It’s definitely a pleasant experience to stumble upon large-scale murals as you walk through old lanes in Mumbai. The expansive works of art feature relatable imagery, often drawn from the city’s favourite preoccupations like Bollywood, cricket, street food and at other times, they provide a peek into the artist’s understanding of the city and life in it. An ongoing project by St+art India Foundation and Asian paints, will add to the city’s mural collection, as 11 larger than life murals celebrating everyday people and their diversity will be painted along the streets of Mahim. The project not only provides a platform to domestic artists but also invites expatriates to decorate the city’s walls with their imagination. And one such artist is Italian urban artist Francesco Camillo Giorgino, also known as Millo, who has painted a mural that gives shape to a man’s imaginative world. “I am excited to finish this project and let Indian’s see my work here,” says the artist, who is busy sprucing up his mural with finishing touches.
This is Millo’s first time in the city and for his mural, he chose to portray a common man and the magical world he often creates to stay away from the chaos of society. “It is a unique work and a representation of someone’s personal space,” says Millo. To give shape to this theme, Millo has painted a boy holding a colourful umbrella in his hand and standing in a valley of flowers. “It is like a man creates a protected environment under his umbrella and creates his own personal magical world,” explains the artist.
Millo isn’t a stranger to mural art for he started painting at an early age and has been painting street art for over two decades. The artist tells us that though he has been painting for ages, he is constantly in search of new themes. “I started doing street art when it was very new and then slowly moved to mural art and big murals, leaving all the themes behind. I always try to draw a red line between all the artwork I do,” he avers.
The artist has a penchant for black and white lines and infuses dashes of colour whenever necessary. Millo also often incorporates elements of architecture into his layered paintings. The artist says that he draws inspiration from every art form he observes. “I am following every kind of art at the moment. I keenly observe contemporary and classical art for my inspiration and pursuits,” elucidates the artists. When asked about his love for variation in art, the artist says that this is because ideas come from anywhere at any time, “But best ideas come in the bathroom,” quips the artist. Millo also shares that he chances upon some great ideas in the morning when he is still groggy with sleep. “Usually the ideas come early in the morning when my brain is still half sleeping and I am in an unconscious moment. There, I draw inspiration without thinking too much,” says the artist.
With a host of work to his credit, Millo’s artwork decorates the walls of various countries of the world, including Italy. “Mural art is witnessing a lot of success because it is accessible to everyone in the world without any discrimination between social classes, or religion,” insists the artist, and adds that this art is free for everyone, unlike the art pieces one explores in museums. “Mural art is democratic in a way and that makes this art form very powerful. It is accessible and doesn’t cost any money to view,” says the artist proudly. So, one wonders how the response has been to his work so far and to this, the artist says, “I think it’s positive. Usually, I don’t keep any expectations, I leave everything on the people to watch and enjoy. If they like it, that’s fine and if they don’t, they have all the right.”
Ever since the artist has come to the city, he has been keenly observing the art on display in Mumbai. Millo feels that the city has a lot of murals and is glad that organisations are promoting mural art. “There are good murals and it is good to see that big cities are bureaucratically organising such long-term art projects. The projects will have a good, long life,” he concludes.
