Kerala Assembly Elections 2026 : Seasoned wall artists in Thiruvananthapuram on their role in election campaigning

With less than a week left for the high-stakes Assembly elections, walls in public spaces across Thiruvananthapuram have come alive with bright fluorescent colours! From portraits of candidates and party symbols to political slogans and calls to action, the messaging on street walls is the handiwork of skilled artists who have kept the art alive with precise and impactful strokes.

A graffiti for LDF’s Vamanapuram candidate DK Murali
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Even while robotic aids and social media tools may have caught the imagination, there is no denying the charm and durability of wall art, which continues to be a major tool for election campaigning. It is not an uncommon sight these days, ahead of elections, to see artists perched atop ladders, reaching a high wall while navigating the curves and nuances of symbols and letters.

Hands of perfection

For artists such as Robert Sam of Venjaramoodu, election messaging is an opportunity to showcase his deftness with the brush. Adept at both drawing and writing, Robert says he completes anywhere between 15-20 walls a day. Ask him about the continuing lure of this art, and the artist, who has found mention in the Talent Book of World Records in 2023, says, “Wall art is known for its perfection. It is also long-lasting and stays put for three to five years in shady places, as compared to cloth or flex banners which fade away in six to seven months.”

Forty-two-year-old artist Shibu Koppam of Vembayam who started practising the craft in his teens describes the process. “I start as early as six in the morning at the designated wall. Depending on the size of the wall and the content to be communicated, I decide its design and layout.”

Robert adds that the freehand font is more commonly used these days. Other popular fonts are Indulekha, Revathy and Karthika.

Artist Robert Sam drawing the election graffiti for the BJP candidate at Vattiyoorkavu constituency in Thiruvananthapuram
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

With experience, Shibu no longer follows the pencil sketching and outline and rather writes directly. He likes to use the wide brush available in hardware shops for they cover a large area in one stroke. “With emulsions, all colours are easily available, and we do not have to go through the earlier process of mixing powder paints with binders like Fevicol,” points out Shibu.

Adds Suman P Das, an artist based in Malayinkeezh with nearly 25 years of experience: “When done in fluorescent colours, these art forms on walls are attractive and beautiful to look at.”

Differing pay structures

Says Robert, “the artists’ work for different pay structures including piece rate or square feet rate. The contract model of work is also in vogue. Pay packets range from ₹2,000-3,000 per day.”

Muthu Kumarapuram, who has been in this trade for 30 years now, fondly reminisces the days when people would gather around a wall, admiring the craft and discussing politics. “I have had fun times engaging with the public and gauging their aspirations.”

While public engagement may not be as perceptible as before, the artists take content in the fact their work is appreciated by all stakeholders including the commissioning parties.

Also, they don’t restrict their work to one political party. “We take up the assignment for all candidates, irrespective of the party they represent,” they say.

This is not an easy job for these artists who are confronted with the sweltering heat, along with the declining volume of work as compared to the past. Muthu says, “The harsh rays of the sun are a dampener; we choose the hours of relative cool in the mornings to finish the assigned task and move on to the next wall.”