Imagine the drab and lifeless walls of buildings all over India. Imagine them now in an open-air art gallery, brimming with life, telling stories and evoking feelings through gigantic murals. Trespassers, an art collective from Kerala, has made this their vision come true. From school hallways to bustling streets, they popularized mural art in public spaces across the country.
Amid the uncertainty that gripped the global COVID-19 pandemic, an organization of six other people: Ambady Kannan, 26; Vishnu Priyan, 28; Arjun Gopi, 29; Pranav Prabhakaran, 29; Jinil Manikandan, 28, and Jatin Latha Shaji, 26, alumni of the Department of Fine Arts at Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University, Kalady, arrived together as a collective. What started as an on-campus vacation has now spread to cities. and towns across the country.
The Intruders, with their unique cat logo, temporarily drew attention for their unique artistic technique. Manikandan explains: “The cat logo, created by converting the Malayalam letter ‘Tr’ (from Trespassers) to cat, symbolises our resilience as a group. Even if we encourage ourselves through an express art form or stick to certain principles, we embrace all kinds of styles and recognize that street art doesn’t want to conform to constant standards. We see our movements as a bridge to the other. This mindset is what drives us as a collective and sets us apart.
Trespassers imbues the streets with the essence of the local. His artworks represent the people, the spirit of the place, whether it’s the hustle and bustle of industry in Calicut, the fervour of festivities in Thrissur, the politics of Kannur, the maritime heritage of Ponnani or the bustling docks of Mumbai. In schools, his colorful works are brimming with bright colors, ruled by depictions of houses, trees, intricate patterns, and the wonders of childhood.
The core of Trespassers’ project lies in the beautification of public spaces. His wall art embellishes walls all over Kerala, extending as far as Trivandrum, Kasargod, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kochi and Alappuzha. “Before starting a project, we make a stop at the site, interact with the public and immerse ourselves in the essence and the elements that can be represented. Local legends and stories serve as a foundation, allowing us to capture the soul of the place,” says Manikandan. They believe that running in a public space, as opposed to an enclosed studio, opens doors to endless possibilities.
Intruders also organize workshops in schools, especially in underserved areas. Their workshops in Attappady, a tribal taluk, encouraged young people to draw, believe and dream. ” Children are scolded when they draw on walls, so they are hesitant to draw on them. Once we give them freedom, we see how artistic they are. Drawing stick characters and giving them names like “mom” and “dad” tends to diminish as they get older. A lot of them draw concept art,” says Manikandan.
What sets Trespassers apart from other collectives is their ability to seamlessly fuse individual styles into a harmonious whole. In a collaborative effort, his paintings are a verbal exchange that develops organically. Manikandan describes it as a discussion, where one concept builds on another, creating an entire narrative with no clear beginning or end points. This lack of focus allows the audience to present their own story, making sure that the visualization shows something new.
“During the workshops, students receive a shared piece of paper that circulates among them. This is how they draw what they perceive. If one throws a chair, the next one can put a ball in it and move on. Once it’s finished, it transforms into something distinctive, where you can practice how its elements combine with each other,” says Manikandan.
In 2021, they collaborated with the St Art India Foundation, which is dedicated to urban art projects. Their initial collaboration took place in Coconut Bazaar, Calicut, which marked the start of many upcoming projects in locations, adding Coimbatore, Chennai, Mumbai and Rajasthan. , across the country. The collective believes that art belongs to everyone, not just art lovers. “We’re looking to explore how artists from other places understand the same position in other ways,” Manikandan says.
The Intruders will exhibit their paintings at the inaugural edition of Art Mumbai to be held from November 19 to Mahalaxmi Racecourse.