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| Performance T. Venkannan |
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| T.Venkannan protests against censorship of his performance at Art Stage Singapore 2011 photo Wanya F. Kruyer |
Censorship at Art Stage
Artwork/performance of Indian artist T. Venkanna was censored after Chinese protests.
The performance of Venkanna, sitting naked in front of a copy of Frida Kahlo's The Two Frida's (1939), inviting visitors of his booth to sit next to him,has been stopped after serious threats to the artist.
An official of Art Stage Singapore asked Verkanna to stop his act, after tabloids in China has focused on Verkanna on their report of Art Stage, calling the artist an exhibitionist, and questioning if the performance has to be considered as art.
Mr. Abhay Maskara, owner of Gallery Maskara, didn't want to tell who advised him to stop the show. A lawyer was quoted saying the show could be against Singapore's law as an offense to appear naked in public.
Verkanna responded as an artist, by drawing his feelings into the gallery booth, which, was darkened and closed to visitors below age 21.
The vulnerable Venkanna was deeply moved by the questioning of his integrity as an artist. However, he said he wants to return next year to Singapore to confront again the audience with his performance art.
T. Venkanna is an acclaimed artist, living in Baroda, India who's works are in major collections including Saatchi, London, Burger, Switzerland, and Swagemakers, Netherlands.
