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

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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).

“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

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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.

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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

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

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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

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monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 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
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

victorrsytnik avatar
Russian Otaku
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wtf some s****y grate and no actual cover is just asking for trouble... sure granted it's better then nothing but come on!

pokemonsa avatar
Pokemon sa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one is mad sketchy , if i was drunk playing hopscotch id be in that hole , hahaha id be so hyped to play and not pay attention to what hes pointing out , dope man he is

jessiezhao_1 avatar
Elica
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With so many turbulences going around in the world, this small act reminded me that you can raise awareness and bring changes in non-violent ways (maybe simplifying bigger issues a little but the concept is nice)

hello_274 avatar
Hermien Scholten
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the chicken-on-a-grill one didn't get much safer with the manhole sticking out that much :o

johnware093 avatar
John Ware
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Definitely a great idea to draw authorities' attention. Now fix it..

andersmiemietz avatar
AndersM
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like that the only things that got fixed was the manhole covers. I wonder how many Indians just got lost in those holes over time never to be found again? A few thousand is my guess.

philboswell avatar
Phil Boswell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whereas here in the UK you get grannies going out of a night and drawing a c**k-and-balls over each pothole to shame the local council into fixing them ;-)

sidewinderscott2 avatar
Scott Lloyd
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are great to point out road problems. I also like the American version paint d***s on potholes both work these are more creative.

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Much more creative, artistic and elaborate than Wanksy in UK four years ago (https://www.boredpanda.com/wanksy-penis-pothole-graffiti-manchester-england/) Also, last year in Rome random citizens came together to fill the holes voluntarily and without pay with donated materials and risked fines for doing it (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/25/world/europe/italy-rome-potholes.html) and in the same year someone planted a TREES in a potholes in Port Arthur (https://kfdm.com/news/local/port-arthur-residents-plant-trees-in-potholes-to-protest-poor-street-conditions). And 2017 people worldwide were planting flowers in potholes (http://www.openculture.com/2017/08/people-are-planting-flowers-in-potholes-around-the-world.html). It's a crazy world and people want at least some safety on the roads

dirigobill avatar
Bill
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The roads in Maine are so bad the state Republicans passed the bond measure with no objections.

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 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
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

victorrsytnik avatar
Russian Otaku
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wtf some s****y grate and no actual cover is just asking for trouble... sure granted it's better then nothing but come on!

pokemonsa avatar
Pokemon sa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one is mad sketchy , if i was drunk playing hopscotch id be in that hole , hahaha id be so hyped to play and not pay attention to what hes pointing out , dope man he is

jessiezhao_1 avatar
Elica
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With so many turbulences going around in the world, this small act reminded me that you can raise awareness and bring changes in non-violent ways (maybe simplifying bigger issues a little but the concept is nice)

hello_274 avatar
Hermien Scholten
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the chicken-on-a-grill one didn't get much safer with the manhole sticking out that much :o

johnware093 avatar
John Ware
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Definitely a great idea to draw authorities' attention. Now fix it..

andersmiemietz avatar
AndersM
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like that the only things that got fixed was the manhole covers. I wonder how many Indians just got lost in those holes over time never to be found again? A few thousand is my guess.

philboswell avatar
Phil Boswell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whereas here in the UK you get grannies going out of a night and drawing a c**k-and-balls over each pothole to shame the local council into fixing them ;-)

sidewinderscott2 avatar
Scott Lloyd
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are great to point out road problems. I also like the American version paint d***s on potholes both work these are more creative.

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Much more creative, artistic and elaborate than Wanksy in UK four years ago (https://www.boredpanda.com/wanksy-penis-pothole-graffiti-manchester-england/) Also, last year in Rome random citizens came together to fill the holes voluntarily and without pay with donated materials and risked fines for doing it (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/25/world/europe/italy-rome-potholes.html) and in the same year someone planted a TREES in a potholes in Port Arthur (https://kfdm.com/news/local/port-arthur-residents-plant-trees-in-potholes-to-protest-poor-street-conditions). And 2017 people worldwide were planting flowers in potholes (http://www.openculture.com/2017/08/people-are-planting-flowers-in-potholes-around-the-world.html). It's a crazy world and people want at least some safety on the roads

dirigobill avatar
Bill
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The roads in Maine are so bad the state Republicans passed the bond measure with no objections.

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