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Gokarna Street Art As Enigmatic As The Place
As the sun slowly submerges into the Arabian Sea at the Gokarna beach and the sky takes on a rosy hue, the streets of Gokarna seem to be bathed in a golden halo. The main street of the small town leads to the ancient 4th century CE Gokarna temple of Mahabaleshwar. There are a few side streets and alleys, but this street also known as Car Street is usually the hub of activity in the small town. Numerous visits to Gokarna, Karnataka, India and still we are always fascinated by the enigmatic nature of the place.
Shops selling Hindu religious items used for worship flank shops which scream TATTOO, shops selling musical instruments like guitars rub shoulders with shops selling spices. A hippy rushes past you with a bag laden with supplies while a Hindu priest races to the temple carrying a jar of water to bathe and worship the deity in the Mahabaleshwar temple Gokarna. A town of contrasts, a town of diversity, but a town which seemed to be at peace with its dual identity of being a paradise for backpacking hippies as well as a spiritual and pilgrimage center for Hindus.
Gokarna Street Art – Enigmatic Wall Graffitis at Gokarna
This dichotomy seemed to reflect in some of the street art that we discovered. It is not that there are many of these, but walking through some of the smaller lanes and alleys we came across these expressions by unknown artists.
We found this really colorful and vibrant but emanating some kind of indescribable angst. A look at the closed eyes seems to reflect not peace but some inner turmoil. The Coca-Cola image jutting out in the corner is not part of the painting but an advertisement. It seems to offer a striking contrast to the mood of the painting.
If you are in Gokarna, the presence of Shiva is everywhere like this colorful expression on the street. Notice the bicycle and the Saree on the clothesline. Another piece of contradiction. While the painting represents the spiritual, the objects in the frame seem to represent the mundane things of life.
A mother’s love knows no religion. Love is her only religion. This is the message this fascinating piece of art seems to convey. The painting seems to incorporate Hindu and Christian symbolism to show the universal power of a mother’s love.
This is another expression of universal love. Krishna is symbolic of love and music and this piece of work declares unequivocally the love for Krishna.
This image contrasts with the image of Krishna. Though this also talks about love being the only way. The imagery seems to evoke elements of Tantra and the occult.
This is another fascinating image that uses a sacred cow to spread the message of love and service. The cow, of course, is considered a mother in the Hindu religion as it nourishes mankind with its milk, just like a mother would.
Just as Gokarna owes its raison d’être to Lord Shiva, one of the other characters responsible for the legend of Gokarna is the popular Hindu God Ganesha. It is hence fitting to have an art piece dedicated to him.
This is a beautiful painting of Shiva and Shakti, Man, and Woman which sees the very human existence as one and Man and Woman as equal components of the unified whole.
These were some of the enigmatic Gokarna street art that we discovered. These wall graffitis at Gokarna India only added more to the enigmatic aura of the town.
Later as we sat by the edge of the sea watching the waters of the Arabian Seas relentlessly swell and ebb, we thought about the contradictions that exist not only in the world but realized that it is these contradictions which fall into place like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to form a unified whole which is perfect, just like the universe.
Have you visited Gokarna and seen Gokarna street art? Do you love street art? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
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Oh my gosh this is so cool! I love all of these different art works! It is so different than our side of the world and it is so creative!
Artwork can be found in so many wonderful places. These are wonderful. I could look at these for hours
It’s so great to see different forms of art in different places. I could see why you photographed all of Gokarna’s street art: every piece was truly impressive!
That was such great art and all had of them had special meanings. I would love to go there and spend hours going over these pieces.
I’ve never heard of or visited Gokarna before. The photos of the street art look very colorful and bright.
I always love looking at street art. People are so talented! The colorful ones are my favorite.
This art is fascinating. India sounds like an interesting place to visit. I would love to go someday.
I adore street art and it looks like you found some really great art works. I loved all your photos.
Absolutely stunning:-)
There is something about Street Art, there are some really amazing pieces to be found around the place. I love you can just walk the streets and see them for free too.
Sandy and Vyjay, look at those colors! Magical. Enjoying the feel to Gokarna and yep, the images seem to capture the feel of the place in an inspired way.
