The right kind of vandalism

“As I picked up the brush to paint a mural at Cenotaph Road, I finally felt like I was doing something for myself, after decades,” says Subathra S, a homemaker. “It took me back to my childhood, to the days I used to paint. The fact that I was helping society was an added benefit.”

The 44-year-old had spent all her adult life looking after her family and the house after she got married, cooking three meals for the family, helping kids with their homework and ferrying them to school. She had no time for herself, and her passion for painting took a backseat.

So, when she came across the announcement from the non-profit Karam Korpom Foundation, about a wall painting project to beautify defaced walls across the city, she immediately wanted to participate.

Several NGOs in the city are working with volunteers such as Subathra to put an end to the abuse and defacement of walls in residential areas, parks, schools, and other public spaces by beautifying them with paintings.

Awareness messages on conservation of the environment, murals of children reading, proverbs, artwork featuring flowers, sceneries, Tamil culture and tradition, the importance of wellness and health, all find a place on these walls. Community engagement is crucial, says V Umamaheshwari, co-founder of Karam Korpom Foundation.

“People have a tendency to abuse an already disfigured place further. However, when we involve the community or the residents of an area in the painting process, the fact that they painted a section of a wall or even something as small as a flower, gives them a sense of ownership over the place. They feel the need to maintain it.”

In 2023, following a Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) drive against defacement of public property, police lodged complaints against 340 individuals for defacing walls by sticking posters.

Besides curbing defacements, wall paintings also motivate school children to come to school or visit the school library. “A govt school in Pallavaram struggled with attendance, partly due to its dull appearance. The students started to look forward to coming to class every day after the walls of the school turned pretty, the teachers told us,” says Kaitlyn Jessica, one of the volunteers of United Way of Chennai, another NGO that works with wall paintings for a cause. “The knowledge that I could contribute to this cause makes me happy.”

S Ravikanth Venkataraman, a teacher at the school, says, “The colourful makeover has made our library a favourite hangout spot for students. They’re excited about coming in and spending time here. Even if it’s because of the bright walls, I’m glad they’re now picking up books and reading them.” The next time you pass by Holy Angels School in T Nagar or govt school Tambaram, watch out for the vibrant figurines and the colourful flowers blooming on the walls.