Veteran actor Anupam Kher believes public art has the power to do more than beautify a city, it can uplift the spirit of its people. He recently inaugurated artist Sangeeta Babani’s latest public art installation series, Solar in Full Bloom, at the Juhu Garden junction. Created in association with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s H-West Ward, the installation comprises eight sculptures, four Solar Trees and four Solar Flowers, that blend public art with sustainability through solar-powered designs inspired by nature. Reflecting on his long association with the city, Kher said, “I have been a resident of all these areas around Juhu. I used to stay in Linking Road Extension, Shastri Nagar, Bandra, Kherwadi, and now in Juhu. In different phases of my life, I’ve stayed in all these different areas.” Speaking about the significance of public art in urban spaces, he added, “Beautification is needed not only for the eyes but for the soul also. We live in times when our soul needs to feel good too, and that’s a beautiful way to do it with an installation like this. I am glad that artists like Sangeeta ji are taking up such initiatives.” The installation was inaugurated in the presence of Maharashtra’s Minister for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar, who described the project as a collective effort between citizens, authorities and creative minds aimed at making Mumbai more beautiful. He said. “Mumbai is beautiful in itself, but it takes the efforts of its people to make it even more beautiful. This is a collective effort of citizens, authorities, curators and creative minds. Together, we are taking meaningful steps towards making Mumbai an even more beautiful city.” For Babani, the project is intended to spark conversations around sustainability. “These sculptures are living, breathing concepts that draw power from the sun, just like the nature they mimic,” she said. “I hope commuters don’t just see art, but a gentle reminder of a sustainable future growing right in the heart of our city.” Designed as tree-like and flower-inspired structures integrated with solar panels, the artworks celebrate the relationship between nature and renewable energy while serving as a visual reminder of the role clean energy can play in shaping greener cities.