Ryan
Fascinating to see street art in Gokarna. Lovely captures!
I’ve never visited Gokarna. Love the Gokarna street art. The artists are so talented. Would love to see the street art in person.
I’m so much of a fan of street art. I would love to go somewhere like this just to observe it and take lots of pictures!
This street art is amazing! The colors and vibrancy of it, I have never seen anything like this. There is so much talent!
I love murals and street art and this art is so unique. Great photos!!
I love street art. I love how it is becoming a cultural thing in cities. I used to seek it out, but nowadays you can find it via apps and the internet.
Street art and finding hidden treasures all around is something my husband loves to do. He would really enjoy seeing all this.
Beautiful art work
Wow, those are beautiful art works. My daughter would love this place as she loves anything artsy.
Wow, I am amazed by these awesome street arts! Very detailed and also shows its culture. I hope I could be able to visit and see it with my own eyes.
I am fascinated with street art I love going to places seeing colorful art around me. We recently went to Wynwood Art District in Miami Florida. I am in heavy it is so nice and cool to see those artist put their talent in each wall of the buildings around Miami.
I’m a huge fan of street art. We have an iconic piece near our neighborhood that draws thousands of folks.
I love the graphic street art graphics and color used in all this graffiti. The imagery is very cool and exotic to look at.
Lovely! I think it is a new addition as this is the first article which I have read which talks about the street art in Gokarna. The Shiva painting is my favourite. I also loved the Krishna painting. And of course, sunsets in Gokarna are legendary.
I love places which show off tidy street moral (and not just scribbles) and would love to check these out. My favourite is the Krishna painting. However I am a sucker for sunsets and I would be here in a shot if I had the chance. 🙂
Wow.. Gokarna’s street art is indeed unique with it centering more on spirituality and faith. I particularly love that painting of Shiva and Shakti. Such good details and love the symbolism that it depicts. 🙂
We visited Gokarna a few years ago but didn’t get a chance to experience the stunning street art. Thanks for sharing, it gives us an excuse to visit again! The art is so varied and full of lovely sentiments, cultures intermingled into a beautiful message of love and peace. I definitely want to find the blue guru!
I knew about the beautiful beaches and temples at Gokarna but this is the first time I am reading about enigmatic street art. I love the images – there’s a lot of religious imagery and surely Krishna and Shiva are incorporated in most of the artistic pieces but they’ve been done artistically and beautifully. Love it!
I haven’t visited Gokarna and seen it’s street art but would like to someday. I love street arts and Gokarna’s very much distinct and unique from what I’ve seen from my travels. A perfect way to end the day would be to watch the tide and the sunset at the beach.
Time to refresh my trip to Gokarna. That street art is something I missed . YOu really have captured them well and evoked this urgency to visit it just for these. Well done with these.
Street art in Gokarna. I could have never imagined it. All I have read about the place, there is no mention of this. At least for this reason I must make a trip to Gokarna. Thanks
Beautiful photos! I love all the traditional art seen here. I had not heard of this town before. The Shiva/Shakti art is especially striking…love all the colors.
I did visit Gokarna a few years back but I didn’t spend so much time marveling the street art. I was busy enjoying the beach and the religious places. Time to head back soon.
I’m always fascinated by street art. Gokarna’s street art looks beautiful and enigmatic at the same time. I like the striking contrasts you mentioned. The closed-eye painting really left me thinking what was exactly going on in the mind of the artist. Your closing lines are very profound ‘like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to form a unified whole which is perfect’. I love your style of writing.
My goodness! These street art are really good! I love the art on Shiva. Very detailed. To be honest, while painting on walls gets a bad rep and is even illegal in a lot of countries, if it’s this good, I wouldn’t mind. I hope that people would stop vandalizing and start making real art like this.
What fabulous street art! Great images and colors. Love all the references to “love.”
Marveling a street art is such a treat for eyes, it enhance the beauty and aura of the place. You’ve described every art work just to enticed the need to visit the place.
I love this take on street art. The mix of Indian culture with street art gives it another twist.
Love the street arts on the wall, it is best way to convey messages to the people and also enhance the beauty to the place.