CHENNAI: The RBI Underpass in Broadway, near Parry’s Corner, got a vibrant makeover yesterday thanks to a community art project ‘Colors of Chennai’ by the Chennai Tricolor Initiative.
In collaboration with Triple O Studio and Open Corridors, the idea was to celebrate Chennai’s culture, community and unity, revamping an important subway of the city with a painting that paid homage to the transition of Madras to Chennai.
Two architecture students, Arjun and Kavitha, came up with the theme, and volunteers of all ages and backgrounds came together to help paint the pillars and walls. Prepping of the walls began last Thursday, by removing the paint layers and applying a layer of putty. Stencilling and sketching began on Saturday. The artwork spans the 30 metre wide pillars that support the railway track above, which faces old Chennai.
The sides of the pillar which face old Chennai are painted with motifs that represent old Chennai, and likewise for the side facing new Chennai. The side walls show elements that connect the two sides of Chennai — for example, the Adyar River and Cooum River.
This is the second wall art community project by the initiative, the first being the Nageshwara Rao wall in Mylapore a few months ago. The project is sponsored by Nippon paints and Spectrum Décors.