3 min readNew DelhiApr 13, 2023 04:40 AM IST
First published on: Apr 13, 2023 at 04:39 AM IST
On a visit to Delhi last month, Mexican artist Paola Delfin travelled across the city to learn more about its history, culture and way of living, through observations and interactions. Many of those she met have now become protagonists in the mural on the walls in one of the streets of Lodhi Colony.
“I want to explore how in one of the most populated countries in the world there are so many people who may not know each other but are connected and dependent in different ways. There is also a stark contrast between kids in the slums and those who might be five minutes away (belonging to different economic strata); they need to be seen in the same manner… Through the work, I want everyone to feel that they are part of the same story,” said the 34-year-old artist known to work with monochrome.
Apart from artist Andha Ras from Malaysia and urban artist Daku, she was seen painting live, between blocks C2 and D1, at Lodhi Art District at The Lodhi Festival last month.
“Art is a very powerful medium and you can create an impact through it. Without art and culture, a society is lost. It speaks to people and can touch lives,” said Delfin, who has worked on projects across the world, including England, Spain, Poland, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Cuba and China.
She added, “I hope to create a positive impact through my work.” Now working on a mural at Marina Art District in Chennai, she has also worked at Sassoon Dock in Mumbai. Telling the story of the people working at the docks, she puts the spotlight on its working women in monochrome.
“I visited Sassoon during dawn when the activity was breathtaking — saris with limitless patterns, smiles, voices, trading, friendship and the colourful boats — all getting ready for the day’s work. Despite their differences, everyone comes together through a shared past and relationship with the sea. The mural is a reminder of the importance of community and teamwork, of supporting each other,” wrote Delfin in a note.
The wall art in Delhi, meanwhile, is also for its people. She identified some of them — from a small girl and her sister who live in a slum in the neighbourhood to a woman who makes garlands at a nearby temple, a dog who lives in Lodhi Colony, and a sculptor whose works she found impressive. “I will carry back the memories with me,” she said.
Artist Paola Delfin working on a street art at Lodhi Colony. Praveen Khanna 
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