An 80-foot-tall mural on EM Bypass is bound to catch the eye of passers-by.
It has larger-than-life portraits of trans men and it was created by a team of trans people headed by queer artist Nandini Moitra of Fearless Collective.
The idea is to sensitise the people of the city to the community through such public art.
The mural depicts actual community members in their everyday lives, one combing the hair of the other while another holds a child.
“The idea is to talk about an alternative masculinity, a trans masculinity that nurtures, cares and collaborates,” said Moitra
A trans man depicted in the mural had been married off at the age of 14 and had a child.“He is trying to get his sex-assigning surgery done and wants to portray himself as a trans father,” said Moitra.
The mural is painted on the outer wall of a building on EM Bypass at Topsia, which is an inclusive space for all communities.
Called Offbeat CCU, the building is a hub for entertainment, events, workshops, fitness and lifestyle.
Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, the founder of Offbeat CCU, said: “When I was asked if the wall of Offbeat CCU could be used for such a bold artwork I readily agreed because it is completely in sync with the ethos of our space. Over time, Offbeat CCU has stood for all communities as a safe space for all dialogues.”
The mural is an “audacious” act of creating evidence of the fact that such a community actually exists and creating visibility for them, says the artist.
Queer history has been removed and making this public art is like a writing on the wall, she added.
Moitra has created such art in Jaipur too.
Fearless Collective, of which Moitra is an ambassador, collaborates with artists worldwide in producing public art that sensitises people to the trans community.
“We reach out to the community members and create safe places for them. There is a lot of violence that they face from their own families, and the society at large. They also find it hard to find employment,” said Moitra.
Arpit, 33, who helped Moitra in creating the mural, said: “I never realised I could convey my feelings through painting.”
The mural is like a silent protest vocalising his feelings and giving voice to one of the most under represented communities.
