From defining reality to creating virtual reality BY A STAFF REPORTER 'The good thing about Mumbai is I that everyone has a voice: from the controversial M F Husain to the rebellious Apnavi Thakar to the bold duo of Sanjeev Khandekar and Vaishali Narkar. Their work, exhibit­ed at Jehangir Art Gallery, is titled "Tits, Clit and Elephant Dick" and has raised many a brow. Those expecting a pornographic display will be disappointed. The display is poignant with layers of meaning and is a telling commen­tary on modem society. "The 20th century spent a lot of energy defining reality; the 21st cen­tury created virtual reality" said khandekar. "This is an age of aggression and depression and domination. The common man and woman are falling prey to marke gurus who sell everything from sex to spiritualism." The title itself contains several connotations. Tits n Clits Comix was an underground publication of the 70s created in reaction to sexism. As for elephants dick-since the time of the Kama Sutra men have longed for elephantine proportions. With today's easy access to role playing on the internet the fantasy is... at least a 'virtual reality. Khandekar has reoganised Rodin's famous erotic sketches. and mixed. them up with up his water colours. The acrylic canvases use image from Pirelli's calendar of celebrity nudes. The glass like Sociolotron, naughty America and Second life that encourage violence and sexual perversions feature in his work, as does the aeroplane, which, he says. has been 'used as a sexual symbol in 60s' America and post 9/11 has assumed political value.' Insects have also been use as a symbol of the modern disease. The first thing that catches one's eye is the installation at the entrance. Khandekar has a naked. life-sized doll of himself behind a counter with leather straps leading to a counter. "It is the mark of the low," laughed Khandekar. "The artist him­self has fallen. People like poet and artist are supposed to have a higher cause, but most have yielded to commercialization." Visitors can walk into two mirrored picture booth-like structures where their face is reflected upon a naked masturbating man's body. This is reflected n number of times through a trick of the mirrors and gives the sense that "we are not masturbating alone," said Khandekar. A set of six water colours named "Sick Painting" are probably most reflective of Khandekar's mind: "All I feel like doing when I see everything around me is vomit." he cried. "Nothing but rubbish remains." Apparently the guests did not think they had. Walked into a pile of rubbish. Of the 30-odd entries in the guest book only one stated that the display was disgusting. The rest applauded the sterling effort. While same of the artwork might not be visually appealing, the con­cept, the techniques used and simple the brashness of the whole endeavour is surely to he applauded. The art circuit will defi­nitely be watching the due to see what they do next. Sanjeev Khandekar and Vaishali Narkar's art exhibition currently on at Jehangir Art Gallery is no porn show Afternoon Dispatch and courier, August 3rd 2006