Love, matinee sculptures and old memories shape one wall at Balamreddy Sandeep Reddy’s home in Hyderabad. The ‘Memory Wall’ has two murals that describe two diverse stories. While the first one (16×7 feet) includes elements of cinema such as doodles of filming equipment, bust portraits of Kamal Haasan, Johnny Depp, Mammootty, Rajinikanth and Prabhas, the second mural (10×20 feet) shows a king and his minister playing Has gone. pachikallu (Dice) as a tribute to his father B Srinivas Reddy, who loved playing the game of dice. “I wanted to create a mural in my bar room to express my love of cinema and start a conversation,” he says.
Welcome to the world of customized murals that elevate homes in Hyderabad. There is something fascinating about graffiti, says architect-artist Akula Shiv Kumar. The rich frescoes that adorned palaces, churches and cathedrals with Renaissance themes have been transformed into contemporary homes, albeit in a different form.
While paintings, photographs and wallpaper can also change the look and feel of a space, a mural defines ‘you’ and represents your style, personality, travels, interests or anything dear to your heart.
unique connection
Varshita Lakshmi
Freelance artist Varshita Lakshmi’s mural art for homes and cafes comes with copyright. Painting at least three walls a month (earlier it was one mural every four months), his five-year art journey has seen inquiries double in 2024.
Unlike a framed canvas or photograph, which can be moved around the house, a mural is permanent and makes the image an integral part of the wall. “Art revitalizes any environment but graffiti is unique; It feels special as if that place has a personal message for you,” says Varshitha, whose team also includes two female artistes.
growing trend
Mural by Akula Shiv Kumar (inset) Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The democratization of art and its appreciation has now made it accessible to all, not just connoisseurs or enthusiasts, and has also made it an integral part of our lifestyle. One of the many reasons for this renewed interest is a younger demographic with disposable income willing to invest in aesthetic home decor.
Engineer-turned-artist Sai Sandeep Gundu of Artvicta Studio says that the Covid-19 pandemic has also brought us closer to art. Sandeep creates handmade paintings, murals, mixed media works and abstract pieces, he receives around 30 inquiries every month. “Before the lockdown, people were more interested in materialistic things, like showing off Italian marble, veneer-finished doors or laminate to friends and family. “Now they ensure that art becomes an important part of their decor.”
Varshita agrees about the growing trend: “People understand the value of handmade art; They love talking to their family and friends about supporting a local artist and getting some valuable work up on their walls.
How does this work
Artists are either freelance or work with interior designers to brighten up a blank wall that also complements the furniture or design aesthetic. But they are also cautious because their work is easily copied online.
Artists first discuss with the client to understand the design language they want to incorporate in their interiors. Themes are often personal or diverse, ranging from tropical paintings, portraits and doodles to mythological or Pichwai artworks, as well as various Indian art forms such as painting, sculpture, pottery and textiles. Using emulsion-based paints, the artist spends about two to ten days on a painting, which costs ₹250 to ₹400 per square foot. Varshita remembers painting a play area for children in a villa based on the video game Skibidi Toilet. “It was different but fun and also the longest project because it took us about 20 days to finish; The murals looked like a cartoon face coming out of a toilet,” she recalls.
Checklist for graffiti at home
natural light
ventilation
The image must be in harmony with its surroundings
Have your own expression instead of copying from the internet
Let the image be subtle and don’t bother to make it stand out
Listen to the artist’s point of view too
In pursuit of a unique wall, do customers often make unreasonable demands? The answer lies with Shiv Kumar, who says ‘no’ to his customers more often than ‘yes’. The creative director of Saptaparni, a city-based center of classical arts, the artist never re-creates clients’ requests, as he believes most of their demands are internet-driven trends.
By Varshita Lakshmi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Sometimes, people don’t have ideas or a point of view. They show me pictures from the Internet, without realizing that the paintings they see online are in a very different environment from their homes. For example, the home may be small or lack natural light because heavy curtains cover the windows. Additionally, factors like the height of floors, doors, and even ceilings also need to be taken into account. I advise them clearly: ‘Don’t do it; The house will be ruined.
Shiv Kumar takes inputs from clients, visualizes a concept and moves ahead only after being convinced. “Ideally, interacting with artists can help express expression more artistically. Being professionals, artistes can present the ideas better,” he added.
With 2025 just a few weeks away, how about adding a new artistic mural to your home for the New Year party?
published – December 04, 2024 02:13 PM IST
