Street Graphics of India

This work represents a recent project documenting Indian street graphics including signs, symbols and images hand painted on giant billboards, small shop signs and walls. This imagery contributes to a vibrant and densely packed visual record of life, religion, politics and commerce in India. While dramatic giant billboards may rise above houses and buildings, others exist more quietly at street level where they might invite additional commentary or graffiti. Many billboards and signs are painted by professional studios who work from photographs provided by a client. Others may be made by itinerant sign painters or the proprietors of small shops and can vary from the lavish through the wonderfully home-spun.

Advertisements made on large billboards, walls or small signs communicate services as varied as a circus coming to town, a palm reader or various types of apparel. In South India, political symbols identify a party or politician rather than use of the name. This may be because many people in villages may be illiterate or speak different dialects.

As one travels around, particularly in village or rural areas, signs for both local and national parties become a familiar sight with the wall surfaces contributing a rich patina. For one who does not know their meaning they may seem to be purely decorative, or to be communicating a mysterious message through coded language.

In addition to these two specific forms of street graphics, there is variety of imagery that serves as a public form of communication as well as for decoration. Religious tolerance murals are popular in the city of Chennai and images of the Lord Jagannatha appear frequently in Puri. Walls both inside and outside of temples may be layered with auspicious signs and symbols of luck such as lottery numbers or the devotional imprint of hands. Other kinds of graffiti are more ambiguous and may combine mixed messages.