Letters for Lodhi

Yok & Sheryo are an artistic duo based in New York City. They work across mediums of murals to 3D sculptures and moving images. Their styles are influenced by skateboarding graphics and pop illustrations. Sticking close to their roots, the duo experiment with ancient artisan techniques from lost eras and stylise them with a bold painting technique. The duo also derives inspiration from extensive travelling and use it to create a beautiful cacophony of old and contemporary. As a duo, they have showcased their work in festivals such as the Miami Art Basel and the Moniker Art Fair, amongst others.

Inspired by the visual cues of vintage Indian matchboxes, Yok & Sheryo created a mural that is embedded with a series of cryptic messages. These messages are meant to be evocative of Indian public service announcements - seen and heard on buses, trains, auto rickshaws, and now on social media.

Often adopting a humorous approach to their work, in the mural the duo depicts a funky character coming out of a portal on the top left corner of the wall, reminding us to ‘Call (y)our Mom’. A hand appears out of the other corner with a phone, to enable the call.

During the time they spent here, the duo discovered Lodhi to be a place of cultural treasures and generosity. Reflectively, they decided to use the facade’s arched passageway as a symbolic portal towards ‘fortune’ and ‘health’.

The artists also put the slogans ‘Justice’ and ‘Equality’ in an effort to develop a critical eye towards words that are often loosely used and require a more holistic comprehension. The artists invite us to move beyond empty sloganeering, have a more substantive approach to both of these concepts, and apply them in our lives.