Meydad Eliyahu’s “Red Crown Green Parrot” project for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018 in Jew Town.

 

If you walk around the streets of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, you are highly likely to come across many street art pieces created by local artists. In the past, people often referred to artists working in the streets as street artists, but now the boundary is blurrer as many artists around the world are commissioned to create street art, whilst street artists are showcasing their street art pieces in prestigious art galleries. Thanks to Banksy, the status of street art has been ‘elevated’ over the last decade or so.

At the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018, Kashi Gallery commissioned Jerusalem-based artist Meydad Eliyahu, a descendant of Malabar Jews, and Dubai-based Thoufeek Zakriya, a Muslim born and raised in Kochi, to work on a public art project called “Red Crown Green Parrot”.

One of the pieces by Meydad Eliyahu (see above) is based on an historical photo of Eliyahu‘s great grandfather and other Malabari Jewish leaders taken in Fort Kochi. This work depicts the situation Malabari Jews had to deal with when they were forced by the Israeli goverment to move to Israel, leaving some family members behind. Like many others, Eliyahu‘s great grandfather passed away in Cochin after most of his family left for Israel.

Aside from works for the Biennale, you can still see many interesting street art pieces around town. Not surprisingly, nature is a common theme here.

 

 

I also spotted two dilapidated buildings covered with fascinating murals by the 24-year old Shanto Antony from Thrissur, a participant at the Biennale. I love his style, and I think it is a good idea to turn the facades of these abandoned buildings into an outdoor gallery.

Shanto Antony’s murals for the Biennale

 

One of the most famous graffiti artists in Kochi is Guesswho, an anonymous graffiti artist who has been active since 2012. His work revolves around socio-political issues, and he has been named as India’s ‘Banksy’ by the BBC for his provocative graffiti esp. after he openly criticised the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.

 

Guesswho street art

 

A city without street art is boring, and Kochi is definitely not one of them. Hence don’t forget to look out for the interesting street art and graffiti when you visit the place.

 

Above: a good question…