This is from my ongoing documentation of public art and design in Mumbai.

I went out to witness the birth of first street art or graffiti in Mumbai and tried to understand its value today. I explored chapel road which is a kind of public art refuge that for some time  makes you admire the location if only for a little bit longer.

The essence of street art lies in evoking emotion and engaging the passersby. It wants to start a conversation with onlookers.It is also used for social commentary. Brazil has some of the world’s most dynamic street art that reflects its culture and socio economic differences and has somewhat changed the city.

Mumbai is not particular big on graffiti which can be understood as using city’s walls as a medium of creativity instead of canvas, but in 2008 India wall project started which took the responsibility of using street art to not only beautify neglected regions but also to reflect our society and its celebration.The wall project was started to infuse new life of creativity in to the public space and I went out to search what happened from then on.

But it all started at a narrow winding Chapel streetin Bandrawas splashed with paint as it came out of neglect and dwelled in to art.Chapel road in Bandra is a narrow winding road between Mt. Carmel Church and Hill road and it houses some of the first street art  you will observe in Mumbai. The street is paved in narrow lines and has many century old buildings. There is a silence and relaxed aura around here. Walls here have been painted by some of the most famous wall artists of all time namely, OsGemeos, the brazillian duo and Shiro who is a Japanese Graffiti Artisit.

The street art in Bandra is mostly in faded state with not much attention to them. Well street art is isn’t always meant to be permanent and may be that is what makes it appear more and leave an impression which can sometimes change the city.