'Must Be Resisted at All Cost': Outrage as Artist's Work Vandalised in Kerala Over 'Obscenity' Claims
The Wire Staff
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New Delhi: Outrage and disbelief have followed the incident of vandalism of a foreign artist's work which was on exhibit at the Durbar Hall Art Gallery of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, in Kochi.
A group show, ‘Estranged Geographies’, included work by the Norway-based Algerian-French artist Hanan Benammar whose displayed linocut prints were collectively titled 'Go Eat Your Dad'.
A week into the exhibition, Benammar's work was attacked and vandalised, allegedly by Malayali sculptor Hochimin who claimed that it contained ‘verbal obscenity’. The News Minute reported that Hochimin shared a video of this vandalism online and shared his displeasure at "passing off profanities as art". Some news outlets have also named another artist, Sudamshu, as having been involved in the vandalism.
Benammar told TNM that she had collected swear words from various languages and translated them into Norwegian dialects for her earlier shows in an effort to find the connection between class, language, dialect, faith, and gender. These words were translated to Malayalam for the Kochi exhibition.
To The New Indian Express, Benammar said, "I am not against direct actions. I would have respected his opinion if he had engaged in a critical discussion with me, rather than smearing my work."
The Kerala Lalithakala Akademi has said that it will file a police complaint. "The incident is an attack on artistic freedom and has outraged art community in Kerala," it said.
Sahmat, The Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust, has released a statement noting how rarlier instances of attacks on art have usually been by the Hindu right-wing forces. "This incident is more shocking as it was led by an artist, and that too in Kerala, which is known for its tolerant and progressive culture," Sahmat said.
The organisation said that this has happened just before the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which has become an international milestone, is to open in December 2025.
"These kinds of attacks on culture have become normalised in the last few years and have been promoted by hate-filled political rhetoric. This must be resisted at all costs. Action must be taken under the law and the perpetrators must not be allowed to get away with their violence," Sahmat said.
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