Art is Always Free

Art is one of the supreme mediums of expression. Art also falls under freedom of expression. There occurred a first-ever blasphemy charge against works of art in Nepal and a young artist has received death threats from activists of the World Hindu Federation (WHF). This sounds really painful as Nepal is already declared a secular state and people have fundamental rights of freedom of expression.

Manish Harijan, the artist whose artworks were exhibited at the Siddhartha Art Gallery at Babarmahal was threatened for “outrageous portrayals” of Hindu gods. He was also terrified with the words of death. This is really the pathetic scenario of present Nepal. No one has been getting freedom of expression. It has become only in words or in laws and acts. Every citizen has freedom of expression be it in form of words or arts.

It’s true that Harijan’s artworks are the portrayal of Western influence in Eastern culture. The images if Buddha he has made is the Buddha along with a torch in flames emitted by the ‘Ghost Rider’s’ skull. Lord Shiva has been shown “Super Nataraj”. The “outrageous” portrayal of Shiva or any other deity is aimed at showing how deformities have started to cripple oriental philosophies. The statement filed at District Administration Office (DAO) said Harijan’s portrayal of the Hindu goddess Kali in miniskirts and Hanuman carrying a bottle of alcohol is “abuse of freedom of expression”.

But are not our artists free to make arts of their own in the secular state. It is not done to offend the Hindu deities as the activists of the World Hindu Federation (WHF) are claiming. This incident is a blatant attack on the freedom of expression so the artists in Kathmandu should take serious exception to this charge of blasphemy.
People can interpret a work of art in any way they like and if they fail to appreciate the intended meaning, they can bring in their views to the discourse. But threatening an artist with death for a work of art cannot be justified under any circumstances. I think his artworks are about the effects of globalization on local cultures. According to the activists those artworks was an attack on Hindu sentiments. Whatever may be, it’s not legal and ethical to charge the artists with serious death threats.

We should also be tolerant towards other people’s views. It’s true that differences are there. But we have to accept all kinds of differences, be it differences of opinions, culture and ideologies. As we are secular and are the citizens of new Nepal with multiple differences we have to respect other’s opinion instead of charging blaspheme. Artists are free souls and they should be made free to fly.