2. Indian Artist’s “Nude Exhibition” Canceled in Singapore

T. Venkanna‘s art show at the Gallery Maskara in Singapore last month was no more baffling than anything you’ll see in the Museum of Modern Art these days: It involved the Hyderabad-based artist (the disrobed fellow on the left) sitting naked on a bench and inviting viewers to have their photograph taken with him. The exhibit, which was part of Art Stage Singapore ― an international art fair focusing on art from the Asia Pacific ― was ultimately shuttered.

“It is always a bit disheartening when works of art are not seen as art. We did not set out to create any controversy,” said gallery owner Abhay Maskara in an interview with The Straits Times. Maskara said that the gallery had been instructed to remove the piece, but did not specify who it was. The local press had criticized the work, and I hear that the Singapore authorities are also known for being tough enforcers of propriety.

One lawyer cited a law saying that it was an offense to appear naked in public. Are these regulations too strict ― even if the artist “had sat behind a black curtain and a sign was posted in front of the booth, warning viewers of the content and restricting viewers to those who are 21 years and older”? We forget that a gallery, though serving a public function, usually has a self-selecting audience. Art is housed in sheltered space ― and therefore lessens the randomness characteristic of a truly public environment. And though pornography is censored in Singapore, “mature content” still exists, so long as there’s a warning label slapped on it (lest we all become immature hooligans!). It all sounds proper to me, granted that we consider this art. And that’s when we enter a very grey and frighteningly ambiguous space of interpretation.

(image via Neo Xiaobin for ST)

No. 1: The absurd law that allows child pornography to thrive in Japan.

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