The writing on the wall is simple: Time is running out for the rhino

Every passerby glanced back at this massive, green painting of a one-horned rhino on a wall near Assam State Zoo. And the image invariably reminded everyone of the cruel fate this majestic animal is being subjected to at the hands of poachers.

The frequent merciless killing of rhinos in different parts of the state is what prompted street artist Roy Sunil to create this painting.

Sunil began painting the animal in bright, eye-catching hues of green on Wednesday and he will be done by Thursday.

Sunil, a street artist from Nagaon, has been touring different places to showcase his art. A photographer accompanies him and the team has visited New Delhi, Kanpur, Varanasi, Darjeeling and now Guwahati.

‘I have been travelling along with my companions to different places, where we halt and paint pictures on walls. I usually try to express the feelings that a particular place invokes through my street art. Now, we have halted in the city to do some street art. I belong to this state and I am well aware of the problems here. Beginning from the city, we plan to tour the entire Northeast, halting at specific places to highlight different issues concerning the region through the medium of street art,’ Sunil said.

‘The one-horned rhino can be found only in our state and it is an endangered species that needs to be protected. But the way poachers are mercilessly killing it is what disturbs us. The public and the authorities concerned have to really go the extra mile to protect and conserve this species. I have attempted to highlight this issue through the street art and this is my way of protesting against its rampant killings,’ said Sunil, who graduated from Baroda Fine Arts College.

‘I have selected the green colour to paint the animal because a bright colour automatically draws the attention of the public as they pass through the area. I hope that my piece of art at least makes an onlooker dwell on this issue even if it is for a few seconds,’ Sunil said.

In the meantime, Sunil and his companions will be painting different pictures on street walls at different places in the city.

‘I won’t reveal the topic for my paintings. You will see when I will create them,’ he said with a smile.