Asian Paints
Donate a wall
In an ongoing collaboration with Asian Paints, XXL Collective converts regular walls spread across disparate parts of the country into works of art. ‘Donated’ by regular citizens, these walls – in a school or an office, are each added with an artwork that’s driven by a powerful story.
The range of stories that inspires these artworks is as fascinating as it is varied. A dilapidated field in Kolkata came to life with the murals of some of football’s greatest stars – giving fans in the city a reason to rejoice and start making use of the field again. Another wall in the city bears an empowering story of defining freedom and woman power! Principal Farid Warsi in New Delhi was determined to provide his pupils with the best opportunities and learning conditions. Yet another wall in the city of Nagaland sought to celebrate its culture and history through the painting of two people deeply relevant to their sports culture.
Till date, the project has had 4 seasons with walls in cities including Ahmedabad, Nagaland, Guwahati and Kolkata.
To see details of the project - http://donateawall.com
Client: ASIAn paints
Location: multiple
Artist(s): varied
Guwahati
The Assam Forest School is an institute that trains officers into becoming leaders of environmental conservation in the state. Nepali artist, H111235, painted a mural at their school. It is a photo-realistic image of a rhino and an elephant caught in the midst of abstract digital looking brushstrokes to highlight the problem of poaching in the region. The project aimed to strengthen a sense of motivation in the trainees, while informing a larger audience about this environmental concern.
Chennai
Vyasarpadi is one of Chennai’s largest slums, home to vulnerable working class families in the city. When contacted by its residents we got to know about the neighbourhood's municipality school and its importance for the people there. The Mexican artist Senkoe with its vibrant pieces was the perfect match. The artist painted two murals, facing each other, highlighting the beauty and power of nature through visuals and words. This intervention contributed to regeneration of the school and to introduce art as a tool for learning and awareness.
Nagaland
The dynamic state of Nagaland is known for its rich culture, breathless landscape and a large community of sports lovers. In Mokokchung, British artists Sam and Helen, have been invited to paint the local sports centre whose ground is also used for all the larger community's gatherings. The piece is a tribute to Talimeren Ao, the captain of the first Indian football team who also fostered the passion for sports in the state and India at large. An inspiring personality deeply connected with his roots - the Ao Naga tribe - who is portrayed here both as a sport icon but also as a reminder of the importance of local traditions.
New Delhi NCR - Mayur Vihar
Painted in a small colony in Mayur Vihar, this mural by Do & Khatra symbolizes the love and support as main principles of a family system. A young girl is seen smiling at her elderly grandfather, who holds a miniature house behind him as a metaphor for the homes that are passed onto the younger generation. This endearing image aimed to evoke a sense of belongingness in the locals, making them celebrate the relationships they share amongst each other, and as a whole community.
Ahmedabad
Toddzone is a school run to enhance the lives of kids by making arts and crafts a special part of their learning experience. Building on this, Rutva Trivedi and Painter Sharad teamed up to transform the entire building with a mural inspired from the kid’s craft classes, where they often use paper to create animals. Translated into a large scale mural, this interpretation hoped to evoke an immediate sense of joy and upliftment amongst the students.
Shillong
It’s no new story that Shillong is known as a contemporary hub for the arts in the North East region of India. As an ode to its landscape, Baroda based artist Avi painted a scenery of the famous cherry blossoms of the region blooming alongside the figure of a traditional musician from the mountains. Painted on Meghalaya's ‘Rajasthan Bhawan’ built in the 1950s by immigrants, the mural is also enriched by rajasthani motifs, showcasing a synergy between two cultures to celebrate the diverse ties that make India one.
New Delhi NCR - Paharganj
From the depths of Old Delhi, Painter Kafeel and his team of sign painters created a magical transformation of a municipal school in the chaotic Paharganj. A bright takeover, this mural frames things the students deal with on a daily bases but in a playful way thus deeply transforming the atmosphere of the school.
