On September 23, 2024, Hanif Kureshi the co-founder of St+art India breathed his last after a long fight with cancer. Kureshi was a game-changer in the Indian art scene by making art accessible to all, as he took his works out of traditional galleries and brought them into the streets with giant murals and installations on public spaces. Street art was initiated by his foundation, St+art India, in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. In the process, Kureshi’s work did more than simply re-beautify urban landscapes: it also stimulated important conversations about how cities develop and maintain a sense of cultural identity.
These are perfect examples of how his work helped popularise the street art movement by bringing it to the masses, and enabling street-level artists access to a gallery setting rather than vandalising public spaces. He is credited with converting Delhi’s Lodhi Colony into India’s very first public art district, where several colourful murals were created under his stewardship which resonated well with the community. Today (as this photograph poignantly illustrates), his work endures as an inspiration for artists- both of the local variety and internationally- to break away from traditional limitations and involve the public in art.
The loss of Kureshi will be a great one for the global art community he has left his mark on several public art projects and artists, that went ahead with the vision he created.
Feature Image: Hanif Kureshi| Courtesy: XXL Gallery
