In Borivli, NGOs build plaza which is free-to-use for holding plays, flea markets, making art and having competitions.
An open space defined by rubber tyres, tin sheets, and colourful murals has come up on a footpath by the Western Express Highway in Borivli. Here anyone can, without paying a fee, make visual art on the tin walls, perform plays, hold workshops and competitions, and organise pop-up markets. The space is a non-profit experiment conducted by a couple of NGOs.
Located in front of the under-construction Rivali Park buildings, the open space also has an amphitheatre made out of used truck tyres.
"We are trying to create an outdoor living room where communities can come to bond together and have discussions. Such spaces increase the liveability of the area and when the people come together to create it, they make a bond with it, and take care of it. We need such spaces to experience culture and socialise in a city like Mumbai, not just highways and roads," said Prathima Manohar, Founder of Urban Vision, an urban think-tank, which organised the project.
The creators of the open space are asking nearby communities about their wishes for the area and the city. They have received many responses on social media, based on which artists are making murals on the walls. The art on the walls is by Visual Disobedience, an art collective; and the St+art India foundation, which makes art in public spaces and which is currently painting murals around the city.
"Art is not just found in frames and galleries. Everyone has the ability to make art. We invite everyone around to pick up a spray can and come paint," said Raj Kadam, head curator of Visual Disobedience. The project will be completed by the weekend.
The plaza will stay until the buildings are fully constructed; the real estate developer will bear the costs of securing and maintaining the open space. "The plaza is inclusive of everyone and is not for profit. We are asking the local governing bodies to bring more people here to experience it," said Ranjeet Bubber, a marketer for the real estate developer.
Urban Vision has also taken up a car park in Powai for a similar initiative.
"We are attempting to bring more art in public places. We are asking governing bodies to give us neglected areas and we'll take care of them and change their visual appearance. The government can do a lot if they want to," said Hanif Kureshi, creative director of st+art India foundation.
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