Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Guy Wants Authorities To Fix The Roads, Takes The Most Creative Way Of Emphasizing How Big This Problem Actually Is
123

Guy Wants Authorities To Fix The Roads, Takes The Most Creative Way Of Emphasizing How Big This Problem Actually Is

ADVERTISEMENT

Drivers don’t usually get along, especially if it’s rush hour and everybody wants to get home as fast as they can. But there is one thing that all of them can agree upon: potholes are the work of evil sorcerers and should be purged from the planet’s roads with extreme prejudice.

Well-known Indian painter Baadal Nanjundaswamy fights against potholes in a very imaginative way — he turns them into fantastic 3D paintings. The artist caused a real stir online with his newest project, a video where he pretends to be an astronaut walking on the moon. Only it’s not the moon at all, but rather the heavily potholed streets of Bangalore! Scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview with the artist.

More info: Facebook | Twitter

An Indian artist pretended to be an astronaut walking on the moon

Image credits: royalbaadal

But really he was walking on a road in Bangalore. The video went viral

Nanjundaswamy’s video went viral in a flash, getting over 22,000 views and 2,200 comments on Facebook, 132,000 upvotes on Reddit, and a further 21,900 likes, 740 comments and 7,000 retweets on Twitter. The painter’s incredibly creative project was an astounding success, in fact.

Not only did it bring a lot of attention to the issue of road quality in India, but it actually led to the local government fixing that particular street in Bangalore (also known as Bengaluru).

ADVERTISEMENT

“Thank you people for such an overwhelming response and support!” the artist wrote online, thanking everyone for the fast response. Now that’s what I call real, tangible change! This proves that we can fix most problems if we’re imaginative and active enough.

Artist Baadal Nanjundaswamy is best known for his amazing 3D paintings

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Nanjundaswamy told Bored Panda that he tries to tackle “current issues” in his art. According to the artist, the city streets looked like the surface of the moon to him, which is why he decided to dress up as an astronaut.

The painter said that “everyone appreciated” his efforts and he himself “felt happy” when Bangalore’s government fixed the road. Nanjundaswamy also revealed that he always wanted to be an artist, and that he currently does “art direction for Kannada films”, and is working on a project at the moment.

The painter protests for better roads in India

ADVERTISEMENT

Poor road quality is a serious problem in India. According to The Guardian, potholes are deadly: they were responsible for causing so many accidents in 2017 that 3,597 people were killed and another 25,000 were injured.

India has a serious problem with road quality

ADVERTISEMENT

Because of how prolific potholes are, Indian drivers are said to possess a ‘sixth sense’ because they’ve learned how to notice them from far away. However, this doesn’t work all the time, as some drivers swerve to avoid potholes and end up causing even more accidents. So it’s no wonder that Nanjundaswamy is protesting potholes — fixing them goes beyond aesthetics.

The country’s many potholes cause thousands of accidents each year

ADVERTISEMENT

 

ADVERTISEMENT
Share on Facebook
Jonas Grinevičius

Jonas Grinevičius

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Read less »
Jonas Grinevičius

Jonas Grinevičius

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Mantas Kačerauskas

Mantas Kačerauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

Read less »

Mantas Kačerauskas

Mantas Kačerauskas

Author, BoredPanda staff

As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a great way to both bring attention to the pothole problems (and hopefully get the authorities to fix them) and at the same time warn drivers and pedestrians of the dangers literally lurking in their way.

sforshann avatar
sforshann
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least he's doing something that their government would notice..

Load More Comments
monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a great way to both bring attention to the pothole problems (and hopefully get the authorities to fix them) and at the same time warn drivers and pedestrians of the dangers literally lurking in their way.

sforshann avatar
sforshann
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least he's doing something that their government would notice..

Load More Comments
You May Like
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda