Street art is common in America, Australia and Europe. A small attempt to add some colour to the City of Joy is being made this Independence Day. An art campaign, Colours of Kolkata, #coloursofkolkata, is starting to celebrate the diversity of Kolkata starting this Independence Day.
This year also marks 100 years birth anniversary of Satyajit Ray and the 160th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. To begin with, the street art has begun with these 2 stalwarts. The location is Park Circus; on the wall of a WBTC Tram Depot.
The whole idea is to add some colour to the mundane streets. The campaign has been started by West Bengal Transport Corporation. The art, celebrating Kolkata and her famous people, will be done on WBTC depot walls, mostly located in the heart of the city in prime locations.
“A lot of times people spit and deface our depot walls. It looks bad. This would add an artsy touch to the art capital of India and also maybe discourage people from spoiling the walls,” said MD of WBTC Rajanvir Singh Kapur. He also added, “In future, eminent artists of Kolkata will be invited to help in creating such public art at prominent locations to make the city of joy even more beautiful”.
The Colours of Kolkata has started from Park Circus and will cover walls of most of the depots till Durga Puja. The next places in line are Tollygunge, opposite Tolly Club. Also, Gariahat, near Ballygunge Phari, which also houses the Tram World.
The Tram World, was launched in December 2020 commemorating the 140th anniversary of foundation of Calcutta Tramways Company in London. It’s one of a kind tram Museum in the whole world.
Once completed over all depot walls, this would be one of a kind initiative anywhere in an Indian city. Kolkata is known as the art capital of India and this will only add to its glory.
