A new look: Volunteers add lustre to city’s drab walls

Group uses art as its weapon of choice to add colour to streets

PESHAWAR:

Peshawar has once again become the city of flowers – this time, figuratively rather than literally.

The city’s walls, which were once drab and lacked colour, are now splattered with paintings of flowers. The credit goes to a group of young people who decided to take matters into their own hands and revamped the condition of walls and streets in the metropolis. The group has pioneered the Wadaan project under which it has used art as its weapon of choice.

“Wadaan is a Pashto word which means growth,” Bahram Khan, a law student who currently heads the project told The Express Tribune. “The group comprises 20 members who are putting their heart and soul into beautifying Peshawar.”

How it happened

According to Bahram, one of the group’s members, Omar Naseem, is the brains behind the initiative which began little over a year ago.

“Initially, we began by distributing items among the underprivileged sections of society,” he said. “However, in July, we decided to try something different. We painted the walls of the city before the local government re-polls.”

The project was initiated on University Road.

“We started painting the walls in the locality right after the LG elections on May 30,” Bahram said. “At that time, the walls of Peshawar were dotted with posters of candidates. We scrubbed the walls and removed the posters.”

After this, the group polished the walls and used them as a canvas to produce invigorating and thought-provoking art.

Walls of Khyber Teaching Hospital before and after the makeover. PHOTOS: BAHRAM KHAN

“In hindsight, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences,” he says. “All of us want to give back to the city and our people.”

What the future holds

According to Bahram, the group plans to broaden the scope of its activities and is enthusiastic about its future prospects.

“We have received appreciation for our work,” he said. “As a result, we were asked to paint the walls of Khyber Teaching Hospital and give them a unique look. Now, the walls are more colourful.”

Bahram added Wasif Shinwari, another member of the group, is a gifted artist who has helped add life to these paintings.

“The group has produced images on a variety of themes,” he said. “Although we focus on floral art, we have also tried to reproduce techniques used in truck art to add richness to the walls.”

Bahram said the government has not actively supported their group in any way.

“Nevertheless, I continue to seek support from the government,” he said. “One of our upcoming projects involves planting trees across the city and the government will need to assist us in this regard.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2015.