"Another artist silenced"-
that’s how the headline read on NDTV 24X7. Bangalore Gallery removed canvas of
nude painting of, guess what, Hindu gods and goddesses by this artist. Yes,
once again (last time it was the legendary Mr. M.F.Hussain).
I have a question, no,
actually three:
1. Why this fixation with
Hindu gods and goddesses? May be, their freedom of expression should expand
their imagination and they should try their hands at other religions too. I
have a feeling they will be hugely surprised by the recognition of their work.
2. Why is freedom of
expression always mistaken with insensitivity to other people? Would you like
it if someone made fun of your accent, your clothes, your food, your ethnicity,
your traditions, culture, nationality or your faith? Then why, in the name of
art, does one have to be so thoughtless?
3. What do you do in your
bedroom? Would you like to make a painting of your bedroom activities and
exhibit for everyone to view? I don’t think so. Why? Because that’s your
personal life- nobody's business. It is far too private. It IS YOUR right to
protect your personal life.
What about my rights? Isn’t
Faith, Belief, Religion a private matter too? My relationship with the One
Above is strictly my business and no one has the right to ridicule it in anyway.
Isn’t that what we teach our kids- respect for all? The basis of Secularism?
Artists are supposedly more
sensitive people, so how can an artist be so inconsiderate to hundreds and
thousands of people who, he knows, will be offended by his fixation and
interpretation? It is either being forgetful, selfish or ignorant (Nudity is anyway
a very sensitive matter in all the cultures across the world), or simply too
engrossed in his work to notice anything else???
For a change, I support
Bangalore Gallery's decision.
