Marking the 150th anniversary of the Mumbai Port Authority, Asian Paints joined hands with the St+Art India Foundation to launch the Asian Paints Art House recently, as a part of the ongoing Mumbai Urban Art Festival (MUAF).
As onlookers meandered through the bustling Sassoon Dock at the southern end of the city on the day of the opening of the Asian Paints Art House, young and old converged. Some wandered around while the local fisherfolk went about their usual day at the docks even as they welcomed guests into their fold and opened up their surroundings to art.
(L-R)An interior shot of Illusions by Sohil Belim, Illusions juxtaposes the scope of possibility between the city and the sea.
The occasion also served as the unveiling of the exclusive preview of ‘Illusions’, the second part of the Sassoon Dock Art Project, and the announcement of ‘Silver Escapade’ as the 2023 Asian Paints Colour of the Year.
With climate change upon us, the sea and its ecosystem have now become an undeniable influence on both life and art. The Asian Paints Art House was designed as a node in the ocean with the idea of the creation of a “maelstrom that pulls together currents in the Art House, creating an energy vortex”.
With recycle and reuse at its heart, the project executed by Ayaz Basrai from The Busride Studio used materials such as waste and debris. While the first floor of the house also featured what a modern, conscious modular home could be, the ground floor was a manifestation of the use of Silver Escapade.
Meanwhile, Illusions juxtaposes the scope of “possibility” between the city and the sea. UK-based artist Steve Messam also created an inflatable textile installation called Bungalow, in the Asian Paints Colour of the Year, which fills the colonial verandah. The installation that is representative of how Mumbai is home to migrants from across the country who come seeking opportunities.
Interestingly, the MUAF is transforming the southern flank of the city with its public art project for the second time. The festival that started in December goes on till this month as both Asian Paints and St+Art India bring together artists — both local and international — to transform public facades and spaces with murals and installations to invite conversations and collaborations like only art can.
(l-r)UK-based artist Steve Messam also created an inflatable textile installation called Bungalow in the Asian Paints Colour of the Year, which fills the colonial verandah with the installation, The venue where the announcement of Silver Escapade as the 2023 Asian Paints Colour of the Year was made
Visual artist Amrit Pal Singh also created a series of five collaborative NFTs that were launched on the occasion. “We are thrilled for the public to see what has been created at Sassoon Dock, representing Mumbai city, its art and culture, in a way that Mumbai may have never witnessed or experienced before. Illusions is another landmark project we’ve launched at Sassoon Dock, adding to our collective vision of celebrating Mumbai and its people. I am also very excited for the NFTs that have been curated for the festival with a tinge of the colour of the year — Silver Escapade,” said Amit Syngle, managing director & CEO, Asian Paints Ltd.
“For us, collaborating with the locals for public art projects and especially, MUAF, is of utmost importance as it helps make art more accessible. While the challenges of working on this public-private model include getting permissions and explaining the concept behind what we do, I will say that things have gotten much easier over the years as more people have become open to the idea,” said Hanif Kureshi, artistic director & co-founder, St+Art India Foundation.
The Mumbai Urban Art Festival has been drawing in visitors for around three months as they havetransformed parts of Mumbai’s iconic public buildings.
(l-r)Illusions by Sohil Belim, With St+Art India Foundation, Asian Paints has been collaborating to make art more accessible to the masses with community art projects