Churchgate station building: Coming up in a week, Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra’s mural of Gandhi

The work shows Gandhiji stepping out of the railway station. Amit Chakravarty

Globally recognised Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra is painting the mural of Mahatma Gandhi on the south and east facing sides of the Churchgate railway station building. It is already making pedestrians stop and look up at the building. The painting, aimed at making the structure vibrant, started early this week, and would be completed by the end of the week, officials said.

In a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by the Asian Paints, NGO St+ art India Foundation has joined hands with the Western Railway. The mural, 25 metres long and 8 metres wide, would span across the two facades of the station building. “We were discussing possibilities of the mural since May this year. However, the plan was delayed due to rains. The work shows Gandhiji stepping out of the station,” a senior Western Railway official said.

It would be the first art initiative by Kobra in India. Among his famous art works are photorealistic pieces depicting portraits of icons, including young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai in Rome titled “Peace”, and Albert Einstein in Los Angeles. He has painted Mahatma Gandhi in the United States and Sao Paulo as well. “While many ideas were discussed to decide which mural could be showcased on the building, we narrowed down on the Gandhi art piece. It will highlight the look of the building, and further decorate the glass panes,” the WR official added.

“The picture showcases the democratic spirit of railways in India. A widely used station like Churchgate looks the best with the artwork represented in this format at the station,” said Giulia Ambrogi from the art foundation

Officials said they plan to document the art work so that it can become one of the classic art pieces in the city. The mural would stay or at least three years.