Wall painting advertisements set for a comeback

KOZHIKODE: Conventional wall

advertisement

where

artists

used to exhibit their artistic skills is set to stage a comeback post lockdown. Many artists who stepped back from the advertisement field with the influx of flex printing have started refreshing their skills during the

lockdown

period.


A group of artists, connected through social media, have also started discussions regarding the revival of conventional wall advertisements as the government has banned the use of flex boards. They are making use of this lockdown period to refresh their skills and establish themselves. “It was 33 years ago that I started sketching portraits of actors and others for advertisement,” said Varnam Majeed, who ran an advertisement firm 13 years ago. “But with the influx of flex printing many artists like me had to step back and choose other fields,” he added.

Portraits of actors were a major mode of advertisements during the earlier years. The advertisement for shops, products and even movies were done by small advertisement firms run by artists.

Majeed has completed the life-size portraits of actress Anu Sithara and actor Tovino Thomas with available materials during the lockdown period. After posting the images on social media groups, he is getting good response and some of the advertisers have also started approaching him.

The positive response from many of the merchants and other advertisers is also exciting many artists. Though the lockdown period is a giving tough time to them as well, the days are also giving fresh hopes. “10 years ago, there were many artists who earned a living by running small ad firms. Later, most them shifted to house

painting

and other works,” said Majeed. Many are now ready to resume wall painting and cloth painting and are planning to campaign against plastic material, he said.