The Magician Of Art:Hanif Kureshi

Hi Readers

I am Pathan Aarzoo. Today I would like to present to you the personality of such a person. For which it can be said that - lived less but lived well.

Hanif Kureshi, the co-founder of the St+art India Foundation,( Street Art India) and the man who revolutionised street art for Indians, unfortunately, passed away on Sunday, at the age of 41.

Kureshi was born on 12 October 1982 in Palitana. His birth place is Palitana. And he was a resident of Talaja. Hanif did his higher secondary education at M J Doshi high-school Talaja.He was fond of art from his childhood. In childhood, whenever he went for a walk, he used to take his drawing book with him.His passion for painting took him to pursue fine art in Maharaja Sayjirao University, Vadodara.

We are gutted and at a loss of words. Hanif was a gifted mentor, collaborator, friend, father and husband.His vision and charisma helped shape the landscape of public art in India with the countless projects.He has contributed to. He was dedicated to nurturing a community of artists, designers and creatives who trusted him with loyal guidance. He was a pioneering figure for graffiti and Street art with his tags spread across cities he travelled to.

It has been an honour for the St+Art, XXL and Guerrilla team to have known and worked with Hanif over the past 10 years. He lives on with the profound legacy he leave behind. It is a void that cannot be filled and we will dearly.

He died on 22 September 2024 in Goa.His last rites were performed in Palitana.

He played an extremely significant role in popularising street art in India and was a role model to many,” says art curator Rahul Bhattacharya.

“Our aim is to make art more accessible. When you are working in an art gallery, your concerns are different, but this is art on the streets, for everyone,” stated Kureshi in an interview with The Indian Express in 2022.

It was his interest in sign-board painting and hand-lettering that also led Kureshi to first explore the bylanes of India in search of street sign painters whom he began commissioning to paint alphabets in their unique styles and fonts. Realising how patronage for the art form was dwindling, he began digitising typefaces and brought them under the banner of HandpaintedType.

It was his search for neighbourhoods that would lend themselves to street art that led Kureshi to Delhi’s Lodhi Colony in 2013, on the recommendation of a friend. With its high walls and pedestrian-friendly lanes, the murals painted in the locality attracted immediate attention. This was not graffiti, associated with protest art, but an attempt to introduce India to street art, and boasted imagery in varied hues and messaging.

Gond artist Bhajju Shyam, who completed a work in Lodhi Colony in 2019, describes Kureshi as modest and courteous. “I have known him since around 2017-18. He was extremely patient and sincere. We had long discussions during the creation of the work — he would listen and offer constructive advice,” says Shyam.

Years later, Lodhi district is now often cited as India’s first art district. St+art India now organises and collaborates on art festivals across India, and has since painted murals in neighbourhoods in several cities, including Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Article in news paper of Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express.

Hanif Kureshi also presented his performances on stage many times.

The great Hanif Kureshi was one of the top 50 artists of the international level. And I will proudly say that the famous artist Hanif Kureshi was my Mama(Uncle).We are very sad that he is no longer with us. He has earned so much name today by working hard. He has struggled a lot in his 41 years of life.

I Hope You Like My Blog. I am writing this blog only to let you know who Hanif Kureshi was.May Allah grant him Paradise.He has presented us with many such memorable street arts at a very young age.

Here some photos of his work...