Collaborative Community Mural Facilitation
I believe art is a bridge, not just wall decor. This project in Bihar was about giving local girls a safe space to share their stories, resulting in a mural that carries their voice, their colours, and their dreams.
This video tells the story of my favorite mural, created with the girls of Nadwan village. It's inspired by their stories, my childhood memories of Dragon Tales, and Kamala Bhasin's book 'Satrangi Ladkiyan'. This wall is a possibility, a space where every kind of girl and every kind of dream is possible.
Here, girls are gathered on the floor, deeply engaged in a drawing activity during our 'Humaar Kahaani, Humaar Rang' workshop. This is the heart of the program: using simple art tools to open up conversations and build a space of trust and expression.
I am sitting with the participants as we work on our drawings. My mission is to make art accessible to everyone, and this program is a step in that journey. It's not about technical skill, but about the meaning we give to the art we create.
A wider view of our workshop space. The girls are spread out on the floor, each one focused on her own creation. This program was about creating a possibility for these girls to have a life devoted to art, something that once felt like a distant dream for me.
A moment of energy and expression in the workshop. We used not just drawing but also movement to explore our stories. Here, the girls are standing with their arms raised, participating in an activity with joy and confidence.
This is our group photo from the 'Humaar Kahaani, Humaar Rang' program. We are sitting together on the rooftop, a community of girls and women who spent time sharing, creating, and dreaming together. It feels like I brought my entire being back home with this project.
Laughter and stories being shared over a drawing. This candid moment captures the beautiful connections that were formed during the workshop. Art became the language through which we could share our experiences and understand each other.
About this collection
These aren’t just formal art classes; they are collaborative safe spaces designed for open expression. We start by gathering on the floor, often using nothing more than newspaper and basic stationery, to let stories flow before we ever touch a wall. My approach is to strip away the pressure of technical perfection so the focus stays entirely on the community connection and the act of sharing our realities.
When I facilitate a community mural, I am not just painting a design; I am moderating a dialogue. My 'Collaborative Wall Mural Facilitation' process begins long before the brushes come out. Whether it is with an NGO in a village or a community group in the city, we start with storytelling circles where participants share what they want to see on their walls.
The Process
- Story Gathering: We use drawing, theatre, and conversation to identify the themes that matter to the group.
- Collaborative Design: I create the 'skeleton' or the layout based on these stories, but the colour filling and detailing are done by the participants. This ensures the final mural is a true reflection of the community.
- Public Participation: The act of painting becomes a form of ownership. When a girl in Nadwan paints her handprint or her story onto a public wall, she is reclaiming her space in that environment.
This is not about decoration; it is about visibility. By using high-quality emulsion paints and following a structured site-visit and prep process, I ensure the work lasts, but the real value is in the 'apnapan' (belonging) created during the workshop hours. If you are looking for an intervention that uses art to bridge gaps or start conversations within your community, let's talk about how we can build your story onto a wall.
Anupama
I’m Anupama. Painting is my way of stopping the noise and feeling a part of everything. When I work with communities, I’m not just there to paint a wall; I’m there to listen and create that feeling of apnapan (belonging) through art. If you want to build a safe, creative space for your group, I would love to help you find your colours.
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