Painting on the wall: Street artist Hanif Kureshi remembered for making art democratic

Hanif Kureshi, visionary artist behind India's public art district, remembered for democratising art, passes away at 41.

Cars slow down, feet falter and eyes swivel to the many murals on the walls of schools, hospitals and homes in Delhi’s Lodhi Colony, the quiet neighbourhood that has come to be known as Lodhi Art District over the last 10 years.

On Sunday (September 22, 2024), Hanif Kureshi, the creative lead behind India’s first public art district and the visionary artist and designer remembered for "making art democratic", died from cancer in Goa. He was 41.

The gigantic murals, some freshly painted and others at different stages of their fully-lived vibrant lives, stand as quiet witnesses to the passing of the man who started the street art movement across the country, beginning with the government staff residential colony in 2015.

Mr. Kureshi co-founded the St+art Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, with four others - Arjun Bahl, Akshat Nauriyal, Giulia Ambrogi and Thanish Thomas - in 2013. The aim was to paint the streets of India.

Talking about Mr. Kureshi’s inspiration behind the St+art Foundation and Lodhi Art District, Mr. Bahl said he always wanted to “make art truly democratic for all”.

“That was one of the reasons he started the project across the country. He was very passionate about Indian streets, he found them very colourful,” Mr. Bahl told PTI.

He remembered Mr. Kureshi as a “very generous” person always ready to teach others about his art and technique.