Indian Street Art: Meena Kadri

Art doesn't have to be confined to canvases, as we have already seen here on SHP. In India, it assails you in a burst of colourful advertisements hand painted on walls, temples, doors, store signs, behind trucks(look up at the SHP masthead please!), rickshaws and so goes the list. Any fan of typography would have found paradise!

Today, I bring to you one of the most gorgeous set of photos on Indian street art that I have come across in my hours of trawling Flickr.

The photographer, Meena Kadri has donned many hats. With an undergrad in anthropology and Masters in design, some of her hats have included graphic designer, creative director, teaching design across the globe- including a stint at India's prestigious NID (any of the NID grads reading this blog recollect any fond memories?) You can read more about her on her informed and interesting blog, Random Specific.

So, now for the eye candy!

Here are some more of my favourite images from her various sets on India, including the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat, Uttarayan Kite festival, Backview Bollywood and the Streets of India. 

I was forced to make collages to show off Meena's work, as I had SO many favourites that they wouldn't fit in a blog space. 

Please do go check out more of the uber talented Meena's work for a visual treat at her Flickr stream.

{All image credit to Meena Kadri and Meena Kadri only}

Jugaad- Everyday Art

I came across this wonderful essay on Indian Artisanship, thanks to fellow blogger Anjali Ramachandran who runs a blog on 'media-related stuff'.

Jugaad is a term that is used to define- making do with what is at hand. This defines most of everyday Indian art from street signs, hand painted walls, sari designs to painted cooking utensils and painted huts.

Design is a part of everyday Indian life...

 Image credit: Ken Botnick

Personalized bicycle seat covers to make one's cycle identifiable in a sea of similar looking cycles- This reminds me of my grandfather, stenciling his initials on our ambassador to make it identifiable in a sea of green ambassadors that once roamed Indian streets.

 Fence made of old saris sewn together. And what a colourful fence it makes!

Image credit: Ken Botnick

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Painted stoves

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Painted Entrance ways

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And of course painted trucks!

Keep reading for posts on painted rickshaws (I covered trucks before, how could I forget the other ubiquitous mode of Indian transport!), painted mud huts, street art and more!