A Shutter Story

By Riya Singh
The forgotten stories of quaint shops now stay alive long after the shutters are pulled
down, thanks to this talented duo!

Source: afreshcoat.in

Walking down old streets of Pune, it is not uncommon to view drab, lifeless buildings.
While there are a few buildings that are ornate and rustic in their beauty, there are only
a few that bring across a pop of colour to these streets. Now, the colour palette on these
streets is slowly expanding as artists Alefiya Kachwala and Annushka Hardikar, with
their army of artists, change the streets of Bohri Aali in Raviwar Peth, one shutter at a
time.
Taking a walk down memory lane now has a whole new meaning in Bohri Ali, Ravivar
Peth. One of the oldest markets in the city now has brightly painted shutters that
showcase the rich heritage of the old city. The collaborative street art project is being led
by ‘A Fresh Coat,’ a group of young artists who are using the shutters as a canvas to
share stories and the history of old vintage shops.

Source: afreshcoat.in

The project was conceived by Alefiya Kachwalla, a liberal arts graduate and co-founder
of A Fresh Coat. She noticed the rich heritage of the area while working at her father’s
shop, King’s Stationery store. “When people think of the Peth areas, they just see them
as crowded and noisy, but each shop has its own story to tell, and we didn’t want that
legacy to be forgotten,” says Kachwalla. Co-founder of A Fresh Coat, illustrator
Annushka Hardikar adds, “We started visiting shopkeepers to know what stories they
want to showcase about their shop.”

The team has painted 20 shutters so far. “We want artists who work with us to get the
recognition they deserve. In phase two, we hope to experiment more,” says Kachwalla.
The team has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to take the project to different cities
and cover their basic expenses. “We want this to be a place where people can just walk
around to witness the culture and true essence of Pune,” says Hardikar.
 Source: afreshcoat.in [L-R: Alefiya Kachwalla, Annushka Hardikar]

Art can turn anything magical, whether it is the shutters of a closed shop!