My art is to inspire, not advertise: Mumbai street artist Tyler

Tyler’s art pieces displayed at the Method Art Space in Kala Ghoda. Pic/Ashish Raje

If you happen to walk into the quaint little Method Art Space in Bandra anytime soon, then you will notice something different about the place - paintings hung on the walls and art installations kept in the middle of the room. On Thursday, as music played softly on the speakers, visitors took a closer look at the artwork created by Mumbai-based street artist Tyler - often touted as the ‘Indian Banksy' - whose month-long and first-ever solo art exhibition kicked off at the Method Art Space in Kala Ghoda and Bandra.

At the two-storeyed Method Art Space in Kala Ghoda, the scale of Tyler's art installations and paintings was nothing compared to the ones in its Bandra counterpart. In a short conversation with mid-day, Tyler said, "All my paintings are close to my heart just the way a butcher is attached to the animals he slays." When asked what prompted him to have his first-ever solo art exhibition, he said, "Graffiti/street art is a middle-class hobby. It's difficult to keep painting the streets without actually earning from it. Every wall painted without permission costs money."

"All my works are rebellious in nature. I paint what I am," he said, adding that it was boring for him to paint in the confines of a studio. "There is more thrill in painting a wall illegally than displaying a painting at a gallery. If you are a rebel at heart, my show will help you push your boundaries even further. I am here to inspire, not advertise," he added.

Founder of Method Art Space, Sahil Arora, who has been following Tyler's work since he started tagging the back-road of Lokhandwala around eight years ago, said, "Tyler's art is a reflection of the society we live in. There is mischief in the simplicity of his ideas that make seemingly important subjects immediately relatable. This particular exhibition is an extension of those ideas. While he usually creates one piece at a time, this is a more consolidated expression of several ideas and perceptions of his that have been presented to the audience in the gallery."

He added, "All the pieces that Tyler have created are based on objects found in the streets. So several street elements have been brought into a white cube space. There's a contrast between the gallery settings and his works, which is interesting. Tyler has created more than 30 pieces spread across our Kala Ghoda and Bandra locations, including some installations. But more so, it's the first time a street artist is doing a solo exhibition, so it's fascinating in that regard too."

"We have always questioned what is traditionally considered ‘art fit for a gallery', and with Tyler's show we are blurring the lines between art forms, mediums and the way it is created. Everyone is welcome at Method without expectations of purchase. The exhibition is free to attend and while we are confident the youth will come to see it, we hope more traditional art enthusiasts take a look as well."