Poetic overlays in Kolkata

Kolkata, the capital of Bengal, has long been regarded as one of India’s intellectual centres. Its inhabitants are often noted for their engagement with politics and their enduring affinity for art and literature, a disposition reflected in the city’s rich and varied cultural life.

This sensibility extends into the urban fabric itself: walls throughout the city are densely layered with political slogans, local advertisements, film posters, and other public messages. These overlapping strata of ephemeral communication form a constantly shifting visual landscape, whose accumulations can at times appear almost poetic.