Introduction
Shahpur Jat, an urban village located near the ruins of the Siri Fort, first gained renown for its bohemian stores which offer the quirkiest and most fashionable items for weddings, home décor along with being home to the trendiest cafés and heritage monuments. In more recent times, the urban village has also become popular for its impressive collection of street art and graffiti that graces almost every surface of the area.
Street Art has been regarded as one of the largest art movements in the art world, precisely because of its inextricable connection to the masses and the socio-cultural and political milieu of the contemporary times. Some commentators trace its legacy to the earliest paintings and handprints found on cave walls, invoking the human instinct to reflect their emotions and thoughts through art.
The artform also developed through a serious movement for rebellion and social protest against the dominant status quo; thus, artists like Banksy often incorporate their political, social, environmental and economic activism through their street art.
The cruciality of street art can also be placed in the growing attempts to reclaim the city space for public access. The city has been increasingly subjected to selective access and restrictions, especially against marginalized sections of the urban population; such spaces exist as the firm bearers of a community’s collective conscience, its hopes, aspirations and, more importantly, their self-identity in an ever-changing urban democracy.
St+art Foundation
Image Source: Google Arts and Culture
The first street art initiative in Shahpur Jat came with the St+art festival, organised by the St+art foundation and held in January and February 2014.
It was founded in 2014 by Arjun Bahl, Giulia Ambrogi, Hanif Kureshi, Akshat Nauriyal and Thanish Thomas; the NGO, aimed at “urban regeneration through contemporary art,” sought to bring art out from the exclusive, elite museum and gallery spaces to the streets where it could be viewed and shared in by the common people. Some of their popular works include murals, experimental public installations in slums, buses and metro stations and residential spaces such as Lodhi Colony.
While street art and graffiti has often been negatively received by the state and official authorities, the initiatives by St+art are unique in their collaboration with government institutions and embassies to allow their murals to have a more permanent space, and for the transformation of the city.
Why Shahpur Jat
Image Source: Google Arts and Culture
According to co-founder Akshat Nauriyal, India has had a rich historic tradition of the art scene being intimately linked with walls and public space, for instance, traditions of Madhubani and Gond both originated from painting the mud walls of houses, while a rangoli, a favorite tradition in households during festivals, provides a way for communities to celebrate together.
Further he says, “Shahpur Jat provided us a very interesting space for an art intervention since we wanted to work in a high-density area which was also navigable by foot. Moreover, it is an urban village that was rapidly changing.”
The project at Shahpur Jat incorporated collaborative efforts by artists, professionals, art students, the Goethe-Institut, the Italian and Polish cultural institutes in Delhi, as well as numerous volunteers and event organizers who poured in supplies and hours to transform the neighborhood. Individual permission was also sought from residents and shop-owners to allow for the paintings.
The Famous Cat Mural
The massive cat mural by Indian artist, Anpu Varkey, was one of the first finished murals of the St+art initiative; it quickly became the face of the Shahpur Jat collection and a neighborhood favorite, as well as a popular icon for directions around the colony. The artist’s work clearly reflects her love for animals and nature, according to several interviews, with her first comic book ‘Jaba’ also based on a feline theme.
Feminist motifs
Image Source: ArchDaily
Women feature prominently in the artwork of Shahpur Jat; Mumbai-based artist Ranjit Dahiya’s monumental mural of Nadira (the infamous seductress in Shree 420) reflects deliberate choices to reimagine stereotypes surrounding female figures in films and popular culture; in Dahiya’s own words, “I chose Nadira because this character doesn’t succumb to societal pressures.”
Similar artworks include Sergeo Cordeiro’s representation of a Gulab Gang warrior (named ‘Voodoo Woman’), who is as powerful as her expression and posture denotes, ready to strike back at any disrespect. Additionally, Italian artist Alina Vergnano’s charming murals of women were readily accepted by the establishments in Shahpur Jat (whose main clientele consisted of women) who also accepted the “marketing potential” (according to the owners) of the artwork.
Social motifs
Image Source: Google Arts and Culture
Social messages remained central to the whole endeavor; the work of Daku, an anonymous Indian-based artist was crucial to the landscape and context of Shahpur Jat as the chosen site. His art on the garbage disposal center of the neighborhood depicted a recurring set of Hindi alphabets in between artistic motifs, indicating a play on the words, which when reversed, become ‘daku’ (bandit) and ‘kuda’ (garbage).
Another piece was the art by Ano from Taiwan, who cleaned and painted over the wall of a public toilet, depicting two ravens carrying explosives in their beaks.
Akshat Nauriyal reflects how public spaces are often ignored and not necessarily maintained in the best manner – whether by the authorities or by the people, leading to a steady deterioration of community space. In this sense, public art enables in building a sense of community awareness and as a consequence, better maintenance.
Cultural and aesthetic significance
Image Source: Brooklyn Street Art
The whole idea of art is broad and open to subjective interpretation; what we find aesthetically pleasing is shaped by the viewpoints of today, the social situation, and, of course, the strong voices in the art world. Art isn’t just about showcasing the artist’s feelings or struggles; it also reflects all the social, political, and cultural stuff happening around them.
Shahpur Jat is just one of many such attempts to comprehend the rapidly changing urban dynamic by actively transforming it through art, not just by the artist, but also the audience of these murals; according to Harsh Raman (Indian artist), “Shahpur Jat is chaos. It’s like a maze, and there are these places here that you wouldn’t imagine exist. So, for you to come in here and try to find these pieces, will be a game in itself.”
Sources:
https://thebetterindia.com/52937/tracing-street-art-shahpur-jat/