Kerala Assembly Elections 2026 : Seasoned wall artists in Thiruvananthapuram on their role in election campaigning
The Hindu
Seasoned wall artists in Thiruvananthapuram bring vibrant election campaigns to life with their unique craft and dedication.
With less than a week left for the high-stakes Assembly elections, walls in public spaces across Thiruvananthapuram have come alive with bright fluorescent colours! From portraits of candidates and party symbols to political slogans and calls to action, the messaging on street walls is the handiwork of skilled artists who have kept the art alive with precise and impactful strokes.
A graffiti for LDF's Vamanapuram candidate DK Murali | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Even while robotic aids and social media tools may have caught the imagination, there is no denying the charm and durability of wall art, which continues to be a major tool for election campaigning. It is not an uncommon sight these days, ahead of elections, to see artists perched atop ladders, reaching a high wall while navigating the curves and nuances of symbols and letters.
For artists such as Robert Sam of Venjaramoodu, election messaging is an opportunity to showcase his deftness with the brush. Adept at both drawing and writing, Robert says he completes anywhere between 15-20 walls a day. Ask him about the continuing lure of this art, and the artist, who has found mention in the Talent Book of World Records in 2023, says, “Wall art is known for its perfection. It is also long-lasting and stays put for three to five years in shady places, as compared to cloth or flex banners which fade away in six to seven months.”
Forty-two-year-old artist Shibu Koppam of Vembayam who started practising the craft in his teens describes the process. “I start as early as six in the morning at the designated wall. Depending on the size of the wall and the content to be communicated, I decide its design and layout.”
Robert adds that the freehand font is more commonly used these days. Other popular fonts are Indulekha, Revathy and Karthika.
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