Probe begins into vandalism of artworks at Kochi art gallery | Kochi News

Kochi: Ernakulam Central police on Thursday registered a case and began a probe into the vandalism of artworks by Algerian-French artist Hanan Benammar at Durbar Hall art gallery late on Wednesday. P H Hochimin, another artist, vandalised the installations that were part of a group exhibition titled ‘Estranged Geographies’.Benammar told reporters that she became really stressed thinking about the safety of the artists, audience and staff. She added that she was relieved to know that it was only the work that was attacked but condemned acts of violence in art spaces. “The offended got outraged, big win for the artist,” Benammar posted on Instagram after the incident.“It is very important to preserve spaces for free expression, especially when we live in complicated and difficult times. My work, ironically, is a response to acts of silencing and tone policing, and attempts of censorship I experienced as an artist. As a way to release anger… have a thinking about class and gender within language, colloquial language in particular. So, it is a very strange situation to be here for a reaction on a work that is actually about that kind of thing,” she said, adding that she really appreciates the support she received.Benammar said that she knew her work might potentially create some discussions and it is something that she really invites. Discussions were already planned and the exact date would be announced for those interested in dialogue to join them. She added that she heard Durbar Hall had already taken some legal steps and felt that was enough. She added that she would not let this experience be her only experience in Kochi and she feels very privileged to exhibit her work here.When asked about an artist being the person behind the incident, she said that she hoped artists could think twice before attacking other artists in this way. She added that the work was indeed very strong, which is why a warning was displayed so that the audience who did not want to engage with such language could do so. She added that she was not contacted even a single time by Hochimin to engage in a discussion or even criticise, which she would have accepted. “I think there is a difference between accusations and then destroying a piece of art,” she added.Hochimin, meanwhile, told reporters that he removed seven posters from the wall and did not tear them. He reportedly did it while on a call with the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi chairman. He alleged that the entire work was written in obscene Malayalam and was misogynistic. He claimed that merely writing obscene words and calling them art was wrong. He added that if what she did was art, then him taking it down was also art.