Sayam Porey along with his murals
| Photo Credit: Praveen Sudevan
Graffiti for Hope, an initiative spearheaded by Rotary International, has introduced social points to the forefront. A stretch of wall adjoining to the Adugodi Police Station in Bengaluru is not a clean canvas — it’s now alive with the murals of Kolkata-based artist Sayam Porey. This distinctive venture is a collaborative effort between Rotary and the Bengaluru Police.
Project coordinator, Nivedita Dutta, envisioned a permanent, impactful methodology of elevating consciousness about women’s security, drug abuse, and cybercrime — three of essentially the most urgent points recognized by the Bengaluru Police. “Street art sticks in people’s minds long after an event or campaign has faded away,” she explains, “We chose this art form specifically to reach Bangalore’s large youth population.”
Sayam’s murals are deliberately jarring. “I want people to feel something, even if it’s uncomfortable,” he says. His depiction of a lady’s tear-streaked face is a visceral reminder of home violence. A hunched determine surrounded by a syringe illustrates the devastating grip of habit. He provides, “It’s the same concept behind those graphic anti-smoking ads. If words on a poster don’t work, maybe confronting the raw pain through art will.”
Sayam’s symbolism weaves by way of the murals. A hooded determine with stolen digital knowledge illustrates the hazards of cybercrime. At the identical time, a dove represents hope for a extra peaceable future. He incorporates vibrant colors and geometric shapes impressed by the dynamic vitality of Bengaluru itself. “I wanted the art to feel like it belonged to this city,” he says.
The public’s optimistic response has warmed organisers and the artist alike. Nivedita highlights the outpouring of help: “People stopped to watch, volunteer, and offered water and cane juice when they saw Sayam working under the hot sun. They shared their genuine appreciation. The project touched lives even before it was finished.”
Sayam was notably moved by Bengaluru residents’ open-mindedness. “They’re not stuck in stereotypes; they’re evolving, their thinking is dynamic. They’re open to understanding new things. People were genuinely getting the message, accepting and understanding these difficult subjects,” he says.
He was additionally touched by the generosity of locals, who provided him refreshments and encouragement whereas he battled the extraordinary Bangalore warmth throughout his portray classes.
The venture additionally appreciates the town’s police. One mural includes a hand representing victims reaching in the direction of a supportive police hand. “People sometimes get this wrong impression about cops — that they’re all abusive or mean. But the Bangalore Police I met were humble and supportive.”
Nivedita displays on their logistical challenges, “Introducing any new concept is difficult, especially one like graffiti, which is sometimes misunderstood. However, the positive response and support from the Bangalore Police and the public have made the effort worthwhile.”
The Graffiti for Hope venture merges art, social consciousness, and Bengaluru’s revolutionary vitality. The partitions of the Adugodi Police Station now stand as a potent reminder that change begins with acknowledging tough truths and taking steps, nevertheless small, to construct a brighter future for everybody locally.
