Delhi’s moods on canvas

The first public art installations at the New Delhi railway station are a tribute to the ‘common man’ and his associations.

The first public art installations at the New Delhi railway station are a tribute to the ‘common man’ and his associations. They are titled Chai Garam and Moods of Delhi. While the former depicts the ever long relation between passengers and a hot cup of tea, the latter portrays the changing face of Delhi. The man behind this creation is Delhi based artist Naresh Kapuria.

“When I was approached, the first thought that came to my mind was that I should do something that every passenger can relate to. Chai Garam is one voice that you hear at all railway stations irrespective of the language. The installation consists of a wooden panel with a bicycle that has a number of kettles and cups tied to it.” Another important factor that the artist had in mind was to present something that is unique to Delhi and its culture. “Moods of Delhi is a collage of photographs of all the major spots in Delhi,” says Kapuria.

There are around 5 lakh people on average who visit the New Delhi Railway station on any given day. So how does the artist feel about his artwork being exposed to such a huge number of people? “As an artist, I feel highly honoured. When we go abroad, we see railway stations and airports displaying artworks of their artists. It’s good that we are also bringing in that concept,” he says.