Art blossoms quietly in many unassuming corners throughout the city of Chennai – powerful yet understated, often passing us by in the rush of life.
But அன்பு | Love, a public arts installation created by the Aravani Arts Project in collaboration with Anonymous Artists Collective and commissioned by the Avtar Foundation for the Arts, stands loud and proud as a celebration of queer identities and gender equality rooted in a distinctly Tamil perspective.
Entirely conceptualised and executed by queer artists from diverse walks of life, the mural stretches across the wall at Gandhi Mandapam Road opposite the Anna University Kotturpuram Gate as a vibrant amalgamation of colours, community and culture is supported by Dr. Thamizhachi Thangapandian, the Honourable Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) for the South Chennai Constituency.
Akshath Ram J, representing, South Chennai MP office spoke of the project and the intentions that drive it, saying “The project is being officially being commissioned by Avtar Foundation for the Arts, which is bringing contemporary arts back into the city. They reached out to us and wanted to do a project bringing public arts like this into the city.”
“We decided we wanted to work around the themes of gender and identity as well as the politics that surround it, because that’s one of the focus areas for Dr. Thamizhachi Thangapandian. So we reached out to the Aravani Arts Project and the Anonymous Artist Collective, where we would find the space and handle things in terms of permission and logistics.”
The intersection of queerness and art is expansive in other parts of the world, but remains lacking in India – and that’s how the idea and theme for this Art Wall was born.
Akshath explains, “It came from a conversation between Avtar’s founder Jaiveer Johal and Dr. Thamizhachi on bringing more queer art into the city and that it has to be something based on Madras. The only real brief we gave the artists was that it needs to represent Chennai in some way – everything else was their idea and we’ve not asked for any changes.”
Public arts displays are not easy undertakings in India as Ghana NB, and artist with the Aravani Arts Project – and the person behind the concept and curation of the art wall – explains, “Finding public walls in India is a big task, so to get the right kind of support where you’re not only given a brief but also given complete creative freedom is rare. I’ve been painting walls for the past five to seven years and this is the first time I’ve had zero changes suggested on the first draft – that itself was a big win.”
Speaking further on the ideas blossoming on the wall – showcasing a rainbow of colours with every stroke drenched in culture, identity and pride – Ghana says, ” The wall celebrates queer identity and the city of Chennai. And what do queer people do? They wake up, they brush their teeth, go through their routines and so on. So we’ve normalised being queer while still keep things very loud, very proud and unapologetic.
“Queer people are already very visually expressive – through their clothes or their hair and in many other ways. So, we wanted to simply capture them as they already are. If any person sees this, regardless of their sexual or gender identity, and see themselves in the queer people without even being aware of it, then that’s the win, ” she added.
She further explained, “For the cultural aspect, we included fabric patterns like Madras checks and other textiles we love throughout the wall, creating a vibrancy that immediately catches your eye but also allows for a sense of discovery for those who choose to pause and take in the details.”
Quietly weaving familiar Tamil cultural motifs while foregrounding the normal day-to-day lives of queer individuals journeying seamlessly through the warmth of Elliot’s Beach, liveliness of Thiruvanmiyur Market, and familiar neighbourhood spaces of South Chennai, the wall is above all else rooted in community.
Ghana says, ” We’ve had a lot of fun in the past five days, many people have met each other at the wall. This was an opportunity for queer people to come together, to create something from their perspectives. That added a lot of value and awareness to the project as well.”
With contributions from a number of hired artists and plenty of volunteers alike, the life of the wall also comes from the expressions of individuality from each artist involved.
Ghana explains, “Every character on the wall borrows elements from each volunteer who’ve come in, infusing the art with a sense of spontaneity and improvisation. For instance, someone added rainbow socks, someone added a toad, we liked a earring someone was wearing so we added it in. The wall has a little piece of everybody who’s come and participated in its creation.”
