Brush with Art

An art installation at the Nahargarh Museum sparked the fury of activists on Friday and they protested to get the same removed. They wanted the three feet bronze sculpture depicted as male phallus and described as a Shivling to be removed. Alleging insult to religious sentiments, members of the Dharohar Bachao Samiti protested at the gate of the museum and staged a sit in demanding the removal of the installation.

What ensued was pandemonium as police and museum administration reached the spot and assured them that the ‘offending’ piece would be removed. The installation is by late artist Mrinalini Mukherji that has been put up in the sculpture park housed in Madhavendra Palace of Nahargarh Fort.  

Bharat Sharma of DBS said, “Art is fine but sensibilities cannot be offended and religious sentiments cannot be insulted. This has become a regular occurrence. It will not be tolerated.” 

The protesters demanded that an FIR for violating religious sentiments be lodged against the museum management and archaeology department. The police took their complaint for investigation. 

Moreover, this is not the first instance of protest against artwork in Jaipur. There have been earlier instances too. Year after year there have been cases of protests and agitations against some art form that rubbed public sentiment the wrong way.

Here are some of the major controversies:

2014

Ganesha on toilet seat by Udaipur artist Bhupesh Kawadiya at world art summit at Jawahar Kala Kendra had sparked protests not just from local people but also city artists. Suraj Soni of Jan Samasya Nivaran Manch protested and got the art piece removed. A case was lodged against the artist and he was arrested.

2015

An art installation of a plastic cow tied to a balloon and floating 50 feet in the air by Siddharth Karawal as part of the third Jaipur Art Summit sparked protest at Jawahar Kala Kendra. The artist was arrested.

2016

Jaipur Art Summit at Ravindra Manch saw protests by Lal Sena, a group of women, against nude paintings of women. The painting they took objection to was by Radha Binod Sharma a London based artist. Hemlata Sharma of Lal Sena had led the protest. Later one of the protesters was arrested.

QUOTE UNQUOTE

Artists have no right to offend religious sensibilities. Jaipur has been a hub of art and literature, but it has always respected public feelings and sentiments. Artists create such installations and pieces to court controversy and get famous. Every citizen has the right to protect his beliefs; especially in the guise of right to expression.
—Suraj Soni, Social Activist

Artists should not misuse the right of expression to hurt the deep rooted religious and social sentiments. Respecting public sentiment is a must. Public is never against experiment. I experimented and innovated; the result was Mohan Veena; which brought me immense love and recognition. Artists cannot win hearts by hurting sentiments.
—Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt, Renowned Musician, Grammy Awardee

Art is like tapasya. Traditionally artists pay obeisance to Gods before pursuing their art. How can those very Gods and sentiments be insulted for some quick publicity. Spheres of art are unlimited, why resort to insulting religion? Controversy and clash is bound to take place. Also protestors should not resort to violence.
—Dilip Bhatt, Tamasha Artist

The layman lacks the sense of the contemporary. They lack the sense of how to interpret it in the context. They are in total non communication with the artist’s thoughts and whatever philosophy he wants to show. Some groups who are religious minded try to dominate. They cannot interpret in what context the art piece has been created.
—Sangeeta Juneja, Art Gallery Owner