HYDERABAD: Recently, the Bonjour India programme unfolded some creative events. In fact, the ongoing Street Art project spearheaded by French artist Delphine Delas brought in a much needed respite to the soreness of wall art donning public spaces in the city. Although, many found this mediocrity disdainful, it took a while to have professionals like Delas to create her art on city walls.
Delphine Delas, a street artist from Bordeaux, France intends to find a parallel between Ella Maillart, a Swiss photojournalist, writer and traveler who visited and lived in India between 1940 and 1945. Her murals will relate narratives connected to Maillart’s photographs.
Delas in her projects deals with the real and the imaginary, travelling and the traveler by combining cross-disciplinary concepts: mythological characters, hybrid creatures, pagan rituals, dream-like worlds Delas brings to light about her process, methodologies and her impressions about our city.
Share with us an experience that would help us appreciate your work better.
In every country or even in France I always try to understand the context where I am painting on. I like to know about history, social context, people, old geography before modern urbanisation. So, in every place I visit, I really try to understand what is happening around me. I think someone as a traveller have to be open-minded with new places, especially when you are a street artist. I am not interested in ego painting.
What is your perspective with regard to street art?
Yes, exactly. So my responsibility is to understand and to speak with the citizens living in an area where I am going to paint. For example in that moment I am painting in Makta area and I am trying to adapt my artwork to the context. This is a Muslim area, so I decided working on an abstract concept but at same time composing with architecture and dreamy nature.
How much of Delphine Delas is there in your executions?
Your question is interesting because in Europe my execution is all made by myself.
Here in India, coordination and logistics helped me finish some works. I guess people want to help and to learn from my skills.
Can you share with us your inspirations with regard to Ella Maillart ?
She was a traveller, a writer, a photographer. She was one of the most important woman as a traveller.
Alexandra David Neel travelled a lot in Asia, especially to India, Mandchourie, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan etc. She had a strong personality and I really admire her for that because we, as women, need examples like her.
Often when I read newspapers and I realise that a lot or women in the world still have problems with freedom and independence. My inspiration for Ella Maillart comes from her values and spirituality as well. It’s through her life that we learn about freedom and powerful mind.