A slice of India shines bright on the Hong Kong walls

Artworks by Mohan Prajapati (miniature art), Sai Kiran (Cheriyal), Adarsh Appukkuttan (Kerala mural) and Sudheer Innakallu (Kalamkari) find place in Kathaa, a community-driven Indian mural festival

Kalamkari and Kerala murals, Cheriyal scroll and miniature art… what is Indian art doing on the walls of Hong Kong? The bold, colourful strokes narrated Indian stories, as part of Kathaa, a community-driven Indian mural festival held recently. The festival, a collaboration between Gurugram-based art start-up MeMeraki and Hong Kong-based NGO HKWalls murals, featured works of Indian artists Mohan Prajapati (miniature art), Sai Kiran (Cheriyal), Adarsh Appukkuttan (Kerala mural) and Sudheer Innakallu (Kalamkari).

Kathaa is a showcase event for Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and has been made possible with the support of the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong, informs Yosha Gupta, founder of MeMeraki.

With COVID-induced travel restrictions in place, the artists could not execute the works personally, so instead sent their artworks to Hong Kong where they were recreated on the walls by Hong Kong artists Ahmad Rida Nisar, Aron Tse, Ruby Law and Shweta Rastogi at 51 Sai Street, Rich View Terrace, Sheung Wan, Hollywood Road and Heung Yip road— Sitting Out area.

Communicating through email, Sydney-based Yosha calls Kathaa an amazing way to showcase Indian arts and heritage globally. “This puts the spotlight on our master artists in a new, collaborative and fun way; The festival has engaged the community with many people volunteering and participating to paint along. It was equally fascinating to see the artists from Hong Kong who are not familiar with intricate Indian arts recreating it so beautifully.” For volunteer artist Urmi, a native of Palakkad in Kerala and now residing in Hong Kong, temple paintings bring back her childhood memories. She is happy the art has come to Hong Kong ‘especially in times like these when homesickness has peaked with no respite.’

Read More at www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/yosha-gupta-on-kathaa-a-community-driven-indian-mural-festival-in-hong-kong/article37975722.ece/amp/