A brand new, viral mural by St+artwork India in Chennai’s Kamaraj Salai offers the Chess Olympiad mascot, Thambi, a macho makeover
A brand new, viral mural by St+artwork India in Chennai’s Kamaraj Salai offers the Chess Olympiad mascot, Thambi, a macho makeover
A experience down Kamaraj Salai by no means disappoints. Flanked on one aspect by the expansive Bay of Bengal, and on the opposite by Indo-Saracenic markers of time, the stretch is a window into the town. Now with Mamallapuram being host to the recently-concluded Chess Olympiad, Thambi’s presence is inevitably known as for on Beach Road. Not simply as mannequins and collectible figurines, however on massive facades as effectively. The newest constructing to be graced by Thambi’s presence, is the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Board. While the beloved mascot with rolled-up sleeves and a hero’s stance grabbed eyeballs, the opposite finish of the constructing, masked by scaffoldings, hosted a extra acquainted aspect of Thambi.
With arms folded in a namaskaram, Thambi, in his signature veshti bids adieu to the Olympiad that put Tamil Nadu on the worldwide map. Behind him is the enduring Chennai Central, albeit painted in checkered black-and-white squares, whereas the lighthouse (in actuality, positioned just a few meters away) stands guard. Executed by 5 younger artists from throughout Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and designed by Johnson Kshetrimayum, the mural by St+artwork India has by now grow to be the face of the Olympiad
An occasion of this scale which noticed participation from the world over can not and shouldn’t be forgotten: this was the concept behind the mission, says Hanif Kureshi, inventive director at St+artwork India. ”The occasion is over and most reminders would fade. But some would keep as a reminiscence of what occurred. It is a tribute to the Olympiad,” provides Hanif. The thought behind commissioning up-and-coming native artists was a deliberate one. Tamil Nadu additionally has a wealthy custom of banner artwork and portray, which they needed to faucet into. “The mural shows two different expressions of Thambi: we made Thambi a South Indian superstar, as seen in his posture and style. While the other one shows him welcoming people to his city. And the city’s iconic elements are painted as chess boards,” he provides.
Thambi as a South Indian celebrity
| Photo Credit: RAGU R
Chennai-based Ok Vishwa; M Bharath, A James and Ok Dhanavel from Puducherry; and A Aravind from Villupuram, all a part of the Dravida Chezhiyan Karaikal are the artists behind the wall. This is the primary time the collective has undertaken a facade of this scale. Explaining the method, Vishwa, the son of famend banner artist NN Kumar, says, “Initially, we thought of doing a projection but that did not work out on the wall. Then, we put grafts and divided the wall in sections to paint them. It took us five days and nights to finish the walls.”
The narrative of the mural is a hearty, quite trendy welcome and a heat send-off, all rolled into one. Looks like we is not going to be lacking Thambi for at the least just a few years.
Source: www.thehindu.com