Street artist paints to get potholes fixed

At a time when people are holding different types of agitations or protests to draw the attention of the civic body on potholes and open manholes, an artist has chosen the medium of three-dimensional art to highlight the issue.

Halaguru Shivaranjan, who is pursuing his bachelors in Visual Arts at Charmarajendra Academy Of Visual Arts (CAVA), has been drawing the attention of authorities through his paintings that highlight the potholes and uncovered manholes.

Shivaranjan has been involved in creating three-dimensional art for the past three years in various parts of the city.

Whenever he finds an open manhole or pothole, Shivaranjan draws a painting around it. Shivaranjan has so far created 30 such street paintings, to grab the attention.

The authorities too have responded positively by attending to the problems.

Speaking to DH, Shivaranjan said, “I have been drawing around the potholes or open manholes for three years. I took this campaign very seriously after I met with an accident due to a semi-open manhole at Yaraganahalli. It is also to create awareness among the people. The MCC was forced to fix the open manhole after I painted around it so as to avert road mishaps.”

Shivaranjan also admits that he pursued the street art after he was inspired by the life story of Banksy, an England-based street artist.

The street painting of Shivaranjan on social media has made them act immediately, he said.

Shivaranjan is also an expert in drawing 3D paintings on the walls in and around the city. Shivaranjan also chooses old traditional walls to paint.

Shivaranjan has chosen topics like ‘Awareness on the Environment’, ‘Me Too Campaign’, ‘Impact of mobile games on children’, ‘Forest and Animal Conservation’, ‘Use of Helmets’, ‘No smoking’ and ‘Drinking is injurious to health’.