KOCHI: A group of artists from across the state on Tuesday gathered at the Durbar Hall to hold a symbolic protest by tying a black cloth around the building in protest against the handing over of the gallery to a German artist for conducting his show free of cost after cancelling the exhibition of about 15 artists.Inaugurating the protest, sculptor Kanayai Kunhiraman said that there was no politics behind the agitation to protect the artists who have been denied space at the Durbar Hall. “We are not against anyone, but who is going to protect our artists?,” he said.The exhibition of German artist Eberhard Havekost has been facilitated by the Kochi Muziris Biennial.Kanayi also asked the artists to be cautious against ‘international art mafia’. Pointing out that certain allegations have cropped up regarding the Kochi Muziris Biennial, he said that any project related to the Art should have to come through Lalitha Kala Akademi.“The artists in the state were not against the Biennial. Veteran artists and those who had sacrificed their life for art have not been included in the Biennial. Lantern Art Society secretary Ajith Kumar said the government order for the foundation to conduct such an exhibition should have to be revoked.
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