The idea of ensuring public art in the Capital is welcome. But how to deal with poor tasteIJ
Many were surprised when the Narendra Modi government inducted former Indian Permanent Representative to the Council of Ministers and did not plant him in the foreign ministry instead giving the diplomat the Urban Development ministry. However, Puri has been very active in the ministry but his latest move is one that only a well-travelled man could think of, and it is a welcome one. Puri has announced that two per cent of all developmental projects in the national capital would be spent on exhibiting public artworks. While this impacts only Central government projects, it is positive thinking. While the archaeological heritage of the city is matched only by Athens, Cairo and Rome, there are few public artworks to speak of.
Admittedly there has been a move towards more public artworks in Delhi, particularly thanks to the lodhi Art District which has seen several of the government quarters in lodhi Colony being used as massive canvases for young graffiti artists. There are also the steel sculptures at the AIIMS traffic junction by artist Vibhor Sogani called ‘Sprouts’. But as central Delhi gets redeveloped and Delhi moves from a relatively low-rise city to a high-rise city and work such as the redevelopment of Kidwai Nagar and other new projects will make the city a nicer place to walk around. When you travel to major metropolitan cities across the world, the walking spaces and pedestrian areas have displays of public art big and small.
While some other public spaces like malls do display art, both paintings and sculpture, there are few government supported initiatives for art outside large cultural institutes. It is also welcome that late last week, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi also announced an arts and culture scheme that would make the citizens of the city more aware of public events promoting arts and culture. Mid-January to mid-March has beautiful, mild weather in Delhi ahead of the onset of the broiling summer. Delhi’s drab architecture and an event calendar inevitably biased towards the more well-to-do citizens of the city mean that most residents do not get to experience classical music, art or other performances. In many countries the metro systems are great purveyors of public art and culture; the subway in Moscow is legendary for its ornate stations and many of the older stations on the london Underground are considered works of art in themselves. The Delhi Metro, save a few exceptions, is as drab and boring as much of the rest of the city’s modern architecture.
One suggestion, though. It would also be a welcome move if the citizens of the city had a say in the artworks installed before they actually are. In South Delhi, the local municipality has decided to beautify some flyovers, and some of the sculptures installed can only be described as bizarre. A public vote on the art to be displayed would ensure there is no favouritism towards particular artists and ensure that aesthetic sensibilities are not offended.