Lodhi Art District – Beautifying Urban Living Spaces

A little birdie had earlier tipped us off about some goings-on in Lodhi colony area. On our visit to Lodhi gardens in the capital we took a detour to the Meherchand market. As we landed a huge mural adorning the facade of a house bang opposite the market caught our eye.This was the Lodhi Art District the little birdie was talking about.

Lodhi Art District – Beautifying Urban Living Spaces

 

The spectacular abstract painting nudged me to explore the Lodhi colony area further. A walk around Lodhi Art District, which is snuggled between the Meherchand market and Khanna market,presented a place in the process of huge transformation. The Art District is a culmination of  mesmerizing efforts by over 25 street artists from India as well as around the world. These artists have created masterpieces to give Lodhi Colony area a makeover since December 2015. Lodhi Art District is in fact a huge open air art gallery of contemporary art accessible to one and all.

The vibrant colors and larger-than-life paintings made us awestruck. The paintings showcased various art forms ranging from Indian Tribal Gond Art, Shekhawati paintings (miniature art) to international drawing and art techniques. Some murals  had elements of capital city and its people while others were inspired by issues related to gender, environment et al. The artists have left their indelible mark on city and our hearts with such beautiful creations.

The most striking mural was the ‘hand in tricolor’ in Block-4 of Lodhi Colony facing the Meherchand market. We later found out it is done by a French artist – Chifumi. He has depicted the Padma Mudra – a symbolic Indian hand gesture with some Khmer patterns from Combodia.

Lodhi Art District – Beautifying Urban Living Spaces
Noida Diary: Padma Mudra painted by French Artist Chifumi at Lodhi Art District in Lodhi Colony, New Delhi

Noida Diary: Padma Mudra painted by French Artist Chifumi at Lodhi Art District in Lodhi Colony, New Delhi

Lodhi Art District is a marquee project of St+Art Foundation in making the urban living spaces of the National Capital Delhi a visual spectacle. The artists have come together under the banner of St+Art Foundation, a non-profit organization, that works on art projects in public spaces. Their website declares the aim of the organization as

“to make art accessible to a wider audience by taking it out of the conventional gallery space and embedding it within the cities we live in –  making art truly democratic and for everyone”

An initiative by Urban Development Ministry in partnership with St+Art foundation Lodhi Art District seeks to raise awareness on cleanliness as part of the Swachch Bharat mission spearheaded by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As city dwellers with an academic interest in everything urban – structures, philosophy and life in general – we at Noida Diary track and appreciate issues and projects that contribute towards improving quality of life in the city. Lodhi Art District, India’s first public art district, is a benchmark for rest of India. This will promote clean cities and Street Art form which is relatively new in India. Lodhi Art District has certainly raised the bar in developing and improving cityscapes with street art. The Public Art District paradigm should be replicated across India. Hope our urbanists are listening!

Meanwhile, have a dekko at the other spectacular work of street artists captured at Lodhi Art District, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi.

Lodhi Art District – Beautifying Urban Living Spaces
Beautiful Street Art of a Flock of Birds on this Gate at Lodhi Art District
Lodhi Art District - Beautifying Urban Living Spaces
Abstract Painting by Australian Street Artist Reko Rennie on the Street Facing Meharchand Market
Lodhi Art District - Beautifying Urban Living Spaces
Gond – an Indian Tribal Art Form depicted in this Mural at Lodhi Art District
Lodhi Art District - Beautifying Urban Living Spaces
A Tiger in Gond Art Form
Lodhi Art District - Beautifying Urban Living Spaces
Happily Posing for Noida Diary at Lodhi Art District, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi
Lodhi Art District - Beautifying Urban Living Spaces
Painting by Iraninan Artist Nafir Based on Women’s Right in Eastern Part of the World
Lodhi Art District - Beautifying Urban Living Spaces
Lodhi Art District is Dotted with Beautiful Murals

Lodhi Art District | How to Get There

Lodhi Art District is located in the Lodhi Colony between Meherchand market and Khanna Market. Nearest Metro Station is Jor Bagh or INA Market. You can take an auto rickshaw from there. Buses also ply on this route. To reach here by car/taxi refer to the map below.

This article is part of our series on Places around Noida and topics related to urban living.

 

For more such stories and information on Noida, do hit the “Subscribe” button.

Read more on Urbanism and sustainable living

Noida Diary – Rediscover Noida With Us

Subscribe now to Noida Diary

Get the latest Updates. Check the Noida Events Calendar
You can see the list of this month’s events here.

Follow us on

Join Us on FacebookFollow on TwitterFollow on InstagramSubscribe to Our YouTube Channel

 

 

 


Indian Bloggers

46 thoughts on “Lodhi Art District – Beautifying Urban Living Spaces

  1. I was born and brought up in Lodhi Colony Block N:8 and attached to this colony very much. I am in my 60's and live in Bengaluru now. I just browsed through the beautiful arts in my much cherished colony and became nostalgic but happy.

  2. Alok, a lot is happening towards cleaner,better livable cities pan-India. Unless people understand their share of responsibility is no less than administration till then any effort will go down the drain. But I see a bright light at the end of tunnel and thankfully, it is not far away 🙂

  3. Archana, St+Art has been collaborating for cleaning and beautification work in Delhi through various chapters. They have already done a project in Mumbai too. A stroll down the Lodhi Colony has become so much interesting after this transformation. You must spare some time to take a walk down here whenever you are in Delhi 🙂

  4. Shrinidhi, you should certainly stroll down the streets of Lodhi Colony whenever you are here next. The Lodhi Art District is a public gallery – open air, open to all. Worth a visit to see the changing urban landscape from dull government buildings to colorful facades 🙂

  5. You are one lucky person to live in this neighbourhood, dear. I had loved the Lodhi's Tomb as well….and this Art Work was like I felt transported to a different country. ..beautiful indeed!

  6. I agree Amsang…this initiative will promote art and cleanliness too. I had seen various art forms displayed by the artists national and international too. It is a step in right direction towards promoting art and culture 🙂

Add Comment