Noted Mumbai-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor has expressed solidarity with Indian writers and artists who have reportedly given up their awards as a mark of protest against alleged intolerance in India.
In a statement titled ‘In Solidarity’, Kapoor, 61, said on Thursday that he stood “alongside my colleague artists of India in solidarity with the courageous action” of writers, who had relinquished their awards in protest.
“Art can only have a home where there is tolerance. Fascism does not allow the possibility of creativity. All good-thinking Indians will recognise the atmosphere of intolerance and intimidation -- that prevails in our Indian society today -- as having the hallmarks of self-righteous exclusion that keeps out all those who are different or even those who dare to think differently,” he said.
Kapoor, who was knighted in 2013 for his contribution to art, asked: “How then can we find the creativity or the possibility of expression in this atmosphere of fear? Our government encourages the hate that lies dormant in our great Indian psyche. Can our leaders not see that our tradition has always thrived on our openness and tolerance?”