It could have been midnight when a cartoon of a yellow banana being hung to death, a silhouette of a boy watering a human spine growing out of a flower pot, and a sketch of Nirav Modi riding Lalit Modi’s piggy back were drawn. He might appear on a Mumbai back alley, on a street wall or on a fallen shutter, carried on the back of a British flag-carrying Vijay Mallya. It might be during the day that black cat installations and rows of broken toilet bowls with the words “No one cares” spray-painted on the walls are secretly placed on public staircases and sidewalks.
These controversial images, a fusion of graffiti and unique stenciling techniques, continue to appear sporadically across the city, leaving a trail of cheeky and socially poignant messages, but the guerrillas from Mumbai It is the work of a street artist and answers to the nickname Tyler, although his real name and identity remain. Mystery.
Dubbed Mumbai’s Banksy, Tyler’s street art has cultivated an Instagram community of more than 64,000 followers, even as state authorities continue to whitewash his work.
After he recently organized an online auction of artwork that was banned from last year’s India Art Fair, we managed to peel back a layer or two of the person behind the art. The painting in question, “The Price of Freedom,” is a canvas of Mahatma Gandhi, his face obscured by a red cross on his forehead. “This piece was meant to make us think about the sacrifices made for freedom. We enjoy the slight irony of putting it up for auction on Gandhi Jayanti. A mysterious person has decided to buy it. “What were their motives? I don’t think we’ll ever know,” he said. he says.
Since the early days of street graffiti, Tyler’s art has been a bold critique of a variety of issues. The first artwork he shared on his social media dates back to his 2015, depicting a sad smiley on a tree ring made of cut tree logs stacked together in a tempo. Over time, he expanded his focus on people with images that range from surveillance, unscrupulous cops, child labor, homelessness, consumerism, and the art market to tackling more important themes such as communal politics and corrupt governance, especially after the 2019 elections. It began to stimulate my conscience.
His talent for translating public sentiment into art has often stirred controversy. One such piece of his that attracted international attention was the infamous “Tug of War” graffiti of Rahul Gandhi playing tug of war with Narendra Modi on a torn map of India, with both parties It symbolizes his decade-long political feud between. This piece was whitewashed over eight days.
In 2020, he created a buzz with politicians, newscasters and celebrities with his twist on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame on the streets of Malad. On behalf of the star, Tyler ran an online poll on his Instagram account to ensure people had a say in this cheeky social commentary against public figures who abuse their positions of power. “Shit” was drawn over the names of public figures that were crowdsourced through . He called it the “Path of Shame,” but complaints were made and it was painted over.
More recently, his imagination has entered the realm of AI, with re-imaginings of “cuteness” featuring child laborers in sweatshops mass-producing toys and outrageous animals surrounded by incredibly fluffy felines. It creates a dystopian depiction of a voluptuous woman. And then there’s the controversial series that features Prime Minister Modi playing his DJ in front of a boisterous crowd, or engaging in an intense game of chess with himself. “AI reduces the time from imagination to execution. Street artists need a digital vacation too,” he reasons.
Tyler (who borrows his name from Tyler Durden, the unconventional character from Chuck Palahniuk’s book Fight Club) gives us a glimpse into a typical day in his life, but says, “It’s… A whirlpool of inspiration, a secret mission, and creating art in the moonlight.”His age, artistic background, and education remain a closely guarded secret. He sneaks into the video wearing a hoodie and skull cap, a thin figure armed with a ladder and a paint can.
In a world where artists often chase fame and the spotlight, Tyler “finds solace in obscurity. It’s not about hiding, it’s about letting your art shine without the spotlight getting in the way.” says. But secrecy is also essential to his survival. Because, no matter how convincing his stencils are, he uses public walls to paint searing messages that question and provoke authorities. “It’s a bold belief that art should be a mirror that society doesn’t want to look into. It’s a relentless urge to shake things up, to provoke conversation, to spark change,” he asserts.
But what does it feel like to be an artistic provocateur in a world that doesn’t take too kindly to uninvited artists challenging authority?Tyler finds mischievous satisfaction in these acts. There is. “It’s quite a laugh, really. To see my work provoke a reaction, whether it’s whitewashing or banning, is like a pat on the back from the city itself,” he says. . And as for the ephemeral lifespan of his work, he said, “That’s the privilege of the city. I give up my creativity and let it roam free.”
Doesn’t he worry about risks? Many of his works have faced backlash from politicians and public figures. “I tread carefully,” Tyler says. “My work may ruffle a bit of lofty ground, but I aim to push the boundaries within the law. There is a fine line between ‘street artist’ and ‘public nuisance.’ and I want to stay on the right side.”
