Artists flay partiality to Binale Foundation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A group of artists led by Kanayai Kunhiraman has protested against the undue concessions being given to Binale Foundation by the State Government and Lalithakala Academy.Kanayi Kunhiraman, K K Rajappan, Pradeep Puther, Sreelal, Robert Lopus and others told a news conference here on Friday that the private trust, the Binale Foundation, which is keeping the Durbar Hall in Kochi in its possession for one-and-a-half years in the name of renovation, was made accessible to the public after mounting pressure.It was to conduct an international art fest - Binale Fest - in December this year that the hall was renovated. But instead of preparing for the fest the hall was now handed over to the Trust to conduct a solo art exhibition by a German artist.Eberhand Havelcost, the German artist, has been conducting exhibitions at various cities in India. A private art gallery is organising the show. The exhibition was held in Mumbai last month under the aegis of Bavu Daji Lad Museum. Inducting the director of this museum, Thasneem Mehtha, as a Trustee in the Binale Foundation, the exhibition is being organised here.Kanayi said that without inducting Thasneem as Trustee the show could have been taken place in Kerala. For conducting this exhibition, the Lalithakala Academy cancelled the booking by 20 artists.In the interest of the Cultural Secretary, all exhibitions scheduled to be held in Durbar Hall from April 15 to June 2 were cancelled and the Hall was allotted to the Binale Foundation.They said that it was an encroachment on the powers of the Lalithakala Academy. They pointed out that the hall was allotted free of cost to the Foundation which has claimed to have crores of rupees as fund.Normally, no party will be given the hall for more than two weeks.The government has also not shown any interest in promoting local artists by giving the hall at least for one day.They said that Cultural Secretary Sajan Peter had shown undue interest in granting the hall for the Binale Foundation. Lantern Fine Arts Society  has moved the High Court challenging the Government Order, they said.