Street Art in New Delhi’s Lodhi Colony

Portrait of a mother with diverse manifestations

'Original Aboriginal' by Australian artist Reko Rennie, incorporating his association with the indigenous Australian koori people, using traditional geometric patterns that represents his community

Eagles, ravens and pigeons converging towards a central point by an artist from Cape Town

Cambodia's traditional Khmer pattern fused with interpretation of the Indian hand gesture 'padma mudra' (Lotus Seal), which symbolises a bud growing out of deep dark muck of the pond water

Artist Shilo Shiv Suleman portrays a young woman (on the right), taking forward the strength of the older generation and weaving it into something beautiful for herself

Do not fail to catch the intricate details that often go unnoticed on big walls

Root of this art is an Indian mythological story, in which lord Krishna magically turns a city of ruins into the city of gods - New Delhi. The artist here tries to portray that this city, which was made of magic, is now crumbling apart

If you plan on paying a visit to New Delhi, do not miss out on more such walls in Lodhi Colony between Khurana and Meharchand market

As soon as you enter the wide streets of Lodhi Colony in New Delhi, it is evident that the area is different from the rest of the city. Especially the streets between the famous Meharchand market and Khanna market in the colony, where buildings are painted with murals that captivate the eyes. So much so, people especially visit the place to admire the artworks and take pictures infront of the painted walls.

With its diverse geography, culture and history, New Delhi has enough spaces to lend for various types of creative recitals. From marketplaces and residential areas, to metro stations, vivid illustrations are gradually emerging on Delhi’s walls. Not just simple art, but the paintings are also a gateway to the underlying social and cultural concerns.

Lodhi Colony is one such area where houses and buildings are painted with murals representing diverse and complex themes such as nature, origin of the world, migratory birds, space and life and death, among others.

Thanks to St+Art India Foundation, a non-profit organisation, that takes up projects to make art accessible to the public with their paintbrushes, murals and installations infusing some much-needed character and life into the dull walls.

The place became country’s first public art district last year, adorning colourful depictions with the aim to work closely with the community of Lodhi Colony and government bodies to create a sense of community pride and encourage the maintenance of the neighbourhood.

Here we take you on a tour of some of the walls in the area seeking street art with a conscience.