ALL WHITE HOUSE ROOMS BLUE ROOMS?!
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CLINTON HAS A BRUSH WITH INDIAN IRE
By Laalit Lobo
The Pioneer
Thursday, October 29, 1998
After the media climaxed globally on the Bill Clinton-
Monica Lewinsky sexscapade, the sordid saga has acquired
an Indian hue with a painter splashing the most talked
about affair in modern history on his very own canvas.
Ahmedabad-based artist Mohsin Shaikh, however, has an
altogether different reason to brush up the most powerful
man in the world. He says Clinton's criticism of India's
nuclear tests and the subsequent economic sanctions
prompted him to depict the "immoral Cinton" on canvas. He
adds: "I was particularly piqued that a pervert and a
liar like Clinton should question the propriety of India
conducting nuclear tests even when it is well known that
we are a responsible country and conducted the tests only
to meet our legitimate security concerns."
A set of 11 paintings based on Clinton's escapades with
Monica are being exhibited at an art gallery in Hauz Khas
Village in the Capital. Predictably titled 'Clinton and
Monica', the exhibit was inaugurated by noted journalist,
author and columnist Khushwant Singh on Tuesday. Mr Singh
was all praise for the paintings and termed them
"beautiful and not vulgar."
The first four paintings in the series portray Clinton
indulging in "inappropriate and immoral" sexual acts with
Monica, with the White House forming the backdrop.
However, it goes to the artist's credit that despite
dealing with such sleaze, the paintings are far from
lewd. Says he: "Despite predominantly dealing with sex,
my paintings are not aimed at titilation, but at
presenting the truth from an artistic perspective."
The next six paintings, which are essentially abstract,
depict the US president's sexual fantasies with the
various women in his life. (excluding Hillary, of
course!)
The final one in the series portrays the Star Spangled
Banner, the Statue of Liberty and Hillary Clinton bending
in shame over Clinton's misdemeanours.
Shaikh says: "The
bent Hillary symbolises the collective shame of
womanhood."
Shaikh has made extensive use of symbolism. In one, the
White House is painted blue symbolising the immoral acts
being performed by Clinton within the halowed premises.
In another one, an erratic electro-cardiogram depicts the
moral ill-health of Clinton. The Monica cigars, however,
are conspicuos by their absence.
Shaikh says: "I paint surrealistic, abstract and
traditional Indian art. However, after the Pokhran tests,
I turned my attention to contemporary themes." Prior to
the Clinton-Monica series, he painted the Pokhran blasts
and presented the canvases to Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee in August.
SNIP
Hugs,
Janice
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