CHICAGO: Members of Indian community have made a fervent plea for the withdrawal of “Sacred Circle VI” Mandala mosaic from John B. Aird Gallery run in a government building in Toronto. They say it trivializes Hinduism and hence is highly inappropriate.
Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Nevada, joined by Madhu Patel, president of NRI Press Club Chicago, observed that Mandalas was a sacred symbolic drawing in Hinduism and was used for establishing a sacred space. Assembling pornographic images of women in a Mandala was disturbing for Hindus, as mostly Mandalas contain images of deities Hindus worship.
The Ontario Government should not be instrumental in promoting pornography and hurting the feelings of the devotees of a leading global faith. Explicit and graphic sex acts displayed under the pretext of “sacred” happening just steps away from Legislative Assembly of Ontario and in a government building is really shocking, said Rajan. He urged Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to intervene in the withdrawal of this objectionable Mandala mosaic from the Gallery.
“We are all for the free expression of thoughts and ideas in art and literature but trivializing one’s belief and faith bordering on commercialism is crossing the limit of freedom,” Madhu said. “Art galleries should be more sensitive while handling faith related subjects, Rajan added.
Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Any assistance about Hinduism, Hindu scholars would be glad to help, both pointed out.
Mandala represents cosmos/universe and is a way of manifesting deity/deities, and finds mention in Agamas and Tantras. It represents the abode of the deity/deities.
Queen’s Park is one of the last places you’d expect to find a sexual piece of art, but artist Rosalie H. Maheux’s Sacred Circle VI is currently on display at the John B. Aird Gallery, located in The MacDonald Block at 900 Bay St.
The controversial artwork first appears as an innocuous mosaic but when looked at closely reveals that it’s actually composed of naked women placed in various sexual positions. Unsurprisingly, Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives aren’t too happy with it.
“The fact that a publicly housed gallery has been allowed to not only display but to sell images of this nature is very worrisome,” said Laurie Scott, the PC’s women’s critic, in a statement.
The Government of Ontario provides the exhibition space and related building services for Toronto’s John B. Aird Gallery, opened in 1985 and which claims to provide a “nurturing atmosphere”.
Jowenne Herrera and Sarah Morison are Gallery Board’s co-presidents, while Carla Garnet is the Executive Director.
Suresh Shah
