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Of Donkeys, Demons and Diabolical Death

An exhibition of works based on Mumbai terror attacks by Subodh Kerkar, titled ‘Of Donkeys, Demons and Diabolical Death,’ will be held at Gallery Beyond, Mumbai from November 23 to December 12, 2009.

For Subodh Kerkar, this  exhibition is an artistic, psychological and socio-political enquiry into the terror attacks on Mumbai. It is an outcome of his intellectual encounters with different aspects of terrorism, according to him.

Kerkar says, “the terror attack of 26/11 has left a deep wound on the psyche of the nation, especially for those who lost their dear ones.  It has also raised questions about the security in this country vis-à-vis her relationship with Pakistan. Hindu-Muslim relationship in India has always been a complex issue.  A lot of blood has flown at the altars of fanaticism during and after the trauma of partition.  We need to re-examine the issue as individuals and as a nation so that the plural fabric of the country is reaffirmed.  A nation making great strides on many Global frontiers cannot afford to nurture the lice of communalism.”
 
He tries to express the horrors of terrorism and also raised questions about its origin in the installations. For one of the works he poured red colour in the puddle of water on a beach.  While this installation was being created, an enormous fighter buffalo showed up on the scene. “He-Buffalo is the vehicle of Yama, the God of death.  The animal posed for me majestically in my puddle of red paint.”

In another installation, actors wearing donkey masks perform what Kerkar calls the ‘Satanic dance.’ Forms derived from the dinghy which the terrorists used appear in some of my works.  One of the objects is a boat-form with red liquid flowing continuously in convoluted tubes inside it.

- From A Correspondent.