Artistic freedom under attack

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It looks like artistic freedom is on stake in our country. Recently artist Pranava Prakash was assaulted and his nude paintings of Bollywood celebrities were torn at a gallery in Noida. Pranava’s exhibition titled, “Bollywood Unlimited: Satisfaction Guaranteed” was on display at the Espace Alternative gallery in Noida, when five men assaulted him and tore off the nude paintings on Sunday.
A shocked Pranava says, “Around five men walked into the gallery and started looking around. I heard them comment loudly, ‘Yeh kya laga rakha hai’. At that moment the gallery owner Nishant walked over to pacify them. All of a sudden, in extreme rage, they called me anti-Indian and started tearing down the paintings saying this is against Indian culture. I was slapped twice and pushed to the ground. Three of my paintings have been damaged — Vidya Balan, Pakistani actress Veena Malik and model Poonam Pandey wearing Anna cap.”
Sadly this is not a first such incident to take place in Delhi, earlier this month, painter Balbir Krishan too was attacked at the Lalit Kala Akademy for showcasing his homoerotic artworks.
When asked if he has filed an FIR? Pranava says, “I haven’t filed a complaint yet as I don’t know whom to file it against. The police intelligence officials contacted and enquired about the incident. They assured me of help and have asked me to report if I sense any danger.”
Talking about artistic freedom in danger, Pranava said, “Earlier, such incidences were politically motivated, but I don’t know about the mindset of people today. Artists are a vulnerable lot, and hence are easily targeted. A canvas is their medium and strength just like a pen is strength for writer Salman Rushdie.”
Disregarding that his paintings are controversial in nature, Pranava clarifies, “They are not at all controversial. These are socio pops — pop art with social content, we need to create such art form that relates to social content. Socio pop examines the relationship that art shares with the public life and the techniques and tools of influencing each other. When actor Yana saw her painting, she liked it. I don’t think my work is offensive in any way.
He is down but not broken, Pranava says he will carry on his work. “I am affected, worried and hurt as I was called an anti-Indian. My father told me it’s dangerous and I should stay away. But I will carry forward the flag of socio-pop as this is the only way to connect with the masses. I have already started working on my next series on cricket,” he sums up.