The next time you whiz past Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram, pause and take a deeper look at a wall mural on the busy street. Adorning a boundary wall of a government primary school, it is designed by young individuals who belong to marginalised backgrounds, the mural came about courtesy of a project between the non-profit Dream a Dream that works towards transforming education for children in India, and Aravani Art Project, a trans-women and cis-women led art collective. Together, the two organisations “explored what ‘success’ means to young people coming from marginalised backgrounds”. And these stories were the foundation of the wall mural that launched on September 12.
A snapshot of the mural’s making process
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Suchetha Bhat, CEO, Dream a Dream, explains that the mural is a part of Dream a Dream’s Redefining Success campaign that examines how existing systems categorise individuals into conventional narratives of ‘success’ and ‘failure’. “Our life skills programme graduates demonstrate resilience and aspirations, yet continue to face systemic barriers that limit their opportunities, raising a pivotal question: what if success was defined on their own terms?”
Participants at one of the workshops
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Special Arrangement
To explore this, the team undertook a listening journey with over 325 people (students, organisational leaders, government officials, artists, authors, among others, ranging in age from 14 to 65) between 2023 and 2025, “uncovering that success is deeply personal, contextual, and evolving”.
“Our intention now is to create reflective spaces that question this narrative, embrace diverse paths, and inspire a compassionate, holistic understanding of success: one that validates every young person’s unique journey and enables a thriving life for every young person,” says Saba.
The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The mural project was facilitated via art workshops with 30 young individuals from Dream a Dream’s Thriving Centre. Nandini Rajaramanathan, project lead, Aravani Art Project, says the project brings together people from the transgender community who paint murals inspired by their lives and experiences, in and around public spaces in the city.
“Dream a Dream recognised the depth of experiences these artists have undergone, which will help bring out deeper insights from our young people about their stories of success. They invited us to engage with 30 young people (who voluntarily signed up to be a part of this project) at their Thriving Centre in K R Puram. The idea of a mural emerged by redefining the idea of success through a series of participatory workshops,” she says, adding how the design process has been entirely collaborative, “with the young people shaping the themes, colours, and imagery, while our team facilitates the artistic execution”.
The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Saba Ahmad, project lead for Dream a Dream’s collaboration with Aravani Art Project on the Redefining Success Campaign, says the workshops (held between June and August 2025) were “incredibly engaging and thoughtfully structured, offering young people a rich blend of creative expression, personal reflection, and collective exploration”.
The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
In June, the focus began with a story-building session that encouraged the participants to begin articulating their own stories and how they view themselves, she says, adding that this laid the groundwork for the thematic explorations that followed in July and August.
“The July workshops centred on the theme of identity and safe expression. Activities included self-portraiture, body mapping, and interactive theatre sessions led by theatre director, Sharanya Ramprakash. Subsequent weeks introduced participants to art as activism, covering foundational art techniques, colour theory, and sensory mapping,” says Saba.
“Through storytelling, group collages, and interactive tools like the ikigai chart, participants explored the connection between emotions, identity, and artistic expression. A particularly powerful moment was a storytelling session through the works of transgender artist Shwetha, which opened up conversations about inclusion and lived experiences.”
The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
In August, the workshops evolved into a more collaborative format. “Participants brainstormed mural concepts through storytelling, group discussions, and screenings of relevant short films. They worked in small groups to create visual narratives and mini comic strips, receiving both peer and facilitator feedback as they refined their ideas,” says Saba. The programme culminated in a week-long mural painting session in early September.
The mural at Basvanapura Main Road in Bengaluru’s KR Puram
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Nandini says the mural is a vibrant “dream landscape — a reflection of the personal journeys of these young people as they redefine success and give shape to their aspirations”. Portraits of the youth, created through participatory workshops, inform the central narrative of the artwork. “Surrounding these portraits, the design incorporates simple elements that capture their participation throughout the workshop reflecting their dreams and personal growth.
Importantly, the colour palette has been chosen by the participants, making the mural a direct extension of their creativity and imagination.”
Published – September 16, 2025 10:01 am IST