Painters have a tough time because of the strict implementation of the model code of conduct in Cuddalore.
CUDDALORE:
Ever since the model code of conduct came into force for the State Assembly elections on the evening of March 1, wall writing artists have seen their prospects become bleak .
For, they will have to tighten the belt to lead an austere life till the elections get over. Once considered a lucrative business, the artists specialised in graffiti and wall writings and wielding paint brushes are now least sought after.
Prospective candidates hesitate to engage them for two reasons:
public property should not be defaced and for using private property the written consent of the owners should be obtained and the copy of it should be submitted to the polling officials concerned. Above all, the expenditure incurred on this score will be credited to the election accounts of the respective candidates.
Hand-to-mouth existence
A.Jaffar, a painter of over 20 years standing in Cuddalore, told TheHindu that there were over 1,600 artists in the district and were leading a hand-to-mouth existence. In fact, many have quit the trade and became electricians and fitters. The moment the election schedule was announced even the thinning orders would be eroded. Days were when the artists painstakingly painted the portraits of political leaders and the symbols and flags of political parties a huge crowd would gather around them to watch them at work. Mr. Jaffar said that in his childhood he too was inspired by such artists and after returning home he would unfailingly reproduce the paintings in his scrapbook.
“Looked down upon”
But nowadays these artists are looked down upon and are do not feel relevant anymore. Earlier, the painters had varied work to execute, including number plates of automobiles. But the advent of digital banners and flexiboards have thrown them virtually out of the trade. Mr. Jaffar said that 40 artists whom he had trained had switched to other pursuits. Now he had been assigned the nominal work of painting the booth numbers for the simple reason that it would not be easily torn as in the case of flexiboards or printed materials. He supplements his income by taking Hindi classes to school students. Mr. Jaffar and his ilk are still confident that one cannot totally write off their trade as it has the resilience to survive even on lean patronage.
