Udupi: Shiroor Math Hosts Controversial Painting Exhibition
By Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RS/CN)
Udupi, Aug 22: An art exhibition which was shifted from Manipal following protests by Sanathana Samasthe was held at Shiroor Math with the help of Sri Laxmivara Theertha Swami on Saturday August 22.
The exhibition, ‘Eternal Ganesha’, based on the various forms of Lord Ganesha, is by noted artists Purushottam Adve and Jayavanth. They had planned to exhibit their paintings at Hotel Valley View in Manipal.
But after the protest, the artists shifted to another place in the same hotel and the exhibition was symbolically inaugurated with police protection on Friday August 21. The paintings were then shifted to Drishya School of Art in Alankar for exhibition.
Sri Laxmivara Theertha Swami who helped the artists exhibit their paintings at the Math said that the protest against the art exhibition is a humiliation to art. “The artist has his own imagination and he bases his art on that. We need to respect the art as well as the artist”, he said.
After threats by the same organization to renowned artist Ramesh Rao, founder of Drishya School of Art, the exhibition was shifted Shiroor Math.
Besides 13 paintings by the two artists, works by students of Chandrakala School of Art, owned by artist Vishweswara Parkala, are also on display.
Members of Sanathana Samasthe had allegedly warned the artists against exhibiting the painting stating that they depicted Lord Ganesha in a bad light. The protestors made special reference to a calendar which had a picture of the deity drawn by Ravi Varma.
The exhibition at Shiroor Math will continue till Monday August 24 and the Swamiji assured that no one will dare damage the exhibition.