Indian Street Artist Spurs A Sluggish Civic Agency Into Action By His Biting Street Art Satire

You can call him a crusader in the form of a street artist and he crusades against the pathetic condition of roads in Bengaluru, India. This Indian painter from Mysurudistrict in Karnataka, India is most recognized by his works both in street art and 3D paintings. His tongue-twister of a name is Baadal Nanjundaswamy.

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A gold medalist in Bachelor of Fine Arts from Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts, Nanjundaswamy settled in Bengaluru. Currently, he is involved in highlighting potholed roads, bad infrastructure and total apathy of the city’s civic agencies through his street art.

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Hailing from a poor background, Nanjundaswamy used his love for painting to raise money to get a university education. For this, he converted a small shop into his painting workshop from where he sold his paintings.

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Such was Nanjundaswamy’s gift of art that he was picked up by the renowned international ad agency, Ogilvy & Mather, after his graduation. The agency hired him at its Bengaluru office as an art director for Kannada films, short films, plays and documentaries, in addition to other independent projects. His notable works as an art director include Police Quarter, Prakruthi, Lucia, LifeuIshtene, among others.

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Nanjundaswamy’s 3D paintings, murals, sculptures and art installations have been appreciated all around the globe. One of his portraits of Sachin Tendulkar adorns Students’ Activity Center in IIT Powai.

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However, Nanjundaswamy is most well-known for his street art. And his portrayal of bad road conditions of Bengaluru and Mysuru has been widely covered in the print media across the world. What’s more, his works, with their biting satire, have also gone viral on the social media.

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Nanjundaswamy’s art helped prod an embarrassed civic authority into action for repairing roads and other damaged infrastructure. For the city dwellers, he has come as a messiah to deliver them from the indifference and apathy of the civic agencies.

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Nanjundaswamy’s crocodile installation in a huge pothole in the middle of the road got the pothole repaired the next day. His Yama’s painting around an open manhole also got it closed promptly. In 2014, he painted seasonal themes for festivals and celebrations, such as Diwali, Independence Day and Christmas. 

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For such a great artist, can awards and accolades be far away! Nanjundaswamy has many honors and awards in his kitty, such as ‘Pride of Mysuru’ award in 2015; ‘Pride of Workmanship’ award conferred by Rotary Club, Bengaluru in 2017; ‘Bengaluru Youth Award’ in 2016; ‘Samartha Kannadiga’ award from SamarthaKannadigaru, Kannada Sangha, Mysuru in 2018.

On Facebook, Nanjundaswamy has a following of over 16,000 fans and counting. People wait in anticipation as to what he is going to produce next.

Badal Nanjudaswamy

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