HT: 'Disgusted with Kerala's labour unions, US artist destroys his creations'

[Rakhal DAVE]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/us-artist-destroys-creations-as-kochi-labourers-ask-for-exorbitant-fees-to-shift-them/article1-1334137.aspx


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Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2015 22:40:28 +0800
From: Venkatraman Anantha Nageswaran <jeev...@gmail.com>
Subject: HT: 'Disgusted with Kerala's labour unions,
US artist destroys his creations'

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/us-artist-destroys-creations-as-kochi-labourers-ask-for-exorbitant-fees-to-shift-them/article1-1334137.aspx

Hindustan Times

Disgusted with Kerala's labour unions, US artist destroys his creations

Ramesh Babu, Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram

Updated: Apr 05, 2015 18:23 IST


*American artist Waswo X Waswo destroyed his own exhibition in protest
against trade unions charging exorbitant amounts. (YouTube video grab)*
An American artist who participated in a recent art festival in Kochi
destroyed some of his terracotta creations after labourers affiliated to
local trade unions demanded exorbitant fees to load his works onto a truck.

Waswo X Waswo said the only way he could get a negotiation started was by
threatening to destroy his works after he was asked to pay Rs 10,000 to
move six boxes to a distance of mere 10 feet -- from the festival venue to
a waiting truck.

Waswo, a participant in the second edition of the Kochi-Muzaris biennale
that saw the participation of 30 countries over 108 days, has uploaded on
YouTube a 1.2-minute video that shows the artist throwing to the ground
some terracotta sculptures.

The incident, which once again puts the spotlight on Kerala's militant
trade unionism, took place on March 31 -- two days after the biennale
ended. The video was uploaded on YouTube on April 2.

"This is a testament to the unions in Kerala... and how they destroy
business in the state," he said, in a scathing attack on the state's trade
unions that have of late interrupted the ongoing work of the Kochi Metro
over payment issues.

"The unions function as mob, surrounding the truck and refusing anyone to
load or unload until their demands are met… asking as much as Rs 60,000 to
80,000. Intimidation and threats of damage to the property are employed,"
he said in the video.

Waswo was planning to take his installation to his studio in Udaipur. An
avid lover of India, he settled in Rajasthan in 2001, and regularly blogs
on Indian etchings, lithograph, woodcuts and screen prints. Wasow is known
for his sepia-toned photographs and hand-coloured portraits.

Wasow said he belonged to a family that supported the labour movement, but
he could not support the 'outrageous act' of Kerala's trade unions.

"The biennale was a special target for the unions, who demanded 20 times
the regular rates. What is this exploitation of art? And how does the media
feed a notion that artists make crores of rupees with each artwork they
produce?" he asked.

Officials said Waswo's installations were exhibited at a show connected
with the biennale. He had about 30 boxes to be loaded onto a truck and
unions demanded about Rs 10,000 for six boxes. They later scaled down their
demand to Rs 5,000 every six boxes, officials said.

Artist Subodh Kerkar, who displayed his work "Janela: Migrating Forms and
Migrating Gods" at the same venue, also claimed to have witnessed a similar
experience.

As the issue snowballed into a major controversy, both the CITU -- CPI(M)'s
trade wing -- and the Congress-controlled INTUC denied involvement of their
cadre.

CPI(M) politburo member MA Baby criticised trade unions for taking such a
posture towards an artist. Kochi mayor Tony Chammny said he would bring the
incident to the government's notice.