Let's not equate porn with freedom of expression BY ARJUNDEV Artists argues for restricted public viewing of nude art I am an artist, and don't have problem if people access porn in private. But I have my reservations about the type of art displayed at Jehangir Art Gallery recently and the clam­our from certain artists about freedom of expression. I recollect an incident almost a decade ago. On a visit to Jehangir, I was surprised to see a life-size nude of a young man with his penis erect. The organ was painted in graphic detail. While I was looking at this nude with surprise, I saw a group of school­girls and boys surrounding the paint­ing. Reactions ranged from surprise, shock, fear, amusement, puzzlement to an exchange of frantic whispers. I was left wondering whether this ype of art should be exhibited at a place regularly visited by students and people with different mindsets. Jehangir Art Gallery, after all, is not a pri­vate art gallery. I agree that we need to break our in­hibitions and taboos about sex, but sure­ly there is a place, time and way of doing it. For example, sex is most en­joyable within private spaces with mutual consent, but will anyone appreciate if it is done in full public view? If law has not taken cognisance, then it should do so now. Artists do such things purely because they think their artistic freedom will gather a lot of support and also because of a law which doesn't seem to see that punitively. Feel strongly about some thing? Mail us your opinions on speakup@dnaindia.net DNA, August 8th 2006