<p>A bright yellow moon shines down at passers-by in Ulsoor, near the Metro station. It was created by street artist Anpu Varkey a couple of weeks ago.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Delhi-based artist is here for the St+Art Festival, brought to the city by Asian Paints. Anpu, with degrees from MSU Baroda and Central St Martins Byam Shaw School of Art, London, talks to Chetana Divya Vasudev about how working in public spaces has opened up several opportunities for her.<br /><br />Why did you decide to paint the moon?<br /><br />I’ve been working on a stencil for it for a couple of months now. This work is more about the viewers than the subject. There’s so much writing, art and culture about the moon, the only visible satellite. <br /><br />The moon has an insatiable appeal — it signifies a yearning for something that’s unattainable. That said, it means something different to everyone; it’s personal, not unified.<br /><br />What does it mean to you?<br /><br />(Laughs) Well, if I think about it, it’s my connection to the skies, of something beyond earth. <br /><br />When I look at the moon, I feel I belong to something larger than just the land or community. Watching the moon makes me feel I’m part of the cosmos.<br /><br />Tell us about your other work.<br /><br />I’ve been an art professional for four to five years now and have dabbled in different styles — murals, art in public spaces and even the print media (comics). <br /><br />Having learnt about the traditional art forms, when I set out I imagined that I would be sitting in a studio. But you can learn so much from working on the streets. Pushing away all I’ve learnt during my courses and starting afresh has been very humbling. <br /><br />It’s not all easy but I feel the more I travel and open up to working on the street, the more opportunities comemy way. I’ve been lucky that way.<br /><br />Your work has taken you places. Could you talk about your travels?<br /><br />Abroad — I’ve mostly travelled in Germany — there’s so much graffiti, it’s overwhelming. <br />Here in India, there’s less of street art which means there’s more potential. I remember being part of the Wall Art Festival in Khagaria, Bihar. I was painting at a government school and pigs were running around everywhere. <br /><br />Even children were playing in that place. I’ve also worked in Hrishikesh, Kochi, Shillong and Pune as well as Delhi and Mumbai.<br /><br />You drew inspiration from your cat for your comic ‘Jaba’...<br /><br />He’s the first pet I’ve had and he’s been my companion beast for four years. I first began with murals of him in Delhi. I think of those as a prank in the street. <br /><br />Then I thought it would be nice to bring it to a medium that people could take back home. So ‘Jaba’ evolved; a narrative of a day in the cat’s life but laced with an element of fantasy. <br /><br />It’s how I imagine a day in his life would be. I loved working on the cat theme, but people began associating me and anything I did with it. <br /><br />So I’ve consciously stayed away from it for a while. I’m coming out with another comic soon. It will be about my childhood experiences.</p>
<p>A bright yellow moon shines down at passers-by in Ulsoor, near the Metro station. It was created by street artist Anpu Varkey a couple of weeks ago.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Delhi-based artist is here for the St+Art Festival, brought to the city by Asian Paints. Anpu, with degrees from MSU Baroda and Central St Martins Byam Shaw School of Art, London, talks to Chetana Divya Vasudev about how working in public spaces has opened up several opportunities for her.<br /><br />Why did you decide to paint the moon?<br /><br />I’ve been working on a stencil for it for a couple of months now. This work is more about the viewers than the subject. There’s so much writing, art and culture about the moon, the only visible satellite. <br /><br />The moon has an insatiable appeal — it signifies a yearning for something that’s unattainable. That said, it means something different to everyone; it’s personal, not unified.<br /><br />What does it mean to you?<br /><br />(Laughs) Well, if I think about it, it’s my connection to the skies, of something beyond earth. <br /><br />When I look at the moon, I feel I belong to something larger than just the land or community. Watching the moon makes me feel I’m part of the cosmos.<br /><br />Tell us about your other work.<br /><br />I’ve been an art professional for four to five years now and have dabbled in different styles — murals, art in public spaces and even the print media (comics). <br /><br />Having learnt about the traditional art forms, when I set out I imagined that I would be sitting in a studio. But you can learn so much from working on the streets. Pushing away all I’ve learnt during my courses and starting afresh has been very humbling. <br /><br />It’s not all easy but I feel the more I travel and open up to working on the street, the more opportunities comemy way. I’ve been lucky that way.<br /><br />Your work has taken you places. Could you talk about your travels?<br /><br />Abroad — I’ve mostly travelled in Germany — there’s so much graffiti, it’s overwhelming. <br />Here in India, there’s less of street art which means there’s more potential. I remember being part of the Wall Art Festival in Khagaria, Bihar. I was painting at a government school and pigs were running around everywhere. <br /><br />Even children were playing in that place. I’ve also worked in Hrishikesh, Kochi, Shillong and Pune as well as Delhi and Mumbai.<br /><br />You drew inspiration from your cat for your comic ‘Jaba’...<br /><br />He’s the first pet I’ve had and he’s been my companion beast for four years. I first began with murals of him in Delhi. I think of those as a prank in the street. <br /><br />Then I thought it would be nice to bring it to a medium that people could take back home. So ‘Jaba’ evolved; a narrative of a day in the cat’s life but laced with an element of fantasy. <br /><br />It’s how I imagine a day in his life would be. I loved working on the cat theme, but people began associating me and anything I did with it. <br /><br />So I’ve consciously stayed away from it for a while. I’m coming out with another comic soon. It will be about my childhood experiences.</p>
