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.