Exploring Street Art: Local to Global
Exploring Street Art: From Mumbai to Global Trends
Street art, once seen as an act of rebellion, has evolved into a widely revered visual storytelling medium, redefining cities around the world. Urban art has become a collective movement, reflecting the socio-political climate and identity of each place it touches. While its roots may have sprung from protest and counterculture, street art today holds an undeniable influence over mainstream art scenes too.
Mumbai’s Street Art: A Canvas of Culture and Resistance
Mumbai, a city of contrasts where skyscrapers rise beside slums, serves as a fitting backdrop for street art that mirrors its complexity. Mumbai street art first garnered attention in 2014 with the launch of the St+art India Festival, a grassroots initiative aimed at revitalizing neglected public spaces. What started as isolated murals on dilapidated walls has since grown into an expansive movement where public art occupies a prominent space in the city’s cultural fabric.
Artists like Tyler and the late Hanif Kureshi (aka Daku), known for their stencils and typographical interventions, have gained recognition for works that speak to the nuances of Indian identity. Tyler’s murals often portray anti-establishment sentiments through understated humour, while Daku's typographic play on light and shadows comments on the transient nature of power and existence.
Tyler – Chaaarge, 2022
‘Chaaarge’ blends satire and nostalgia with the iconic stencil style of this Mumbai-based street artist. Featuring a child rider wielding a balloon sword as a weapon, the piece challenges traditional notions of power and authority with humor and subtle critique.
In stark contrast to the political expressions, areas like Bandra and Dharavi house murals that honor local ethnology. Bandra, often referred to as the artistic hub of Mumbai, has become a hotbed for Mumbai street art celebrating Bollywood, while also incorporating international influences. The fusion of traditional Indian iconography with Western pop culture symbols speaks to the universal connectivity that defines much of Mumbai's contemporary street art.
The Global Influence: From New York to Berlin
Jean-Michel Basquiat – Untitled, 1982 A visceral exploration of power, identity, and the human condition, Basquiat’s Untitled is dominated by raw energy and emotional intensity. The skeletal figure, layered with expressive brushstrokes and cryptic symbols, exemplifies the artist’s ability to merge graffiti's urgency with fine art's complexity.
Source: Flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0
Keith Haring – Artwork at Centrale Markthallen, Amsterdam This vibrant mural by Haring transforms the industrial Centrale Markthallen into a lively canvas. Featuring his signature radiant babies and bold figures, it reflects Haring’s mission to make art accessible, joyful, and socially engaged, resonating with Amsterdam’s dynamic culture.
Eriksw, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fast forward to the 1990s, and street art in Berlin became a powerful form of expression post-reunification. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 gave birth to one of the world’s most iconic street art canvases. Artists from all over the world flocked to Berlin to leave their mark, using street art as a way to comment on freedom, division, and identity in a newly unified city. This sense of transformation and reclaiming public spaces can be compared to how street art in Mumbai is engaging with forgotten or derelict areas of the city, using art to reinvigorate these spaces with new meaning.
The Rise of Street Art as a Movement
Eduardo Kobra – Povo Tapajós, Brazil
A tribute to the indigenous Tapajós people, Kobra’s mural fuses his signature geometric patterns with a rich cultural narrative. The vibrant colors and larger-than-life portrait honor Brazil’s native communities while advocating for their preservation in the face of modern challenges.
Buzancar (Photo), CC BY-SA 4.0
In São Paulo, street art has become a legitimate form of artistic practice, supported by the government and showcased through festivals like the Bienal Graffiti Fine Art. Artists like Eduardo Kobra, known for his kaleidoscopic depictions of historical figures, have gained international acclaim and elevated street art into the realm of fine art. Similarly, Mumbai-based artists like Sameer Kulavoor blend the line between street art and graphic design, turning public walls into sophisticated works of art that delve into urbanization, migration, and the everyday human experience.
Another global trend influencing Mumbai’s street art is the shift towards digital and interactive forms. In cities like London and Tokyo, street artists are experimenting with augmented reality (AR), QR codes, and interactive murals that engage the audience beyond visual appreciation. Mumbai is also catching on to this trend, with younger artists incorporating technology into their work to create more immersive experiences. AR-driven street art that brings murals to life through smartphones is an exciting frontier that may soon take root in Indian street art landscapes.
The Social and Political Impact
Though street art can take many forms—from the abstract to the whimsical—its strongest suit lies in its ability to provoke dialogue on pressing social issues. In Mumbai, this is particularly evident in areas like Dharavi, where artists have used their murals to comment on gentrification, poverty, and the challenges of urban life. One notable project is the Chal Rang De initiative, which collaborated with local artists to transform Dharavi's slums into works of art that brought attention to the social inequalities that exist within the city.
A clever commentary on urban erasure, this piece by Banksy depicts a worker power-washing a cave painting. Highlighting society’s disregard for cultural heritage, it masterfully juxtaposes the act of creation with destruction, encapsulating the artist’s critique of consumerism and modernity.
Dominique, CC BY 2.0
Across the world, street art continues to serve as a form of protest and social commentary. From Banksy’s murals in London to JR’s portraits of marginalized communities worldwide, street art is often a vehicle for amplifying underrepresented voices. In many ways, Mumbai’s street art mirrors these trends, tackling themes of migration, identity, and environmental degradation. Yet it remains deeply rooted in the city’s unique cultural and historical context, making it an art form that is simultaneously universal and distinctly local.
JR – Art on Manette Street, London
Source: Flickr | CC BY 2.0
Street Art's Influence on Contemporary Art and Culture
The mainstream acceptance of street art has also blurred the lines between high art and urban culture. As we see more street artists moving into galleries and museums, street art’s influence on contemporary art is undeniable. In Mumbai, galleries like Method are embracing this shift by showcasing works that borrow from street art aesthetics—whether through bold typography, graffiti-inspired techniques, or socially engaged themes. This convergence of street and contemporary art reflects a larger cross-continental evolution where traditional art institutions are increasingly recognizing street art’s cultural and artistic value.
The Future of Street Art: Connecting Local to Global
As street art continues to develop, Mumbai is becoming an important player in the overarching conversation. What sets the city apart is its ability to adapt outside influences while maintaining a distinct voice rooted in local narratives. As artists in Mumbai engage with international trends—from large-scale murals to digital experiments—the city is on its way to becoming a hub for contemporary street art that speaks to both local communities and the world at large.
Ultimately, street art’s power lies in its accessibility and immediacy. Whether it’s a politically charged mural in Berlin or a colorful depiction of everyday life in Bandra, street art connects people, places, and ideas in ways that few other art forms can. And as Mumbai’s streets continue to serve as canvases for this vibrant movement, they offer a glimpse into the future of street art—one where the local and the global are in constant conversation.
