SHILLONG: Sanjib Roy, also known as Yantr who is the organizer and founder of the Shillong Street Art Festival (SSAF) said the state had many talents but few artists.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, he said the Shillong Street Art Festival would be a platform for upcoming artists to display their talent in street art.
Roy is a pioneer of the street art movement in India where the first street art festival was held at Khirkee extension in Delhi. He carried on the movement with artists in Mumbai, Rishikesh, Kochi, Pune etc.
The primary goal of Shillong Street Art Festival is to put Shillong in the global art scene and empower the youth through the medium of art.
Meanwhile, Oliver Lyndem also known as Owl said, “The intention of the public display of art is to showcase the talent of the artists.”
According to him, to take part in street art will ensure that youth do not indulge in substance abuse or anti-social elements.
He informed that Shillong Street Art festival which started on March 8 would conclude soon. As for the murals on government offices, he said the permission was taken from the GAD department.
The festival has completed 14 murals so far inkbrush by artists from Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai and local artists.
The street art is a mix of graffiti styles and murals signifying women empowerment, education, flora and fauna, traditional and modern day Khasi populace and bio-mechanical art.