Goregaon Social: Why does art end up courting controversy?

Just a month ago, after spending an entire day at Goregaon Social with his friends, 27-year-old hospitality professional, Clifford Fernandes gave it a five-star (highest) rating on Zomato. While his review lauded the service and how it lived up to the legend of other Socials, he also shared a concern, "The decor is very anti-Christ (sic), which we didn't appreciate, however that doesn't put the ratings down. Surely going to visit again."
 
About ten days later, that same decor attracted 23-year-old Neil Martis, compelling him to dine at Social instead of Olive Bistro, his original reason for going to Oberoi Mall. Rating the experience with 3.5 stars, he described it as "very different in terms of the decor compared to other restaurants", adding that the "The ambiance is very nice..."

Lancelot Quadras, who visited a day later also rated it 3.5 and shared a similar opinion, "They have designed and decorated the place well. The outer look of Socials is so intriguing that it will make you walk right towards itself...the place is dimly lighted (sic) and there's good music..."

Drawing from Caravaggio

And that's the thing about art, its beauty truly lies in eye of the beholder.

While the chapel that commissioned him to paint The Death of the Virgin rejected it as unworthy, Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens saw it as Caravaggio's best work and convinced the Duke of Mantua to purchase it. As a result, the realism of the painting that caused quite a stir in the 17th century today evokes gasps of awe at the Louvre.

Yes, you can argue that Caravaggio was one of the most controversial of Christian artists, by way of his paintings and lifestyle, but Christian iconography is no stranger to artists pushing the boundaries.

Through the artist's looking glass

Yet, the decor of Goregaon Social has managed to hurt sentiments of the Christian community. That's because controversies result from interpretation, which often depends on knowledge, its use or misuse as well as ignorance.

But to understand any artwork, it's equally important to view it from lens of the artist, which is completely missing in all the conversation around Goregaon Social.

Worried that any kind of explanation may offend the  community further, Ayaz Basrai, considered one of India's most prolific restaurant designers, has preferred to remain silent apart from rendering an unconditional apology.

After a lot of coaxing, a very reluctant Basrai, opens up, "We have been working with the Catholic community for ten years now, be it the St. Andrew's parish in Bandra or the Gypsy Kitchen Project to help Catholic housewives generate income. So obviously there's no mal-intent."

Basrai's Busride Design Studio is behind 75 eateries, including the likes of Social, Smoke House Deli and Cafe Zoe. "Social has always worked with contrasts. As the Goregaon outlet is in the midst of a typical, sanitised, mall environment reeking of consumerism, we thought, 'let's bring in the 1920s - 1930s Bombay Gothic architecture’ and make a nice comment on the legacy we've lost in terms of buildings. But the fact remains that Gothic architecture itself originates in cathedral architecture." This Gothic inspiration is something he spoke of even in his interview with turqouisedreems.com, months before the restaurant received flak for the interiors.

Stained glass paintings of St. Anthony wearing goggles, Mother Mary holding a chain instead of a rosary, Moses holding an electronic tablet and Christ holding a handbag that Nicholas Almeida of Watchdog Foundation called offensive in his FIR, filed at Dindoshi police station, was added a month after the opening. 

Basrai explains, "These graphic elements inspired from the Renaissance era—when stained glass was big—were added to depict anti-consumerism. So you had pious, ascetic figures in robes holding items to get people thinking; image references for which are available all over the Internet. Finally, quotes like "Oh lord, protect me from what I want" (that's also been objected too) were to be commandments opposing consumerist messages that constantly bombard us. The anti-consumerist tone was to come through the voice of the entire outlet."

Perils of our political times

Then, the question to ask is, what went so wrong and where must artists draw the line?

After looking at pictures of the imagery that the Watchdog Foundation found objectionable, celebrity make-up artist, Clint Fernandes shares, "To be honest, the architecture is fine. I like the wood work, the tables, the chairs and overall concept—it's got this Gothic feel of structures like Victoria Terminus. A bar I had been to in Bangalore was built on similar lines; originally a church, its facade and interiors were maintained; in London and Paris too churches and heritage structures have been turned into something new and trendy. But Social has taken it too far with religious symbolism and quotes starting with 'Oh Lord'"

When told about Basrai's explanation of Renaissance inspiration and anti-consumerism theme, Clint argues, "There are so many Renaissance figures to pick from without touching religion. Moreover, they could have been more specific, maybe called it the House of Anti-Consumerism right at the door--no one's going to get subtleties and metaphors." 

Basrai had already pondered over it in recent days, "When designing a restaurant we try to suggest, but not sound preachy and so everything isn't spelt out literally. It's possible therefore, that at first glance some got a misleading impression. That said, we are deeply apologetic to have hurt anyone's sentiments and hence immediately removed all that was objected to."

While Basrai feels the Archdiocese has been "truly amazing", he believes the matter has been turned into a "slug fest by fringe elements that even the church doesn't recognise."

He may be justified in thinking so because prior to the FIR and subsequent news splash all reviews of Goregaon Social, by the Christian community, were positive and post it the perception has turned negative even in case of Neil Martis who had initially complimented the decor.

But Clifford Fernandes, who appreciates that Riyaz Amlani, owner of Social, personally emailed an apology to the Archdiocese, also informs me that's he's glad "someone's speaking for us" because while the restaurant had thanked him on Zomato for his review, they hadn't given him an explanation for his concerns about the decor being anti-Christian.

Adding further perspective, Clint explains, "We are just asking for respect. We live in a country that's very sensitive about religion and it has seen so much—the partition, riots...it's not easy." Moreover, he believes the strong opposition is also a reflection of how the world has tilted right. "Terrorism, illegal migrants and influx of people has led many to hold on to their own, become xenophobic. So it's important to be politically correct," says Clint.