Thu Dec 04 13:08:28 UTC 2025: Summary:

The article reports on the fifth edition of “The City as a Museum,” an art and heritage festival organized by DAG in Kolkata. This year’s event, taking place from December 6-15, focuses on celebrating the iconic blue and yellow Kolkata bus. A bus will be transformed into a mobile art installation titled “Dekho Magar Pyaar Se” (see, but with affection), and will be parked at different locations throughout the city. The interior will be a video installation showcasing the histories of eight sites, while the exterior will feature satirical artwork reflecting contemporary Kolkata life. The project aims to highlight the bus’s role as a democratic mode of transport and a canvas for public expression.

News Article:

Kolkata Bus to Become Mobile Art Installation for “City as a Museum” Festival

Kolkata, December 4, 2025 – The iconic blue and yellow Kolkata bus, a ubiquitous symbol of the city’s public transport system, is set to become a mobile art installation as part of the fifth edition of “The City as a Museum” festival. Organized by art company DAG, the festival, running from December 6th to 15th, will celebrate the bus’s significance as a democratic mode of transport and a canvas for public expression.

The project, titled “Dekho Magar Pyaar Se” (see, but with affection), will see a bus transformed into a moving exhibition. The interior, designed by artist Pavel Paul and his collaborators, will feature a multi-channel video installation exploring the complex histories of eight landmark sites in Kolkata. The exterior will be adorned with satirical images and handbills by Sumantra Mukherjee and fellow artists, offering playful commentary on contemporary life in the city.

“The bus embodies shared motion, connecting diverse communities and acting as a mobile archive of public sentiment,” explains Maitrayee Paul, a DAG volunteer involved in the project. Sumona Chakravarty, Vice-President (Museums) of DAG, added, “This project celebrates the bus’s unique role as a canvas for everyday commentary and invites the people of Kolkata to explore their city through fresh perspectives.”

The mobile installation will be parked at various locations throughout the festival, including Kalighat, Victoria Memorial, and Sealdah Station, encouraging residents and visitors alike to engage with the city’s history and culture in a unique and interactive way. This initiative follows a workshop on bus art held during the 2023 edition of The City as a Museum festival, and promises to be a highlight of this year’s event.

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