How to see the unseen?

I understand that art in India is on a roll. It is great to see art-works being recognised and accepted, although it has also become a huge commercial enterprise.

Today's papers mentioned that two artists, Atul Dodiya and Subodh Gupta, have sold their works for over Rs. 1 crore.

I like both the paintings. I wish someone with knowledge of the subject had written about the works. There is an attempt by the anonymous reporter to sound really analytical, but does it have to lack a basic understanding? "A 1989 work, Chikoo Drawing is stamped with many of the signature features of a Dodiya painting: a subtle palette, a flat serenity that simultaneously draws in and distances the viewer, a fragile sense of order. Despite the very specific title, there is no evidence of the juicy fruit in the frame; the neat middle-class pot on the floor is certainly not a chikoo cutting..."

Huh? Is it not about a boy called Chikoo drawing? And since when has my favourite fruit become juicy? Isn't it smooth with just a touch of silk, black seeds being prodded out?

As for the other one, here is one comment, “Easily one of the most imaginative artists in India today, Gupta’s work is distinguished not merely by his eccentric choice of material but what he does with it. He has created installations that resemble giant industrial kitchens of steel utensils that would send any Indian housewife into raptures.”

Why would an Indian housewife go into raptures to see her pots and pans look like something Gulliver would use?

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Is it all perception? Does that too not require a certain amount of stringency…can we go completely haywire trying to see things? Why do we need to even search for needles in haystacks when they are available elsewhere? Needles that sew matter, the ones that attempt to poke don’t.

This reminds me. There is something almost touching in the manner in which all those who responded to certain comments have chosen to respect my wishes. You could just as well have continued, for you were being abused by name. But whether you agree with my manner of dealing with these things or not, you agreed to desist.

I take no credit for it, but will credit you with being truly large-hearted. Thank you and sorry about the stuff you had to take only because of some stray animosity towards me.

The picnic is over for now.

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Five letters have appeared in the papers responding to the column on Kashmiri Pandits; I have several in my Inbox. No Muslim organisation has sent me any to express solidarity; no secular organisation; no Muslim individuals, except for two - one, a media person from Srinagar to inform me that some newspaper had used the column and not given credit; the other is a senior official based elsewhere who does not agree with my views. So much for the jihadi support I get.

And this also confirms what I wrote in the article: "Unlike the 140 terrorist groups, the Pandit lobby is strong. It can organise itself."