'Gandhi's Three Monkeys' by Indian artist at Katara

'Gandhi's Three Monkeys' by Indian artist at Katara

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_...

Gulf Times

‘Gandhi’s Three Monkeys’ installed at Katara

Three new sculptures by acclaimed Indian artist Subodh Gupta have been installed at Katara, the Cultural Village.

‘Gandhi’s Three Monkeys,’ 2008, made from bronze, steel, and old utensils refer to India’s famous hero of peace, Mahatma Gandhi, portrayed as three heads in military headgear.

Using worn brass domestic utensils, the forms of a soldier’s helmet, a terrorist’s hood and a gas mask reinforce Gupta’s dialectics of war and peace, public and private, global and local, themes that run throughout his work.

The gears worn by the three men in the sculptures represent the historical meaning of ‘See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil,’ portrayed by a small statue of the three monkeys which Gandhi had as a notable exception to his lifestyle of non-possession.

Mansoor al-Khater, Qatar Museums Authority chief executive officer, expressed pride in having the ‘Three Monkeys’ installation in Katara.

“Subodh Gupta is a world renowned artist and this strong statement of peace couldn’t be installed in a better location. It also illustrated QMA’s continued collaboration with Katara. We are gratefully for their shared enthusiasm for the arts.”

Born in 1964 in Khagaul in the northern province of Bihar, India, Gupta completed a painting degree in Patna city before moving to New Delhi.

Throughout his work, he uses objects related to Indian life including domestic kitchenware and means of transport such as bicycles and scooters.

Gupta’s experience of the stark contrasts between rural and urban experiences and cultural dislocations are themes that permeate his artistic practice.

Other artworks by Gupta explore India’s increasingly globalised vision of travel and the economic migrations of its workforce.

Alongside the newly installed sculptures, QMA is hosting “Louise Bourgeois: Conscious and Unconscious” exhibition which will stay on view until June 1 at Katara in QMA gallery, building No 10.