The Hatkes: Graffiti Messiahs Who Spread Change Through Spray Cans

The boys and girls who venture out at night to leave their mark on our city walls.

From a rebel art in the streets of New York during the 70s to the streets of India, this underground culture has traveled all over the world

(Photo: Harsh Sahni/The Quint)

In the dingy by-lanes of posh societies, on cracked walls of urban markets, and in the back lanes of high-rise office complexes — that is where you will find it. Graffiti can strike you anywhere, you may not even notice it sometimes. But, there are hundreds of walls that have been sprayed on by anonymous strangers, giving colour and life to our cities.

Location: Shahpur Jat.(Photo: Erum Gour)

Painted with uncensored messages against patriarchy, communalism, and violence, these walls have become a great medium for artists to put across what they want to say.

Whenever I plan to paint anywhere, I consider visibility very important. I look for a place from where people pass every day so that maximum number of people can see my art.

Elf, graffiti artist

Street artist Yantr’s piece on ‘Operation Smiling Buddha’, India’s first successful nuclear bomb test that took place on 18 May 1974.(Photo: Erum Gour)

However, its not always easy for these artists to paint wherever they want. According to the Delhi Prevention of Defacement Act, 2007, graffiti means a fine of Rs 50,000 and/or one year in jail. This is the reason why these artists usually step out with their spray cans at night.

Graffiti artist Zine believes that graffiti is a misunderstood art form and a lot of people are still not aware that something like this exists.

Graffiti can be dangerous. It depends on where you are painting. Usually when I paint, the police keeps bugging me, they ask me if I am painting tattoo on the wall. I say yes, its a tattoo.

Zine, graffiti artist

Location: Shahpur Jat(Photo: Erum Gour)

From a rebel art in the streets of New York during the 70s to the streets of India, this underground culture has traveled all over the world .

Though some artists still remain true to the tradition, many others have started painting commercial street art. A lot of credit for this goes to popular street art festivals that have helped the art form gain social acceptance. In 2014, for instance, several Indian and International artists painted residential complexes in Shahpur Jat during the first Delhi St.Art Festival. Much to the surprise of the organisers, residents were happy to see their pale walls get a crazy makeover.

(Photo: Erum Gour)

(Photo: Erum Gour)

(Photo: Erum Gour)

Some artists, however, argue that they are not in it for recognition or making big bucks.

It is about expressing yourself freely. Giving a part of yourself to a part of the wall. Leaving your mark on the streets, whether you go out in the dark or whether you do it in full view, it is about enlarging yourself, stretching your identity across a wall.

Dizzy, Indian artist based in Germany.

Video Editor: Puneet Bhatia
Camera: Abhay Sharma

The Quint in its latest series, The Hatkes, follows the lives of people living in Delhi who are radically different from the rest. These are men and women who live on their own terms and stand out from the herd. This is Part 3 of the series.

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