'Provocative' work forces gallery to call off art show

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".Thetwo paintings in question are titled 'Gandhi (After Pune Karar)' and 'BlindFaith'. The former depicts a dhoti clad Mahatma Gandhi striking a victim with aTrishul. 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 Gandhiand Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. In the second painting, 'Blind Faith', a nude Hindugoddess is depicted in a provocative position."When the gallery tookobjection 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 typeof puja prevalent in parts of Karnataka, and that the woman was not a goddess.The exhibition was allowed from September 1 to 3 without anycontroversy. But after complaints from an "anonymous caller", Nehru Centre onSaturday issued a notification to Nandkumar. "The paintings were of a naturethat could give rise to controversy leading to undesirable situation," read theletter. "Therefore, in the light on Rule no. 3 under Conduct of Nehru Centre'sArt Gallery Rules and Regulations, we hereby direct you to remove these twopaintings and continue with your exhibition with the remaining paintings. If youdo not remove these paintings, the art gallery will be closed for public viewingforthwith," said Rege in the letter. When asked why it took themanagement three days to discontinue the exhibition, Rege said: "The exhibitionbegan only on September 1 as Nandkumar put up his art work by late evening onAugust 31. At the time, I was visiting a sick colleague and returned to work onSeptember 2. I then got a call from a person who said the exhibits wereobjectionable. I took a round of the gallery and found 'Blind Faith' to becontroversial."Meanwhile, Nandkumar has sought police protection andhas demanded that the exhibition should run its course till September 6.