New Delhi Lodhi Street Art

Looking for something different to do in New Delhi that will put a smile on your dial?

Then look no further than a mini hunt-mania seeking out the glorious Street Art hidden amongst the pink properties of the Lodhi Colony.

The concierge was all for sending me out to see the major sights, or to go shopping but Nah! Having visited New Delhi before, this little bird wanted to do something a bit different.

Would you join me?

I love street art, and a visit to the local Lodhi Colony to see how their community had been transformed by a wonderful group of street artists was really uplifting.

My driver for the day Ramesh, was equally uncertain of our route as I, but soon entered into the spirit of my search. I’m pretty sure,  he ended up as excited as me as we turned each corner to find yet another wall painting!

This area is not well known amongst the locals, I was amazed at how few Indians had heard of the Lodhi Street Art. I had quite a show and tell at breakfast the next day with the waiters at the hotel, I can tell you.

Lodhi street art depicting clean cities

We whizzed up and down the streets in the general area between the Khan and Meherchand markets and this is what we spotted!

The Lava Tree by Anpu Varkey

The Lodhi Community was built as one of the final hurrahs of British Raj in the 1940’s to house Government officials.

The pink buildings of the housing estate nowadays have a shabby charm to them. You can imagine them when new, the wide leafy streets would have made an impression in their day. Now they certainly do!

Dead Dahlias by Amitabh Kumar. Indian tribal art, on RHS The Tourist by Avinash & Kamesh

Each painting is very different, such as the Indian style Gond paintings above with a tiger. Or the joke is on us, with ‘The Tourist’, the artists comment on the selfie generation above.

It’s a shame that there didn’t appear to be any map or more information as to what each artist was portraying. Some of the paintings were quite confronting.

Imagine coming home to find a giant meteorite has hit your home?!

The poem by Neils Shoe Meulman and the Astronaut by Nevercrew

These paintings were completed in 2015 by twenty-five street artists from all over the world including Australia, France, Brazilian, Swiss and Iran.

The streetscape beautification program is a first in India, not only does it bring art into the local community, it is a benchmark for what can be done when people collaborate in the name of art for a greater good.

Rani Laxmi Bai by Aiko – A symbol of women’s empowerment

If you look carefully you will get a sense of the neighbourhood, the vibrancy of the artwork shines through but be careful not to trip on the ‘work in progress’ pavements.

I wonder what the residents think?  Would you like this at your place?

I wouldn’t say no to these beautiful birds for sure. Don’t they just make you feel happy?! They are to reflect the colourful diversity of the people who live there.

Colours Of The Soul – Senkoe

The artists have come together under the banner of St+Art Foundation, a non-profit organization, that works on art projects in public spaces.

I was there for my wander in a torrential downpour. I was a timely reminder that we are in the monsoon season. You may have heard of the terrible floods that Kerela this August?

The Indian Government has declared this a ‘calamity of a severe nature.” Kerala is a southern Indian State experiencing the worst flooding in nearly a century. Nearly 500 people have died and a million people evacuated.

When things happen in this soon to be the most densely populated country in the world, they sadly impact millions. When they happen in a good way they can also impact many…

If you would like to see more photos and stories from the Lodhi streets please check out these excellent blog posts at noida diary or at Road to Taste.

Thanks you for joining me on my little wander today. This street art project is a fantastic way to bring the eyes of the world into an area which otherwise would not be visited.  I hope that in doing so the infrastructure of the surrounding areas will benefit.

Which is your favourite wall?

Linking with thanks to Beverly at Pink Saturday, Sami at Monday Mural & the hosts at Our World Tuesday