ON THE STREET : FINE ARTS (STREET ARTIST) By Anjali Kumari

ON THE STREET ARTIST (KOLKATA)

 A street artist is a person who makes art in public places. Street artists include portrait artists, graffiti artists, muralists and people making crafts. Street artists can also refer to street performers such as musicians, acrobats, jugglers, living statues, and street theatre performers. Street artists can be seen throughout the world.

Kolkata street art has evolved in its own way where every artist uses the Bengali heritage to fetch their imagination and finally express the Western funk. The most interesting part is the picture and the painting. With outstanding perfection, the street artists of Kolkata paint the best of illustrations splashing a new look on the city's face.

Kolkata's street art is anything but, unlike the West. The illustrations are a commentary of the social, political, religious and administrative state of the people and the government ruling. For most of the North and Central Indians, Rangoli is a raw form of street art where powdered colors are used to draw illustrations on streets. Kolkata finds its own version of rangoli in and as alpona. It is basically a paste of rice powder and water, used to draw figurines on the floor on any special occasion.

Street art, especially wall graffiti, has always been a source of political discourse in Bengal. Earlier, political parties used caricatures to symbolize their speech. If you ever visit the narrow lanes of Bengal or old boulevards which have witnessed the massive Naxalite outrages, you will see Sketches of Red Army, Soviet Slogans, etc. These, over a period of time, were replaced by a more subtle form of art. Now, we can find hilarious quotations, sportsmen, cartoons, film actors, etc.

It's not just about the murals and the painting. The skills and intricate details have been so beautifully crafted that The Kolkata Street Art Festival simply witnesses flocks of Kolkatans coming and cherishing the valuable asset of our city. Renowned bloggers, photographers, artists, etc. come together and make the streets of Kolkata illuminated by their imagination multi-fold times. In 2019, The Kolkata Street Art Festival was held at Hindustan Park, Gariahat and as expected, people came in number to see the creations. It was even larger than the previous year because it was not just the street arts but the crafts from the streets were exhibited too.

There is a lot to see and much more to observe on the streets of Kolkata. From a fine jute bag weaver to the street wall painters and muralists, this city is a never-ending quest for art and craft lovers. Every mile you walk is a glimpse into the heart of the city that is beating rapidly. All you have to do is stand quietly, witness the beauty and admire the hands at work.

                          THANK - YOU

                                                    By - Anjali Kumari