The Kolkata street art scene is intriguing, to say the least; as intriguing as the entire concept and evolution of the street art across the globe. I took an interest in this after I came across the Kolkata Street Art Festival and had set out to find different such pieces across the city.
The street art across the globe has evolved from being the political or social commentary to being just a pretty background for one’s selfies. In Kolkata, you might find various forms of street and wall art; from the narrow lanes to the broad roads, from college campuses to the garage interiors; art that’s a revolt to Batman! From spray paints to water colour or even pencil sketches, Kolkata’s street/wall art scene is exciting.
This blog post is an attempt to only document the wall painting. I thank my friends who took part the discussion and helped me locate areas here. It is an ongoing project and I would keep adding newer images here. So, please keep coming back to this space?
Previously photographer Pritam Dutta tried to document Kolkata’s street art. His work can be seen on his Instagram account and his documentation can be found on ScoopWhoop.
![jadavpur grafitti, jadavpur wall painting, jadavpur university](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-wall-art-jadavpur-university-painting-ju.png)
Jadavpur University Campus | Kolkata Street / Wall Art.
A lot of Kolkata’s attitude towards life is exhibited through this art; the language of this art is stronger and louder in the campuses and that speaks about a range of issues. It becomes surreal and all intriguing in the narrower lanes while at times, it just looks pretty to look at. Here are some photographs.
![Presidency University grafitti, Presidency university wall art](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-4.jpg)
Presidency University wall art | www.anirbansaha.com
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![Kolkata grafitti, Kolkata Street Art.](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-8.jpg)
Behind Calcutta University | Kolkata Street Art.
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![Kolkata grafitti, Kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-9.jpg)
Behind Calcutta University | Kolkata Street Art / Grafitti.
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![Presidency university grafitti, Kolkata Street Art Festival](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-3.jpg)
Presidency University Kolkata | Kolkata wall art.
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![JU grafitti, jadavpur university graffiti, jadavpur university wall art, Kolkata Street Art Festival](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-wall-art-jadavpur-university-painting-ju-.png)
Jadavpur University Campus | Kolkata Wall Art
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![Kolkata Wall Art, Kolkata Graffiti, Kolkata Street Art Festival, Kolkata Street Art](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2-Kolkata-Street-wall-art-jadavpur-university-painting-ju-.png)
Inside the Jadavpur University Campus | Kolkata Wall Art.
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![Kolkata wall art, Kolkata Street Art Festival](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/3-Kolkata-Street-wall-art-jadavpur-university-painting-ju-.png)
I kept looking at this piece of arts for minutes. This is photographed inside the Jadavpur University.
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival. nirbhaya, la martiniere](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-21.jpg)
Nirbhaya Wall Art | Beside La Martiniere for Boys, Kolkata
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival.](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-1.jpg)
Wall art on the walls of the German Consulate Kolkata
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![Kolkata street art, Kolkata street art festival, Kolkata kyd street, Kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-26.jpg)
Beside Kyd Street, Kolkata
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![Kolkata Street Art, Kolkata Street Art festival, Kyd Street, Kolkata Graffiti, Kolkata kyd street graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-25.jpg)
This is shot in the same lane near Kyd Street Kolkata.
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![kolkata street art, Kolkata street art festival, mominpur](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-23.jpg)
Photograph: Pritam Dutta
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-22.jpg)
Photograph: Pritam Dutta
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-20.jpg)
On AJC Bose Road, near Rabindra Sadan Metro Station Kolkata.
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-18.jpg)
Isn’t this cute?
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-13-1.jpg)
A.J.C. Bose Road Kolkata – Tribal art on Kolkata Streets
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-16.jpg)
That’s on the same wall | Kolkata Wall Paintings / Street Art.
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_0183.jpg)
STOP.
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_0180.jpg)
জয় জীবন, জয় প্রেম, জয় প্রতিরোধ।
This is a welcome break from many things – the stereotypical monotonous walls of the streets or perhaps what we have grown up knowing as street art – political graffitis.
![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_0071.jpg)
Political Graffitis making way to something more creative – is a welcome change.
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_0086.jpg)
Happy that social messages are coming up in this form.
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![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_0090.jpg)
And Government initiatives adorning the streets spreading awareness.
Street Art also includes street installations and sculptures, both of which are not included in this blog post although Kolkata has plenty of it, especially in the newer Rajarhat and Salt Lake. Somewhere beyond definitions, THIS also forms street art.
![kolkata street art, rajarhat zebra crossing](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_0299.jpg)
Eco Park – zebra crossing | Kolkata Street Art.
Or perhaps when someone decides to colour the trees inside the Victoria Memorial Hall campus.
![victoria memorial street art](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Kolkata-Street-Art-Festival-32.jpg)
Trees coloured by young artists at the Victoria Memorial Hall.
Street Art has been used very skillfully by Kolkata based artist Leena Kejriwal in her project M.I.S.S.I.N.G. to raise awareness of the number of girls that go missing from the cities, on the issue of sex trafficking. If you are in Kolkata, I’m sure you’ve seen one of these:
![kolkata street art, leena kejriwal, missing project](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/missing-leena-kejriwal.png)
Photograph: DNA India.
And this is just a bit of what I’ve discovered in this city. I’m sure there’s more. Berger Paints is organising a beautification project “Kolkata Street Art Festival”, spearheaded by ace artist and TMC MP Jogen Choudhury. This event plans to paint around 500 walls across the city; 10 walls minimum by August end.
I’m sure this would encourage more households to let more artists treat their exterior walls as their canvas, create art, express. Towards an artistic future, dear Kolkata – all the best.
![kolkata street art, kolkata street art festival, kolkata graffiti](https://www.anirbansaha.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DSC_0155.jpg)
A newer city with painted walls.
Last r chobi ta kotha kar??
kolkata street art festival
nice blog and very easy to understand your blog
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