Bonjour Chandigarh

This landmark project was part of Bonjour India 2017-2018, celebrating the partnership between India and France. Inspired by Chandigarh’s French heritage, rooted in the city’s design by Le Corbusier, the artists painted the word “Bonjour” on the bus station floor in a custom font by Kureshi, with abstract strokes by Sowat and defined strokes by Lek. Utilising the concrete grid layout of the station, the mural evoked the Indian tradition of rangoli, fostering engagement with the city’s architectural heritage. Initially planned as “Bonjour Chandigarh” with “Chandigarh” written in Gurmukhi, the project faced delays in permissions for the city name. The artists improvised, marking “Chandigarh” in Devanagari, completed with the help of a human chain of residents, turning the project into a public celebration of unity and inclusivity.