An India-Spain Illustration Project Brings Stories to Life in New Delhi

What if walls could actually tell stories?

That’s the idea behind “Las Paredes Hablan” (Walls can talk) - a new illustration project by Instituto Cervantes New Delhi that turns the centre’s walls into a space for conversation, creativity, and cultural exchange.

Inspired by the popular Spanish expression “Las paredes hablan”, which traditionally reminds people to be careful with their words because “walls have ears”, the project takes a playful twist. Instead of warning us about being overheard, it gives the walls a voice of their own - allowing them to share stories through art.

The initiative is part of the India-Spain Dual Year celebrations and will bring together Indian and Spanish illustrators throughout 2026. Each artist will create original works inspired by the culture, landscapes, and everyday life of the other country, transforming the entrance corridor of Instituto Cervantes New Delhi into a continuously evolving gallery.

The first artist featured in the series is Prateek Draik, a visual artist from Shimla whose work explores the relationship between cities, landscapes, and human experiences.

For this project, Draik looks towards Spain, inviting visitors to explore the everyday rhythms hidden within the historic layers of Granada and trace a visual journey towards the natural beauty of Las Alpujarras in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

As more artists from India and Spain contribute to the project, the walls of Instituto Cervantes will continue collecting new stories - proving that sometimes, walls really do have something to say.