“Whether in art or queerness, there is no good or bad, its just about saying ‘this what I see, what I feel and I am not expecting you to agree but let me say what I want to say.’” – Ghana, Artist
Open-minded participation and exchange of knowledge have been integral in the creation of the wall with Ghana reflecting on it, ” One thing that stood out for me is how confident queer people are. Usually in other projects, volunteers may be hesitant to add on elements of themselves to the work. Here, I’ve had zero resistance. It’s like they’ve only been waiting for a chance to showcase their identity and they’ve done it so gracefully when given the chance.”
As Ghana’s first project with the Anonymous Artists Collective – a dynamic network of artists working across diverse mediums and disciplines, united by a collaborative ethos – this wall has seen different groups of people come together, allowing them to be and to do – to see what happens rather than work towards perfection.
She adds, ” If its urgent it’s not art. Especially when times are divisive, it’s the job of artists to come together and remind people of what good looks like, what happiness looks like. When good artists come together and are given the freedom and time, they always create something good.”
Nandini, one of the contributing freelance artists, who also works with Aravani Arts Project – a Bengaluru-based trans women and cis women-led art collective rooted in empowerment and representation – spoke of the collaboration saying, “This journey of meeting new people and learning from them throughout the process is always beautiful. “
Started in 2016 by Poornima Sukumar, Aravani which has largely been focused on public wall murals and other community engagements is planning further expansions. Nandini, explains,” We want to engage the transgender community, not just to teach them art but allowing them the space to practice it to become socially and financially independent through it.”
Everyone involved in bringing this art wall to life imbues a tone that’s celebratory and empowering, but that’s not say there are no challenges to the very idea of public art spaces in India.
As Akshath explains, “The problem with public arts today is that we don’t have enough funding to do these projects.”
But the passion of art collectors like Jaiveer Johal and the determination of esteemed figures like Dr. Thamizhachi Thangapandian who back the visible representation of identity and culture in our public spaces are nudging us towards a much-needed change in how public art is not only created but viewed by people.
When it comes to this specific art wall, visibility is a big win as Ghana emphasises, “It’s on the side wall of the entrance of Anna University, a college campus, which means heavy footfall and more eyeballs on the work. It’s also at a crossroads where things generally pause, which means people get the chance to take a pause, look around and notice what’s happening around them.”
Laden with collaboration, inclusion, equal opportunity and collective creativity, the wall was painted with care, love and joy from March 2 onwards before being officially unveiled by Dr. Thamizhachi Thangapandian on Saturday, March 7 in the presence of Jaiveer Johal as well as Aftab Rasool IAS, Regional Deputy Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corportaion.
In an official statement about her support of the project, Dr. Thamizhachi said : “As a Member of Parliament representing South Chennai, I believe public spaces must reflect the full diversity of the people who inhabit them. This wall is not merely art, it is a political statement that equality cannot remain confined to legislation alone but must be visible in our streets, our neighbourhoods and our everyday lives. Queer individuals are not on the margins of Tamil society, they are part of its beating heart, studying in our institutions, working in our offices, walking along our beaches and shaping our shared future. When we affirm their dignity openly and unapologetically, we strengthen the very idea of democracy itself”
Now, அன்பு | Love will remain forever a part of South Chennai’s landscape, painting a vivid picture of belonging, solidarity and dignity that captures our conscious in meaningful ways, by simply existing.
As Ghana puts it, “There is no good and bad in art. And that’s also what queer identity is about ; whether in art or queerness, there is no good or bad, its just about saying ‘this what I see, what I feel and I am not expecting you to agree but let me say what I want to say.’”
A charming and brilliantly eye-catching showcase of creativity yet profoundly political, The Art Wall in South Chennai Constituency now stands as a powerful and visible public statement that celebrates heritage and identity without holding back.
And if you’re ever passing by Gandhi Mandapam Road in Chennai, take a moment to imbibe this canvas of passion and celebration in person!
(Images Courtesy : Akshath Ram J/South Chennai MP Office , Ghana NB and Malvika Padin)
If you’re in Chennai, have you spotted this wall yet? We’d love to know. Visit Lyrical Muse for art and communities coverage from around the world.
Leave a Reply