[Reader-list] Art Exhibition forced to shut down by Govt.

Mon Sep 6 16:24:31 IST 2010

Dear Inder

It would have been appreciable if you had accepted that there is no reference to Govt in the report and you made a mistake.

The 'centre' referred to is the Nehru Centre.

On the face of it, as per mentioned details, I personally see no great reason justifying the action taken but it would be understandable if Nehru Centre being conscious of the fragile 'communal' environment did not want to risk violence and maybe even consulted the "Govt" before taking the action though that is not alluded to. That is sensible. 

Your comment about "Govt directly playing in the hands of saffron brigade" would have been worthwhile if you did not confine it to "saffron". In its current form it becomes worthless one-sided propaganda.

If you put great value of your own imagination as compared to "unimaginative people " running the country, then please step forward and give some concrete and imaginative proposals instead of these whines about "impotency" and "mint money from CWG" and "decaying institutions" and "decaying food grains"

You can see your "imaginative" proposals for rectifying things addressed by your own participation in the political processes or interventions through RTI and Courts of Law.

Kshmendra

PS. Do you have anything other than whines?

--- On Mon, 9/6/10, Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Art Exhibition forced to shut down by Govt.
To: "reader-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Monday, September 6, 2010, 3:35 PM

Thanks dear Kshmendra

"This is the
first time the centre has abruptly stopped an art show."

well, i too would not like to see Govt directly playing in the hands
of saffron brigade
but that is unlikely. given the 'napusukta' ( impotency ) of our
politicians who only think about how to mint money from things like
CWG

This is a country run by most unimaginative people, i am not mincing words
it is not only ' aesthetic' sector which is suffering, all other
sensibile institutions are decaying, akin to food grains storage. sad

best
is

On 9/6/10, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> Nowhere does it say that the Govt played any part.
>
>
> --- On Sun, 9/5/10, Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Reader-list] Art Exhibition forced to shut down by Govt.
> To: "reader-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Date: Sunday, September 5, 2010, 10:14 PM
>
>
>
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Provocative-work-forces-gallery-to-call-off-art-show/articleshow/6494012.cms
> --
> MUMBAI: Two "provocative" paintings by an Aurangabad-based artist
> forced the Nehru Centre at Worli in Mumbai to discontinue the
> exhibition on Saturday, after running it for three days. This is the
> first time the centre has abruptly stopped an art show.
>
> Artist Nandkumar Jogdand (43) has lodged a complaint with the Worli
> police. He said this was a violation of his right to express himself,
> and that the trust-owned Nehru Centre had succumbed to pressure from a
> saffron group, a claim denied by the management. Assistant director of
> the Nehru Centre Art Gallery Nina Rege said the exhibits "were in bad
> taste and created controversy".
>
> The two paintings in question are titled 'Gandhi (After Pune Karar)'
> and 'Blind Faith'. The former depicts a dhoti clad Mahatma Gandhi
> striking a victim with a Trishul. The artist said he got the
> inspiration for this piece after reading the 'Pune Karar' or the Pune
> Pact, which happened after an agreement between Gandhi and Dr
> Babasaheb Ambedkar. In the second painting, 'Blind Faith', a nude
> Hindu goddess is depicted in a provocative position.
>
> "When the gallery took objection to my exhibits, I was prepared to
> remove 'Blind Faith' but not 'Gandhi (After Pune Karar)'," said
> Nandkumar, adding that the latter is based on a type of puja prevalent
> in parts of Karnataka, and that the woman was not a goddess.
>
> The exhibition was allowed from September 1 to 3 without any
> controversy. But after complaints from an "anonymous caller", Nehru
> Centre on Saturday issued a notification to Nandkumar. "The paintings
> were of a nature that could give rise to controversy leading to
> undesirable situation," read the letter. "Therefore, in the light on
> Rule no. 3 under Conduct of Nehru Centre's Art Gallery Rules and
> Regulations, we hereby direct you to remove these two paintings and
> continue with your exhibition with the remaining paintings. If you do
> not remove these paintings, the art gallery will be closed for public
> viewing forthwith," said Rege in the letter.
>
> When asked why it took the management three days to discontinue the
> exhibition, Rege said: "The exhibition began only on September 1 as
> Nandkumar put up his art work by late evening on August 31. At the
> time, I was visiting a sick colleague and returned to work on
> September 2. I then got a call from a person who said the exhibits
> were objectionable. I took a round of the gallery and found 'Blind
> Faith' to be controversial."
>
> Meanwhile, Nandkumar has sought police protection and has demanded
> that the exhibition should run its course till September 6.
>
> Read more: 'Provocative' work forces gallery to call off art show -
> Mumbai - City - The Times of India
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Provocative-work-forces-gallery-to-call-off-art-show/articleshow/6494012.cms#ixzz0yfraM43q
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-- 

http://indersalim.livejournal.com
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