But as he wanders the city’s alleys, he can’t help but think about his escapades, dodging curious passersby and outwitting the law. “I had many encounters,” he says, “but one of my favorites was the one where I fooled honest police officers and BMC officials into believing that I was actually doing it for the greater good.” “A well-timed smile and a few words. Talk about ‘beautifying the area’ can deflect suspicion. It’s all part of the street artist’s craft,” he concluded.
These controversial images, a fusion of graffiti and unique stenciling techniques, continue to appear sporadically across the city, leaving a trail of cheeky and socially poignant messages, but the guerrillas from Mumbai It is the work of a street artist and answers to the nickname Tyler, although his real name and identity remain. Mystery.
Dubbed Mumbai’s Banksy, Tyler’s street art has cultivated an Instagram community of more than 64,000 followers, even as state authorities continue to whitewash his work.
After he recently organized an online auction of artwork that was banned from last year’s India Art Fair, we managed to peel back a layer or two of the person behind the art. The painting in question, “The Price of Freedom,” is a canvas of Mahatma Gandhi, his face obscured by a red cross on his forehead. “This piece was meant to make us think about the sacrifices made for freedom. We enjoy the slight irony of putting it up for auction on Gandhi Jayanti. A mysterious person has decided to buy it. “What were their motives? I don’t think we’ll ever know,” he said. he says.
Since the early days of street graffiti, Tyler’s art has been a bold critique of a variety of issues. The first artwork he shared on his social media dates back to his 2015, depicting a sad smiley on a tree ring made of cut tree logs stacked together in a tempo. Over time, he expanded his focus on people with images that range from surveillance, unscrupulous cops, child labor, homelessness, consumerism, and the art market to tackling more important themes such as communal politics and corrupt governance, especially after the 2019 elections. It began to stimulate my conscience.
Expanding
In 2020, he created a buzz with politicians, newscasters and celebrities with his twist on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame on the streets of Malad. On behalf of the star, Tyler ran an online poll on his Instagram account to ensure people had a say in this cheeky social commentary against public figures who abuse their positions of power. “Shit” was drawn over the names of public figures that were crowdsourced through . He called it the “Path of Shame,” but complaints were made and it was painted over.
More recently, his imagination has entered the realm of AI, with re-imaginings of “cuteness” featuring child laborers in sweatshops mass-producing toys and outrageous animals surrounded by incredibly fluffy felines. It creates a dystopian depiction of a voluptuous woman. And then there’s the controversial series that features Prime Minister Modi playing his DJ in front of a boisterous crowd, or engaging in an intense game of chess with himself. “AI reduces the time from imagination to execution. Street artists need a digital vacation too,” he reasons.
Tyler (who borrows his name from Tyler Durden, the unconventional character from Chuck Palahniuk’s book Fight Club) gives us a glimpse into a typical day in his life, but says, “It’s… A whirlpool of inspiration, a secret mission, and creating art in the moonlight.”His age, artistic background, and education remain a closely guarded secret. He sneaks into the video wearing a hoodie and skull cap, a thin figure armed with a ladder and a paint can.
In a world where artists often chase fame and the spotlight, Tyler “finds solace in obscurity. It’s not about hiding, it’s about letting your art shine without the spotlight getting in the way.” says. But secrecy is also essential to his survival. Because, no matter how convincing his stencils are, he uses public walls to paint searing messages that question and provoke authorities. “It’s a bold belief that art should be a mirror that society doesn’t want to look into. It’s a relentless urge to shake things up, to provoke conversation, to spark change,” he asserts.
But what does it feel like to be an artistic provocateur in a world that doesn’t take too kindly to uninvited artists challenging authority?Tyler finds mischievous satisfaction in these acts. There is. “It’s quite a laugh, really. To see my work provoke a reaction, whether it’s whitewashing or banning, is like a pat on the back from the city itself,” he says. . And as for the ephemeral lifespan of his work, he said, “That’s the privilege of the city. I give up my creativity and let it roam free.”
Doesn’t he worry about risks? Many of his works have faced backlash from politicians and public figures. “I tread carefully,” Tyler says. “My work may ruffle a bit of lofty ground, but I aim to push the boundaries within the law. There is a fine line between ‘street artist’ and ‘public nuisance.’ and I want to stay on the right side.”
But as he wanders the city’s alleys, he can’t help but think about his escapades, dodging curious passersby and outwitting the law. “I had many encounters,” he says, “but one of my favorites was the one where I fooled honest police officers and BMC officials into believing that I was actually doing it for the greater good.” “A well-timed smile and a few words. Talk about ‘beautifying the area’ can deflect suspicion. It’s all part of the street artist’s craft,” he concluded.