How about a fun colourful rickshaw ride through the buzzy bylanes of Old Delhi? Thanks to the two Mumbai-based artists and a Delhi-based curator the ordinary is out, and artsy is in. The trio worked at revamping eight rickshaws for a two-day musical concert in the Capital.
Now that the event is over, people are still asking to hitch the colourful ride. The artists from Taxi Fabric, a design project, working on the idea, had completed the work just 15 days earlier.
“It was a challenge for us, especially after demonetisation. All our labour and daily costs needed cash in hand,” says Anant Ahuja, head of the project. The same company had revamped the auto rickshaws in Delhi, a few months back. Asked why they chose cycle rickshaws this time, Ahuja explains, “Organisers wanted non-motorised means of transport. People generally get drunk and high during events, and rickshaws reduce the chance of accidents.”
Although those eight rickshaws are going international, the artists are contemplating giving Old Delhi some revamped rickshaws. “The ricks got so popular that the organisers decided to take these back with them to the US, and to the various festivals they organise, says Ahuja, adding, “However, people in India are asking us to design a few for the roads here, and we are considering taking up the project.”
{{/usCountry}}Although those eight rickshaws are going international, the artists are contemplating giving Old Delhi some revamped rickshaws. “The ricks got so popular that the organisers decided to take these back with them to the US, and to the various festivals they organise, says Ahuja, adding, “However, people in India are asking us to design a few for the roads here, and we are considering taking up the project.”
{{/usCountry}}“We’d be highlighting Delhi’s monuments on the ricks to bring in a touch of Delhi,” says Mayur Mengle, the artist.