St+art Mumbai 2017 Reignites the City With Spellbinding Creations
Till 30th December, 2017, the Maximum City will play host to stunning street art displayed in key locations
It started out in the early 21st century, where street art was born as a way for young people to express their displeasure and dissent on social and political issues. Public buildings and walkways would be covered with bold, large graffiti – artwork, slogans and words, all painted on the sly. Considered vandalism back then, gradually, with time, street art has developed into an important contemporary art genre. Who doesn’t know the English artist, Banksy, famous for his satirical graffiti that combines hard-hitting truth and dark humour with his distinctive stencilling technique.
One of the largest non-profit street art communities in India, St+art this year brings to the fore an experiential exhibition with site-specific installations, murals, audiovisuals, screenings, talks and curated tours, which are on display at Sassoon Docks in Colaba and at other key locations. This two-month-long public art exhibition (11 November-30 December), supported by Asian Paints, is witness to 30 Indian and international artists and their works.
This year’s theme for Mumbai is a reflection on the nature and DNA of the city, showcased through projects placed in its most important landmarks.
One of the largest non-profit street art communities in India, St+art this year brings to the fore an experiential exhibition with site-specific installations, murals, audiovisuals, screenings, talks and curated tours, which are on display at Sassoon Docks in Colaba and at other key locations. This two-month-long public art exhibition (11 November-30 December), supported by Asian Paints, is witness to 30 Indian and international artists and their works.
This year’s theme for Mumbai is a reflection on the nature and DNA of the city, showcased through projects placed in its most important landmarks.
A week before the festival kicked off, a pop-up studio was set up in Sassoon Docks where more than 150 portraits were clicked by St+art content director Akshat Nauriyal and his assistant Pranav Gohli. These enlarged portraits, displayed all over the area, are of local dock workers, responsible for supplying most of Mumbai with fish.
Photos by Akshat Nauriyal and Pranav Gohli
Check out this beginner’s guide to buying original art
Photos by Akshat Nauriyal and Pranav Gohli
Check out this beginner’s guide to buying original art
The festival has also collaborated with other artists and countries from overseas. One of them is Singapore – the Singapore Weekender was organised over a November weekend. In participation were artists such as The Yok & Sheryo, Darren Soh, Tan Zi Xi, and Knuckles & Notch, who conducted workshops, exhibitions, film screenings and performances.
Courtesy: Tan Zi Xi, Shilo Shiv Suleman
Photos by Akshat Nauriyal
Courtesy: Tan Zi Xi, Shilo Shiv Suleman
Photos by Akshat Nauriyal
The best of Indian design talents also came together. Urban designers like Faizan Khatri, Ayaz Basrai and Sameep Padora participated and conducted talks. Ella + Pitr, the French duo famous for creating art best viewed aerially, held lectures. Lek, known for reclaiming abandoned public spaces for art, conducted workshops that elucidated the process and techniques behind graffiti art.
Courtesy: Sajid Wajid
Photo by Pranav Gohli
Here’s how you can add pop, graffiti style art to your home
Courtesy: Sajid Wajid
Photo by Pranav Gohli
Here’s how you can add pop, graffiti style art to your home
Apart from Sassoon Docks, the St+art Festival can be seen at Churchgate Station, Mahim Art District and Jindal Mansion.
Courtesy: Eduardo Kobra
Photo by Akshat Nauriyal
Courtesy: Eduardo Kobra
Photo by Akshat Nauriyal
Artists’ line up at the Sassoon Dock Art Project
Akash Raj Halankar (IN)
Arthat Collective (IN)
Asim Waqif (IN) & Lek (FR)
Avinash Kumar (IN)
AWP (FR)
Clemens Behr (DE)
Curiot (MX)
Darren Soh (SG)
Do & Khatra (IN)
Faizan Khatri (IN)
Furqan Jawed (IN)
Guido Van Helten (AU)
Hanif Kureshi (IN)
Hanisha Tirumalasetty (IN)
Inkbrushnme (IN) (Around the dock)
Inside Out Project (FR)
LIVIL (AT)
Pierre Guyot (IN)
Poornima Sukumar & Sadhna Prasad (IN)
Sajid Wajid Sheikh (IN)
Sameer Kulavoor (IN)
Shilo Shiv Suleman (IN)
Spy (SP) (Around the dock)
Tahska (IN)
Tan Zi Xi (SG)
The Big Fat Minimalist (IN)
The Fearless Collective (IN)
The Yok & Sheryo (SG)
Vibhor Yadav (IN)
Courtesy: Guido Van Helten
Photo by Pranav Gohli
Akash Raj Halankar (IN)
Arthat Collective (IN)
Asim Waqif (IN) & Lek (FR)
Avinash Kumar (IN)
AWP (FR)
Clemens Behr (DE)
Curiot (MX)
Darren Soh (SG)
Do & Khatra (IN)
Faizan Khatri (IN)
Furqan Jawed (IN)
Guido Van Helten (AU)
Hanif Kureshi (IN)
Hanisha Tirumalasetty (IN)
Inkbrushnme (IN) (Around the dock)
Inside Out Project (FR)
LIVIL (AT)
Pierre Guyot (IN)
Poornima Sukumar & Sadhna Prasad (IN)
Sajid Wajid Sheikh (IN)
Sameer Kulavoor (IN)
Shilo Shiv Suleman (IN)
Spy (SP) (Around the dock)
Tahska (IN)
Tan Zi Xi (SG)
The Big Fat Minimalist (IN)
The Fearless Collective (IN)
The Yok & Sheryo (SG)
Vibhor Yadav (IN)
Courtesy: Guido Van Helten
Photo by Pranav Gohli
About St+art
St+art was started in 2014 as a non-profit organisation by Akshat Nauriyal, Arjun Bahl, Giulia Ambrogi, Hanif Kureshi and Thanish Thomas, who wanted to bring artists from all over the country together to work for a single cause, which was to take art to the people. Every year they organise month-long festivals in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad, where they collaborate with a slew of local and international creative people and display installations and graffiti all around town so that diverse sections of society can look, admire and experience art, too.
Courtesy: The Yok & Sheryo
Photo by Akshat Nauriyal
Read more:
The Essential Guide for Art Lovers
Tell us:
Did you attend the St+art festival in Mumbai? Tell us about your experiences in Comments below.
St+art was started in 2014 as a non-profit organisation by Akshat Nauriyal, Arjun Bahl, Giulia Ambrogi, Hanif Kureshi and Thanish Thomas, who wanted to bring artists from all over the country together to work for a single cause, which was to take art to the people. Every year they organise month-long festivals in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad, where they collaborate with a slew of local and international creative people and display installations and graffiti all around town so that diverse sections of society can look, admire and experience art, too.
Courtesy: The Yok & Sheryo
Photo by Akshat Nauriyal
Read more:
The Essential Guide for Art Lovers
Tell us:
Did you attend the St+art festival in Mumbai? Tell us about your experiences in Comments below.
Courtesy: Do & Khatra, Livil
Photos by Pranav Gohli