Giant murals painted by leading Indian and local street artists are set to hit Melbourne as part of the Indian Summer Festival – a free festival at Yarra Park, coinciding with the Domain Boxing Day Test between Australia and India at the MCG.
Artists from St+Art India – a foundation credited with kick-starting the modern Indian art movement – will team up with local graffiti artist collective 90 Degrees to paint a series of bright murals on stacked shipping containers.
Two of the foundations Mumbai-based artists, Sajid Wajid and Munir Bhurkari, will team up with Dan Wenn and Justin Kirby from Melbourne-based 90 Degrees to paint the murals inspired by modern India in what will be a blending of styles and cultures.
The artists from St-Art India and 90 Degrees will be joined by celebrated muralist Heesco and one of the most respected names in Australian street art, Tim Phibs, to paint a total of 25 shipping containers as part of the three-day festival.
The murals will be stacked in various formations and scattered throughout the festival site, with iconic Indian figures Mahatma Gandhi and Sachin Tendulkar immortalised as two of the hero pieces.
The Indian Summer Festival begins on Sunday December 23 with the annual Bupa Family Day and an appearance by the Australian and Indian men’s cricket teams.
The festival then continues over days one and two of the Domain Boxing Day Test.
A full program of live music, food, film and cricket will complement the artwork, with festival highlights including performances by Raxstar (UK), L-Fresh the Lion and Ecca Vandal; a variety of food offerings including Horn Please, Gaja by Sashi, Aangan and Two Fat Indians; and a free play cricket area styled after the famous Azad Maidan cricket pitch in Mumbai.
The Indian Summer Festival is hosted by Cricket Australia in partnership with the Victorian Government.
It is a free event and all members of the public are welcome to attend.
Further information is available at indianfestival18.com.au.
