I was trying to keep up with my two-year old so didn't get a chance to really chalk out my route to the gallery or even remember which section I was in. But there I was looking at paintings of headless people, guts flying out, bloody knives, cartoonic images of children talking about molestation. And that was it! That was the end of my visit I was disturbed, NOT just disturbed BUT sick to my stomach!! I didn't want to, infact, couldn't see anymore art, everything beautiful I saw was tainted by the images!
And I came out ANGRY!!
Angry at the gallery for showcasing this kind of art, angry at the artist who was "obviously sick or some kind of criminal " to have painted such stuff!!
The experience has stayed with me it's been three weeks since but I can't erase the images or the disturbed thoughts I get everytime I thnk about it! But what's happened with time is the initial shock factor subsided, my anger that erupted as a volcano is now like molten lava, taking it's time and giving me the opportunity to dwell!
My definition of art has always been something that connects with me, gives me pleasure, is a joy and a delight to look at. Something that is always a reminder of the beautiful world we live in....But I realized that is not all art is about, Art has been a way of depicting the times that we live in. Art has been a form of communicating and informing And from that perspective I understand now what the artist was trying to show, it's the sad truth that there are some ugly sides to our society.
I have concluded, the artist was not wrong in painting what he/she did, but I personally have to fight and speak up against something that I see is wrong. Standing-by and looking is not my forte and that's why those images disturbed me. It was put up in a place where people come to observe not act and those issues need acting upon!
Art galleries should be left for random artistic musings not for social/economic/political agendas no matter how serious.
I want to see pictures of Seals happy not clubbed, though I strongly oppose clubbing!
I want to see pictures of forests thick and green and not being bulldozed although I know deforestation is an issue very close to my heart.
I want to see children and people happy although there is sadness and injustices that I know we experience.
Very often beauty is also an inspiration, personally my inspiration to protect our earth is the picture taken from space. This is my all-time favourite.
The earth looks so incredible, so strong yet delicate and beautiful that the thought of causing damage to it moves me to tears.
While we adopt alternate ways to inspire change lets use art galleries to use the mode of beauty!
