French artist paints up a fruity storm on the wall – The Times of India

At Aksharnandan School near SB Road, a large pomegranate now stretches across a sunlit wall, its ruby seeds catching the eye of students who pass it every day. The mural, part of Wall Art India, a public art initiative by Alliance Française, the Embassy of France in India and the Institut Français, turns a fruit into a conversation starter.

The wall now sits among classrooms carrying a story of exchange that started with a fruit and grew into something the youngsters will see daily as part of their life.

WHO’S THE ARTIST?​French artist Olivier Poizat, who paints under the name Kesadi, did not arrive with a fixed India-themed plan. “The idea was to showcase the fruit on the tree, the fruit when it is sold, and where it goes from there,” he said. Adding about his fascination for the fruit he painted the pomegranate he shared that he was drawn to it because it is not something he sees in France. He read about local fruits and built the image from there.

Curious kids and the artwork​While Kesadi painted, students gathered around him during breaks. “They listened and I found them to be very creative,” said the artist. The school treated this visit as part of learning.