'Curtailing Art is Wrong': Raihan Vadra Slams Bikaner House Over Photo Removal
Raihan Vadra objects to Bikaner House asking him to remove 75 photos from his exhibition, calling the curtailing of art wrong.
In a clash between artistic expression and institutional policy, Raihan Vadra has raised a strong objection after being asked to remove a significant portion of his work from his exhibition, 'No Idea is final', hosted at the Bikaner House in New Delhi. Vadra contends that the demand to pull down his photographs is an attack on the freedom of expression.
The Controversy: 75 Photos Sidelined
The dispute centers on the removal of 74 to 75 photographs that Vadra had curated for the show. These images were intended to document a wide array of social dynamics, including youth movements, street photography across Delhi, and scenes from Jantar Mantar and recent protests.
Speaking to India Today News, Raihan Vadra expressed his frustration, stating that while he understands the need to regulate overtly political slogans or graphic nudity, a "blanket-removing" of dozens of photos simply because they might be objectionable to some is unacceptable.
"I think any type of curtailing of art is wrong... you can’t call yourself a cultural institution or a stakeholder in the arts if you’re going to curtail freedom of expression," Vadra asserted.
'Political' Nature and the Tricolour
According to Vadra, the management of Bikaner House—specifically the Principal Resident Commissioner—informed him that the works were "political in nature" and therefore violated policy, citing the current context and timing of events in India and Delhi.
One of the most contentious points of the dispute involves images of the Indian national flag. Vadra claimed that two of the photographs were simply images of the Tiranga. When he questioned how a photo of the national flag could be deemed objectionable, he challenged the management to provide the request in writing.
"I said, 'No, you give it to me in writing, and you write that you are wanting me to take down a picture of the Indian flag.' They never gave that to me in writing," he revealed.
Last-Minute Demands
Adding to the tension, Vadra alleged that he was only notified about these removals 24 hours before the exhibition was scheduled to open. This sudden directive left the artist scrambling to manage his display just as the show was set to launch.
Family Support and Political Undertones
The situation has drawn the attention of Vadra's family, with his mother, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, offering her support via a post on X. In a pointed message, she suggested that the fear of expression is a sign of weakness in those holding power.
"When someone with power becomes afraid of the expression of another, he doesn’t know it, but he has already lost the very power he is trying to protect," she wrote, adding that she is proud of her son for standing up for the truth.
His father, Robert Vadra, also showed his support by sharing his son's posts regarding the establishment's request to remove photographs of the Delhi protests.
What's Next for the Exhibition?
Despite the setbacks and the limited capacity of the current show at Bikaner House, Raihan Vadra's exhibition is set to move forward. The showcase is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru next month, where it is expected to be presented in a more complete form.