Two prominent stretches of walls on M G Ramachandran and Rukmani Road in Kalakshetra Colony have been transformed into striking wall paintings.
The first, in subtle shades of pink, features artful images of dance and music, reflecting the colony’s proximity to the Kalakshetra Foundation. The other, a riot of colour and fantasy, fairly leaps out of the wall, a spread of fabulous flowers, birds and butterflies.
Little wonder that people walking or driving by the colony these days stop and stare.
The art walls are part of a new greening and beautification initiative of Kalakshetra Colony Welfare Association (KCWA). A registered award-winning Residents’ Welfare Association, KCWA has been serving the colony to address pressing issues ranging from rainwater harvesting and Metrowater supply to waste management and greening.
The idea is to create beautiful art and sensitise people to keep their surroundings clean and green. The initiative has been conceptualised by the artist and KCWA member Kamla Ravikumar, who is coordinating it with her team of young artists, who are graduates in fine art.
“It was an amazing experience coming up with concepts for each road and making them eye-catching,” says Ravikumar, a colony resident herself. “I had a very talented team, and we had great fun painting,” she says, adding that they were encouraged by the cooperation and enthusiasm of colony residents. “I am happy the colony had the confidence to let me and my team paint the walls.”
More art walls are planned in the colony, alongside increasing efforts by KCWA to keep the streets green and litter-free.
