Obscene or not? Police seek help from JJ college BY GEORGINA MADDOX AUGUST 10 AFTER having booked the artists for obscenity for their provocative art show titled, "Tits, Clits and Elephant Dicks", the Mumbai police seems to be at a loss on how to proceed. And hence, it has now approached the JJ School of Art to rule whether the art and installations displayed at the exhibition were "obscene" or not. "We are planning to take an independent opinion on the show," said Brij Pal Singh, DCP (zone 1). "and that's why we have approached the JJ School of Art." J J Dean S D Pawar confirmed the police move. "The Colaba police have sent us an official letter. We have formed a committee of five to review photographs and video footage of the works and will be able to give our ver­dict in a few days," said its dean S D Pawar. The controversial exhibition, presented by artists San-jeev Khandekar and Vaishali Narkar, had to be shut down on its last day on August 6 at the Jehangir Art Gallery, fol­lowing complaints of obscenity by one Pushpa Vitula. In fact, the police even ordered the artists to cover the ex­hibits with black cloth. Both Khandekar and Narkar have now retrieved some of their works from the police since they had to be sent to buyers - yes, some actually bought some of the installa­tions or artworks! But even as Mumbai's creative community have con­demned Mumbai's "moral policing", the issue is still unre­solved. "I am deeply disturbed by all of this unnecessary fuss over the show," says Khandekar. "It has taken up so much of my time and my peace of mind. I wish this never happens to any artist." Nitin Pradhan, Khandekar's lawyer, said, "It seems the proceedings of this case are being conducted in a very hap­hazard manner. This cases really does not deserve to be slapped with Section 292, which deals with obscenity." As for the police, they are only seeking the views of "those knowledgeable about art" to decide whether the exhibition was obscene or not, added Singh. Indian Express , August 10th 2006