Chennai's Kannagi Nagar, one of the largest built resettlement sites in India, housing over 80,000 people, has lately transformed into the city's first art district through the efforts of St+art India Foundation. The project features the works of 15 artists who are currently showcasing their artworks and murals, and are hosting workshops and curated tours. Kannagi Nagar's erstwhile Police Station is now the make-shift work space of St+art India; and this is where I met Giulia Ambrogi, the festival curator and co-founder, who narrates how this edition of the festival came to be.
“Alby John Varghese, the Regional Deputy Commissioner (South) Greater Chennai Corporation, had previously invited St+art to Madurai and Coimbatore. In March 2019, he invited us to Chennai where Mexican artist Senkoe worked on our Donate A Wall project. John invited us again, and this time, we are working on the Kannagi Art District,” Ambrogi says.
Transforming with Art
While Ambrogi and her team visited many prospective places, they were struck by Kannagi Nagar's large facades. She adds, “We always try to understand the fabric of the city, the history behind the space that we are working in. Kannagi Nagar has many connotations such as being the largest built resettlement in India and with a population that comes from different backgrounds, specifically fisherfolk who have suffered because of displacement. Unfortunately, this neighbourhood became infamous some time back. There are a lot of people who find it difficult to find jobs just because they live here.”
One of the aims of the project is to change perceptions about Kannagi Nagar. By creating an open-air art museum of sorts, St+art hopes to draw people to visit the locality. After studying the locality, the theme that evolved was that of people and the environment, and not just from the ecological perspective. “It's one of the most relevant themes across the world, about being displaced, about how your environment is fundamental to your identity and how when it changes, your life changes accordingly.”
Of the 15 artists handpicked by Giulia, five are from abroad including countries like Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Canada and Australia. The other 10 are from different parts of India.
The New Door
As one approaches the locality, the first mural that stands out is by Antonyo Marest (Spain). In vibrant pop colours, the façade also has the word ‘Allegra', meaning joy, painted atop the entrance of the block. Ambrogi says, “It is called ‘The New Door' and alludes to the future, imagination and possibilities. It has an arch and a large palm tree rendered using stencils that represent marine symbols like fishes and hooks. It's a super-vibrant piece reflective of the colour palette of Chennai.”
Celebrating Womanhood
About Kashmira Sarode's mural, Ambrogi explains, “Her mural represents a mother and a girl emerging from the waves in very bright clothes with motifs like dragonflies and leaves. The flowers are imposing, symbolic of nature that can take over if we don't take care of it. It's a celebration of womanhood, also referring to mother nature.”
A Bright Future
A-Kill's monochrome portrait of two children against a sunny yellow backdrop dominates a facade. “This neighbourhood is full of kids,” says Ambrogi, “and kids are our future. The two kids who are looking straight at you are really about the power of people and the future generation. It's not literal, but suggestive of our future and the integration between the environment and the people.”
Nature Love
Osheen Siva is originally from Tamil Nadu and her painting is in her signature style. “The woman in the painting holds a crystal ball with the sea and a little fisherman inside.” Ambrogi describes, “The typography in Tamil translates to ‘provider' and ‘protector'. Again, suggesting that the future is still in our hands. The idea is still hyperconnected to nature as something that we will always have to hold on to.”
Flower Power
Australian artist Bronte Naylor spent four days visiting places in Chennai. Ambrogi says, “For Bronte, the flower market was striking at all levels but what she pointed out was how everything happens in the streets, and also how a lot of relationships are transactional, which usually means commercial, but transactions here are also very soft and very human. She will depict a man sitting on a crate of flowers to another man selling flowers. There is a lot of absence and presence in the mural.”
Art Impact
Ambrogi speaks of St+art India's association with Asian Paints since the beginning, in 2014, “Street art adds value to cities. For instance, in Delhi where we had the first art district, it became a huge area of interest in the city. In that sense, Asian Paints got it completely from the very beginning and has been supporting us across India to create greater impact. And paints are a natural association for the work we do.”
Amit Syngle, CEO, Asian Paints Ltd. says, “Indian cities are known for their rich history and heritage. Through St+art festival, we all have a golden opportunity to reinvent public spaces in these cities. Asian Paints feels elated to support St+art Foundation and the national and international artists as they set out to paint Kannagi Nagar of Chennai in unique colours and concepts.”
St+art Chennai is ongoing until March 1, 2020
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