From vibrant grafitti screaming "O stree kal aanato" murals saluting the borders bravehearts, the street walls of Viman Nagar bring us closer to the art & culture of Pune. Deepak Laxman Chandane, 42, has been involved in the style of mural painting for 25 years now. From having started solo all those years ago, today he has a group of 50 members who he has personally trained, going by the name of Chandane Arts. In Pune, one can find their work on the streets of VN, Kondhwa, Bibwewadi, Yerawada etc. Their work is also spread across other cities in Maharashtra, like Ratnagiri and Satara. Chandane believes that “haath ki kala” (hand painting) is losing its relevance in Pune, and aims to make it popular and known like other forms of art. When asked about the inspiration behind his ideas, Deepak said, “Internet ka zamaana hai, jo wahan dekh ke accha lage bana deti hu.” All the other murals containing meaningful messages have been painted under the order and supervision of the PMC.
25 Jan 2022
Shirin Panjoo
