Baadal Nanjundaswamy brews Bengaluru mural with two litres of filter coffee

A mural made with two litres of filter coffee is now welcoming visitors flying into Bengaluru. Created by Bengaluru artist Baadal Nanjundaswamy, the work at the Kempegowda International Airport, depicts familiar city icons such as Kempe Gowda, the KSRTC bus, the metro, Vidhana Soudha, and staples like coffee and dosa.

The piece was commissioned by one of the city’s oldest coffee houses as a tribute to Bengaluru’s long-standing association with filter coffee. “This is a city all of us are proud to live in. Its cultures come together so beautifully: from Malleshwaram to Fraser Town, Basavangudi to Whitefield — each corner has its own distinct feel. That’s why we illustrated Kempe Gowda, the KSRTC bus, the metro, Vidhana Soudha, and of course, coffee and dosa, among other symbols of namma Bengaluru,” shares Baadal.

Explaining his process, he added, “Coffee has a unique texture and works well as a medium. The trick lies in blending just the right amount of coffee powder into the concoction. I first sketched the outline in chalk and then layered it with coffee, taking five days to complete the illustration. For me, the joy was in showcasing Bengaluru in its true element,” he says.