The latest edition of Wall Art India brings French street artist Kashink to Chennai

French street artist Kashink's mural unveils in Chennai, showcasing feminist themes as part of Wall Art India's national initiative.

The Alliance Française of Madras is getting a revamp. After the addition of Van Dough pizzeria, the French institute is now getting a new mural on its walls. But this is not just another splash of colour. It is part of a national movement, the fifth edition of Wall Art India, transforming public spaces across 15 cities into open-air galleries.

The initiative, led by the Alliance Française network in collaboration with the Embassy of France in India and the Institut Français, is bringing international and Indian street artists into neighbourhoods, campuses and cultural hubs. 

In Chennai, the spotlight falls on French street artist Kashink, whose bold, four-eyed figures are known across the global urban art circuit for their unapologetic feminist voice.

Perched on scaffolding at the Nungambakkam campus, she is painting a monumental portrait that draws from the cosmic force of Shakti. It is a mural that watches you as much as you watch it.

“I’ve been in India for a little more than two weeks now,” says Kashink, who has already painted in Chandigarh and Kolkata before arriving in Chennai. While this edition centres on women’s empowerment, she notes that her work has always carried a feminist undercurrent. “I’ve been painting murals for the past 20 years, always with this type of feminist approach. Back then, it wasn’t really addressed publicly that much. It’s great now that’s changed.”

French artist Kashink | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement