Though the Indian government has made it clear it has no intentions of recriminalizing homosexuality, LGBT issues are still contentious: An exhibition by gay photographer Sunil Gupta closed Saturday after police stormed the gallery and ordered it shuttered.
Sponsored by Alliance Française as part of the current Francophone Festival, “Sun City & Other Stories” opened Friday and was still in previews at New Delhi’s Galerie Romain Rolland when an attendee notified the police that it contained obscene images. Reports the Hindustani Times:
When we contacted the Tughlaq Road police station, an official said, “A man named Hargobind Arora called up that the show has adult and nude photos on display. That’s when we sent a squad.”
Gupta is being diplomatic about the whole thing, telling the Times, “I’m not in a position to say anything. Calling off the exhibition was Alliance Française’s decision.”
One commentor in the Hindustani Times story says the police action represents a double standard:
How about we take this to the next level?
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“Make no mistake, this is homophobia. Plenty of naked women exhibitions have happened as excellent art. Plenty of naked men. Alarms blare when there are two naked men together.”
“Sun City & Other Stories” ran without incident at France’s prestigious Center Pompidou. Though not all the images in the show were explicit, a series shot in a bathhouse depicts naked men. “There were men in towels so lots of thighs and torsos but no genitals were showing,” Gupta told The Times of India.
Nudes in an art show? Perish the thought!
Images via Sunil Gupta
Dany
A nation with massive poverty due to overpopulation censors an art show about gay imagery. There is a huge tragic joke in there somewhere, and all the gods of every pantheon from human imagination are laughing.
Timmeeeyyy!!!
I guess this is India’s Robert Mapplethorpe moment. On the plus side, this publicity should increase Sunil Gupta’s prices.
Shungaboy
Here’s Sunil Gupta’s website. Gay activist and photographer. http://www.sunilgupta.net/
tookietookie
@Chad: Typing in all caps like a crazy person is very persuasive.
Ajai
Come on, India. What’s next shutting down the temples in Khajuraho? Eroticism is part of our beautiful culture.
Larry
@Chad: assuming a troll or you live in amish country??? from the examples shown I do not think it is very good art and for chads sake…even worse poronography
Bigg
@Chad – there’s no way I believe you’re anything but a homophobic troll. So, there’s a better place for you to hang out & comment: gaypatriot.org. They’re all batshit crazy homophobes over there too – you’ll fit right in.
Frederick
@ Chad-You’re a weirdo.
FunMe
From the land of KAMASUTRA … oh wow!
But then again, Bollywood movies don’t allow kisses on screen, so no surprise here. BUT things will change eventually with an emerging YOUNG Middle Class, fueled in part by the outsourcing of jobs to India.
JS
@Dany: Your comment doesn’t make a lot of sense. You’d have to look pretty far ‘in there’ to find that joke.
JS
Also, if you look through the artist’s website, you’ll realize that the criminalization of homosexuality came from British laws: http://www.sunilgupta.net/Mr%20Malhotra's%20Party/mrmalhotra'spart.html
Javed
Very narrow minded thinking….
How can one relate gay art exhibition with country’s poverty…
The person is not aware the in arranging such art gallery few people gets job and earn money… models also get paid for photography… etc…etc…
God is neutral, its narrow thinking of some human mind that they believe that God think as per those guys but it not true… Such people must know that its God who have made this world, having guys with different choice….
Think Again…
Chad
Say what u will. THIS IS NOT ART. IT’S PORNOGRAPHY. And is a shame the gays would have anything to do with this!!!!
Rafael
@Dany: So you agree with social conservatives who say homosexuality is a threat to the continuation of the human race?
Rafael
@FunMe: How will outsourcing breed acceptance of homosexuality?
Bigg
@Chad – I’ll say this, your opinion on the difference between art and pornography wouldn’t impress a third grader. Why don’t you find someplace else to troll where people will pretend to care what you say.
Cãm
How does homosexuality have any relation with poverty and outsourcing? Guys talk sense. India has more literates than the USA. And talk about Kamasutra only if you have read it… Its anti gay.