Thank you Delhi Metro: New wall art makes Arjangarh station chirp with life

Street art is not new to India. For centuries India has had a rich culture of wall painting of religious and cultural motifs. About a decade ago, more contemporary ideas of street art arrived in India, giving the city a refreshing change. Over time, street art has been seen as a tool for beautifying and creating public art galleries, produced by ordinary people for the enjoyment of ordinary people.

Placed on the Mehrauli highway, Arjangarh metro station has gotten an artistic makeover with Indian and international artists painting various illustrations across the walls of the station. For this particular station, the theme is of nature and the environment.

“We get people stop and look. They do appreciate our work. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation(DMRC) has tied with St+Art India, and we are working with artist from Singapore and Mexico” says Arpita Pandey, a freelance artist and member of St+Art India Foundation. Her hands drenched with colours as she finishes her work.

Birds are all over the walls of the station with their colourful and gigantic look. Two Singapore- based artists-Sam Lo and Soph Lo are painting the birds including the one drawn by the Mexican artist Senkoe.

When asked why has this metro station been chosen for this kind of artwork, Hanief, a member of St+Alt replied, “This metro station is a kind of gateway between South Delhi and Gurugram and the station is also surrounded by indigenous fauna. The same artwork will be carried inside the station within a week. We are almost done with the artwork outside the station”.

“The project is to promote the art and culture of our country and how it connects us with the other parts of the world.” he adds.

Presently, Arpita and Hanief are working on the colouring and shadows of the artwork while as the two Singaporean artists are focusing more on the structure of the artwork. The artwork is altogether the combination of skills and perspectives of the artists from India and other parts of the world who are working to create an art station like this one!

One hopes that more metro stations across the city get the same treatment.