NEW DELHI, September 2: It was meant to showcase the work of the country's next generation of top artists. But `Voices for the Next Century,' an exhibition at the capital's National Gallery of Modern Art, is over even before it has started.Reason: bureaucrats' definition of what national honour should be.The cause of the controversy is officials' decision to withdraw an oil-on-canvas by 44-year-old Surendran Nair, one of the country's most promising artists who works in Baroda. Titled `An Actor Rehearsing the Interior Monologue of Icarus,' it features Icarus, with his wings outstretched, atop the Ashoka stambha (pillar). All 26 participating artists have pulled out protesting the decision.Secretary, Culture, R V Vaidyanatha Ayyar, who was scheduled to open the exhibition, said that as civil servants, they were ``liable to prosecution if we allowed such a depiction of the national emblem in the current surcharged atmosphere - some fanatic may do something. Or some ruling may be passed, restricting the autonomy of NGMA. We have a record of supporting the arts. We curate our own shows and allow private curators too. (In this case) we did not see the visuals beforehand.''Said Mukta Nidhi, who has been director for three months now: ``The works came in batches. I would do a round in the evenings, but when I saw this the day before, I said no. Now they are saying we want all, or nothing.''In a fax from Vadodara, Surendran said: ``I was deeply saddened to learn of this ill-founded accusation related to my painting. which `presumes' that the work is meant to be defamatory/disrespectful to national sentiments. An institution such as the NGMA should be discerning enough to recognise the poetic nuances of meaning within this work, as well as be encouraging and supportive of diverse art ideas.given that we are a democratic nation.we wish to register our regret that an institution such as NGMA is governed by conservative and reactionary attitudes.''The slender, nude figure with outspread wings that has caused this furore has its back to the viewer and cannot be considered in any way offensive. Nor does it contravene law. The Prevention of Insult to National Honours Act, 1971, is very clear that ``national honours'' include only the following: the national flag, the Constitution and the national anthem. Nor does it fall foul of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. Says Jayant Bhushan, a constitutional lawyer with the Delhi High Court: ``Depicting the Ashokan Pillar in the painting would not amount to use of of any emblem for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession, or in the title of any patent, or in any trademark or design, which is what is prohibited by the `Emblems' Act. And secondly, the Ashokan Pillar is not specified in the Schedule to the Act.''
