A recent wall art at Smally’s resto-café in Church Street, Bangalore got the media talking. One section of the wall has the image of a cow and on its stomach are etched the faces of two leaders you generally don’t think of mentioning in the same breath, Adolf Hitler and our own PM Narendra Modi.
The poster art says, “Eating beef is our identity: Beef ban is historical ignorance”. Well, now we see the connection between Modiji and the cow, since this place thrives on its minced beef delicacies. The interesting part is, why Hitler?
Smally’s stance on beef ban | Image courtesy: www.drambedkarbooks.com
While you’re musing, here’s another graffiti artist who’s making waves in the country even without divulging his identity.
‘Guess who says it’ caught the attention of both national and international media in 2014 for some uniquely cross cultural graffiti that juxtaposed different realities in unprecedented combinations.
With next to no predecessors, this artist has taken up cudgels to disseminate politically rich messages and a new way of looking at things. His/her art in Kochi, Kerala has caused a stir, and many are eager to know who Guesswho might be. The artist, however, has kept us guessing! Here are some of his/her creations that will, at the very least, pique your curiosity.
1. Monalisa doing the thumka
You never know who inspired Da Vinci | Image courtesy: johnyml.blogspot.com
2. Shikari Shambu participates in the ‘Kiss of Love’ drive
Image courtesy: 2.bp.blogspot.com
3. Joker in town
Image courtesy: i.ytimg.com
4. The moonwalking master in a new guise
A unique combination of a Bharathnatyam dancer’s face and Michael Jackson | Image courtesy: storyepic.com
5. Guess who’s the new 007?
Prem Nazir as James Bond | Image courtesy: www.johnmyl.blogspot.in
6. Marx and Engels do the Rishi thing
Image courtesy: http://johnyml.blogspot.in
Last but not the least our own
7. Bean Namboodiripad
His next adventure in Kerala? |Image courtesy: http://johnyml.blogspot.in
No wonder this artist is popularly compared to the great Banksy. Though the person has been vocal about the reasons for coming up with this kind of art, he/she has kept all identity details under wraps. Maybe it’s a good thing too, when you have dangerous things to say!
These lesser known artists are doing their bit to change certain realities. Wall art or graffiti might take the stage as the new propaganda tool. Let’s enjoy them while they are available to us in forms that still seem to be acceptable to the establishment!
