The Maqtha Art District is a neighborhood in Hyderabad, India, known for its street art and murals that cover building walls and public spaces.[1] It is located near Raj Bhavan and Hussain Sagar Lake, next to the Necklace Road station.[2][3] It is among several urban art districts in India, including the Lodhi Art District in Delhi and the Mahim (East) Art District in Mumbai.[4]
Origins and St+art India Foundation[edit | edit source]
The Maqtha Art District project began in 2016, led by the St+Art India Foundation in partnership with Asian Paints. St+art India Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes street art in public spaces across India. The initiative included contributions from 38 artists, including international participants such as Delphine Delas (France) and Sadhu X (Nepal).[1][4] Since their inception, the murals have been periodically repainted.[5]
Structure and districts[edit | edit source]
The area is informally divided into four zones: Pink Gully, Yellow Gully, Green Gully, and Blue Chowk. These color-coded sections and directional arrows help visitors navigate the area.[4]
List of artists involved[edit | edit source]
Artists who have painted works in the district include:
- Delphine Delas (France)
- SadduX (Nepal)
- Raghav Balla (Bangalore, India)
- Swathi Vijay (Hyderabad, India)
- Hoozinc (Hyderabad, India)
- Varun Vedavyas (Hyderabad, India)
- Harit Puram (Hyderabad, India)
- Rouge (France)
- Ness Lee (Canada)
- Manola Mesa (Spain)[6][5]
Mural themes[edit | edit source]
In the Maqtha Art District, murals depict themes related to social concerns, daily life, and regional culture. One example is a work by French artist Rouge, which features a composition of intertwined saris, symbolizing challenges faced by women in a patriarchal context.[5]
Social impact and community engagement[edit | edit source]
Initially, the project received a mixed response from local residents. However, as changes became visible, more residents supported the initiative. The project has contributed to changes in the area's visual appearance, and has attracted interest from outside the community.[2][5] According to the St+art Foundation, the project is part of a larger effort to make public art more accessible and inclusive.[1]
Visiting Maqtha[edit | edit source]
The district can be explored on foot, with painted arrows leading visitors through the streets.[citation needed]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Maqtha Art District". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hyderabad gets its own art district". The Hindu. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ "Red Gully, Yellow Street and Pink Road: Welcome to Hyderabad's official art district". The News Minute. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "The Maqtha Art District". Swadesi. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Revisiting Maqtha: The boulevard of bright dreams". The Times of India. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ "The Beautiful Murals in Hyderabad's Maqtha Art District That We Didn't Know Existed!". Travel + Leisure Asia. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2025.