant colors add a lot of character to the neighborhood. Such is the power of street artthat a small piece of work made by a skilled artist can inspire hundreds of on-lookers every day.
An open invitation to these open-for-all art galleries of Mumbai
Today’s traveler doesn’t only look forward to touristy places, they also look for a concept which they can relate to. Graffiti and murals are in vogue these days. All over the world, street art has been transforming neighborhoods in many ways and boosting tourism. I ensure to find art walks in different cities. You really don’t have to look for one. You may do your own.
In India, Mumbai can definitely be our street-art capital. Cuffe Parade, Pali, Churchgate, Chapel Road, Colaba, Sassoon Docks, Ghatkopar East are home to some of the most amusing and interesting art works. For lovers of all things artsy, I am listing down some of the most popular art spaces that you just can’t miss in the city. You just need to go, walk around, take help from the locals, discover them for yourself and soak in the joys of imagination and creativity. Every time I walk into these places, I am elated to find something new.
Lion Gate in Fort
There is maritime related graffiti on the walls of Lion Gate in the town area. This is one of the oldest and iconic art work of the city
Sassoon Docks
If you are guilty of not knowing this place in Mumbai, I must tell you that it is 142 years old dock of India. While it played a vital role in the old trading days, it is a full-fledged fishing district now. The smell of the fishes can be a put off at first but once you will see the huge and amazing art works by street art initiative Start India, there will be no stopping despite of the bad odour. The visit to the Sassoon Docks will also give you a chance to peek into the life of Koli fishing community, where women play a very important role in the fishing economy. No doubt, some of the fabulous art works are dedicated to them.
