Public art as a catalyst for community: The story of Coimbatore’s Ukkadam Art District

Three new murals, on the theme of community, has been added to the Ukkadam Art District in Coimbatore

February in Coimbatore has seldom been hotter. Summer has arrived significantly earlier than its ETA (usually mid-March). Most residents of the Pullukadu Housing Unit, understandably, stay indoors. Even the animals of the neighbourhood avoid the sweltering sun. A stray dog rests before Block 19’s shade with her pup jumping around. A calm cat sits beside them, looking into the distance as if in meditation. An ice cream truck passes by, trying to make hay while the sun shines. More refreshing than ice creams, however, is the facade of Block 19, fully adorned with a magnificent mural representing the neighbourhood food and animals. 

Singaporean artist Yip Yew Chong has painted on the wall a crisp dosa, a steaming glass of tea, a banana leaf with typical Coimbatore breakfast items, a furry cat climbing onto the leaf, a gentle goat, a pigeon flying, and a pani puri seller. Tamil text reads, ‘Vaanga Saapidalam’ (Come, let’s eat). The mural is a nod to the neighbourhood’s culinary tradition and communal warmth.

Block 19 is one of the three buildings that became canvases for the fourth edition of the Ukkadam Art District, a project initiated by St+art India Foundation with the support of Asian Paints, in collaboration with Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) and Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC). 

Ukkadam is one of the three ‘art districts’ of St+art in Tamil Nadu and one of their seven in India. It began in 2020 with four murals. Now, the neighbourhood has 18 building-sized paintings. This year’s additions include Yip’s ‘Come let’s eat’, Spanish artist Jofre Oliveras’s poignant ‘Communion’, which explores the dynamics of power and community through therapeutic healing, and Indian artist Jayesh Sachdev’s colourful ‘Utopian Ukkadam’, which juxtaposes tradition and modernity. 

“The concept behind the Art District was centred around making art accessible to everyone, particularly those who might not typically visit museums or galleries,” says Kanchan Rana, Project Lead - Creative at St+art India Foundation. “Our goal is to transform public spaces into open-air galleries where the art is inclusive and engaging for all community members, including those from less privileged backgrounds, such as government housing colonies and areas recognised for their socio-economic challenges.”

The murals of the inaugural edition focused on the local populace. The following year was about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 edition highlighted the ecological importance of the city’s wetlands. This time, the theme, according to Kanchan, is community. “It underlines the project’s commitment to nurturing a space where art and daily life intersect, fostering a sense of belonging and shared ownership among residents,” she adds.

The sense of belonging was not just among the residents; it was also felt by the artists who worked on the murals in the Pullukadu Housing Unit for a fortnight.