The Mohakhali Flyover Redefines Urban Art in Dhaka

The vibrant paintings on Dhaka’s Mohakhali flyover are sparking conversations among pedestrians and on social media, giving the city a newfound sense of liveliness. The transformation of the flyover is part of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited’s ‘Wrong Bodle Rongin Kori’ campaign.

The new paintings on the flyover beautifully portray the rich culture and traditions of Bangladesh, bringing life into the city’s infrastructure. In addition to portraying cultural elements, the paintings carry messages like “Gach Bachao Jibon Bachao” (Save trees, save lives), “Horn Bajano Nishedh” (Horn blowing is prohibited), “Ekti Gach, Ekti Pran” (A Tree, A Life), and “Bachle Desh Amra Bachbo Besh” (If our country lives, we will thrive) to raise awareness among commuters passing underneath the flyover.

“The design of this flyover, which is about 2 lakh square feet in length, basically reflects Bangladesh and Bangladesh’s industrial culture and history. The diversity of the country’s art culture, folk art, and weaving art has been highlighted. Language Movement, Liberation War, and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s history-changing gesture are all highlighted here,” expresses Artist Arif Nitol, one of the artists who was in charge of the industrial direction of this project.

Urban art, often associated with street art, graffiti, and muralism, has evolved from being perceived as vandalism to finding its place in contemporary art. It challenges conventions, pushing the boundaries of creativity, expression, and social commentary. As pedestrians observe the paintings, they now have the opportunity to explore the profound impact of urban art and its challenging conventions.

Rupali Chowdhury, managing director of Berger Paints, expressed her opinions on this project, stating, “People stuck in traffic jams in Dhaka city can now witness such works of art on modern structures like flyovers. The color and beauty of this artwork will provide them with peace of mind. The heart of the city will also be reminded of its roots.”

Therefore, the initiative, a collaboration between Dhaka North City Corporation, was undertaken to break boundaries in the art world and beyond. Moreover, the creative agency TRA (Transforming Reality into Art) is responsible for the principal building and art direction of the shoot. Founder and Proprietor Arif Siddiqui Nitol and his wife Tahsina Ferdous Rinia are both alumni of Dhaka University, Faculty of Fine Arts. They were responsible for overseeing the industrial direction of this project. Two artists under their guidance, Russell Rana (Lecturer, Faculty of Fine Arts, Jagannath University) and artist Shakeel Mridha (Alumnus, Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University), illustrated the paintings in digital media, leading the painting project for the Mohakhali flyover.

“Personally, I always lean towards using native styles and materials in my work. In this project, the content and drawing style reflect that preference. We have put a strong emphasis on incorporating folk motifs. Both Berger and the DNCC have been incredibly supportive, granting us complete freedom in this creative journey. Our goal here is to spotlight the rich history and culture of our country, intertwining various historical and cultural aspects into the overall narrative,” shares artist Arif Nitol.

The artworks portray a myriad of elements, such as the Bangla language, Tepa puppets commonly seen at village fairs, boats, bullock carts, hand fans, birds, bowls, diverse animals, as well as city rickshaws and buses. This wide-ranging blend of subjects aims to capture the diverse facets of life and culture in Dhaka, creating a visually engaging experience for those who encounter the artwork.

Both artists, Russell Rana and Shakeel Mridha, are renowned for their work with folk art in Bangladesh, which led them to this project. Shakil Mridha, one of the artists, explained, “Since Rana and I specialize in folk art, we were granted the freedom to infuse our style into the artwork while adhering to the given ratio. We utilized digital media to craft the illustrations, which were then passed on to the execution team for implementation.”

The actual execution of the painting project at ground level was undertaken by another agency. Following the commencement of the work, the artist Moniruzzaman Monir was later appointed as a consultant, taking on the responsibility of overseeing the entire execution process.

This initiative is expanding the idea of the Dhaka city center, utilizing a massive canvas in one of the country’s busiest and most crucial locations. “Stretching from the airport into the main city, this route is traveled by both locals and foreigners, making it an ideal space to showcase the history and culture of Bangladesh,” shares artist Tahsina Ferdous Rinia.

She further adds, “The transition from our native rural tradition to urban vehicles is depicted here through color, festivals, and motifs—everything speaks our language, especially the growth of Bengali culture after the liberation war’s freedom. I feel immensely blessed and fortunate to have the chance to work on my own culture.”

In an effort to enhance the city’s aesthetics for Victory Day, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) launched a street art project inaugurated by Mayor Atiqul Islam in collaboration with Berger Paints Bangladesh on December 11, 2023. Scheduled for completion by March, aligning with the month of independence, Mayor Atiqul Islam emphasized strict measures against defacement with posters, stating, “We put in a lot of effort to beautify our city with street art. It’s disheartening to see the artwork covered with posters after a few days. I don’t want to see any posters on the beautiful street art in Mohakhali.”

Inspired by the daily routines of city residents, the art on the Mohakhali flyover has successfully transformed the dull concrete structures of the urban scenes into vibrant and thought-provoking masterpieces. The notable aspect of completing this artwork in a bustling public space is that it becomes more accessible to everyone, fostering engagement from a broader audience.

Tags: Dhaka