TAKE a stroll down any road or a grimy galli in Chennai and you will come across graffiti of all kinds. From the paintings of CM Karunanidhi in his trademark glasses to Che Guevara-styled politicians, from the ubiquitous ‘P James Magic Show’ to the murals that are part of the beautification drive. Graffiti is as much a part of Chennai’s culture as is filter kaapi.
So what do people have to say on the recent ban on graffiti announced by Mayor Subramanian? “As an outsider, the first thing that strikes me about Chennai is the graffiti, especially political. It showcases the entire culture. The city‘s vibrancy is visible in those paintings. You take the graffiti out, and you are taking out the soul of the city,” says Jagannath, a resident of Bangalore. Others express dissent to this rather amazing art, “I welcome the Mayor’s decision. The political posters and graffiti are such an eyesore. The paintings on the walls of Nandanam Arts College are such a delight. Every time I pass that way, my eyes automatically turn towards those paintings,” says Sudha Viswanathan, a yoga teacher.
But that apart, there is another form of graffiti - commonly called vandalism. From the ‘I love you Sushmita’ on the monuments to the etchings on the benches in public parks, this is a form of graffiti that is most frowned upon. So why do people resort to such graffiti? “The reasons are many,” says Dr. Thara Srinivasan, a psychiatrist. “One, it is a mode of expression that helps reach out to a large number of people. Two, it is a means of venting out ones anger. Also, there are some people who do it just for fun,” she adds. “Graffiti as a medium offers anonymity; hence it is popular as a means of expression.”
So is graffiti art or vandalism? Well, it’s all a matter of perspective.
Magic on the wall
P James might not be as popular as P C Sorcar but thanks to his unique advertising campaign, he is definitely better known in Chennai. With over 30000 instances of his guerilla style advertisement all over the city, P James is to Chennai’s graffiti what Andy Warhol was to pop art. His advertising strategy is quite simple. He uses a mixture of black oxide and Fevicol to paint ‘P James Magic Show 9841******’ on virtually every street in the city. However, James claims that the profession is not very lucrative. This father of four takes tuitions to supplement his income.
shilpa@epmltd.com