Coalescing Art, Sea and Sustainability

In 2015, two of the biggest names in the art world - Asian Paints, one of India's largest paint manufacturers, and St+Art India, a non-profit organization seeking to bring art to public spaces - came together to launch the Mumbai Urban Art Festival (MUAF). This groundbreaking initiative is aimed at transforming the streets of Mumbai into a colorful art gallery and celebrating Mumbai's spirit - a city known for its art, music, and culture.

The idea behind the project was to promote art and culture by creating an opportunity for people to experience them in a public space. The festival features installations and murals by renowned artists from all over the world, whose inspirations lie in Mumbai's rich cultural heritage and history. The 2023 edition of MUAF was themed “Between the Sea and the City”. It showcased installations that pay tribute to the city's distinct and diverse cultural heritage. Each piece of art tells a unique story about the city- its rich history, vibrant street life, or the struggles and triumphs of its people.

St+Art India's “The Sassoon Docks Art Project” is one of the festival's most popular installations. One of Mumbai's oldest fish markets was transformed into an art district through the project. More than 40 local and international artists were featured - a synergy of artistic expression towards appreciating the city’s maritime heritage.

The “Vitamin Sea” sculptures from the 2023 edition of MUAF emerged as a crowd-pleaser. Artist Parag Tande explored Mumbai's transient seascapes through a variety of public art installations. Coming from the Koli community, Tandel created resin sculptures inspired by myths associated with marine biology. The artworks were intended to highlight the impact of pollution on the marine ecosystem, which reflected the suffering caused by city pollution.

While Tandel's work drew inspiration from traditional community myths, Rithika Pandey's “Shrine for my Oceanic Mother” wall mural envisioned a mythological post-human world. Pandey's work portrayed a landscape ravaged by a deadly flood caused by the rise of a deep-sea “nuclear goddess” in a post-apocalyptic setting.

RERO, a French artist, presented a contrasting approach to the colorful wall paintings as he createed an immersive world in a room. He explored polarities, both tragic and magical. The artist curated an exhibition using objects found at Sassoon Docks like mirrors and fishnets to juxtapose words such as ‘sell fish, shellfish, selfish, no selfie zone’ and enthralled viewers. The primary objective of this installation was to educate the public about the environmental consequences of the economic exploitation of marine ecosystems.

Apart from promoting art and culture, MUAF has had a significant impact on the city's economy and tourism. The festival draws thousands of visitors from around the world.It has helped put Mumbai on the global art map, garnering international media attention and attracting big-name global artists.

One of the attendees, Shantanu Desai, said “I have never experienced Mumbai like this before. The streets are alive with art, and it's beautiful. The installations are not just visually stunning but also thought-provoking.” Through these installations and many others, MUAF aims to provide a platform for artists to engage with the city's people, and for residents to experience and appreciate the beauty of street art.

Through its contribution to Mumbai's public art heritage and activities, this festival continues to engage with the city's residents. A core pillar of its philosophy is inclusivity and engagement. The Mumbai Urban Art Festival welcomes everyone regardless of their profession or background - be it a fisherman, a taxi driver, an art critic, an interior designer, or someone from Bollywood. This festival celebrates art and culture, uniting people from all walks of life.