As Delhi awaits its tryst with the monsoon, frayed tempers and raised blood pressures reign supreme. And being the “Dilli billi” as I am, how can I remain untouched by this seasonal fever? By the way, the glorious epithet of “billi” was bestowed upon yours truly by my erstwhile colleague Bachi Karkaria at an arts festival that we were covering in Kolkatta — as a contingent of Dilliwallis insisted on changing into resplendent silks every evening before a concert — unlike the Mumbaikars or even the Kolkata mashimas. And this was after spending the whole day in rehearsal halls and other such art-related activities — including finding the best sandesh and singharas!
To come back to frayed tempers, today I want to enumerate all my pet peeves about the arts and there are so many that I wonder if I should even get started. But for what it’s worth, here goes:
— I hate it when the artists blame the government for every ill that plagues the arts and looks towards the government for succour. Many of our problems would get sorted out if we helped each other. Like giving out art galleries during the day to theatre artists for use as rehearsal spaces. Or using auditoria foyers as art galleries during the season.
— I hate the miniscule governmental budget for the arts. There are so many areas that need intervention and when art forms die out because of no patronage, it really raises my blood pressure.
— I hate it when the government hands over institutions to artists to get other artists off their back. But even worse is handing over institutions to IAS officers who have not feel for the arts or who behave like rajas of yore who didn’t allow musicians to sit and play instruments, but insisted that they tie the instruments on their stomachs and play. The metaphoric situation is unchanged even today.
— I hate the fact that there are no management courses offered in any IIM or business schools to train people to run art institutions.
— I hate that across the world, arts have not been able to become self-sustaining. Largely it is the myopic vision of the private sector where support for the arts is not forthcoming enough. Why don’t they realise that it our own heritage that we need to preserve?
— I hate the fact that for many reasons, a lot of art doesn’t get support because it can’t be quantified in commercial terms. How can you measure the beauty of Bhimsen Joshi’s mellifluous swaras? Or the sheer ananda that sends you in a trance when Birju Maharaj dances?
— I hate isolated approach of the artists in not connecting the arts to one another — which painter can say that dance doesn’t move him? Which musician can remain untouched by painting? Which dancer is unmoved by sculpture? All of us stand to gain only if we connect to each others’ wider canvas. Multi-disciplinary approach should be the name of the game.
— I hate it when artists across the board don’t make time to attend each others’ shows, recitals, concerts and exhibitions. Shared heritage and shared experiences can only help develop each others’ art.
— I hate the infighting amongst artists. Understandably, we are sensitive people and can have pet peeves, but must we carry it to the point where it colours our lives to frightening levels? I remember how one of our senior artists would leave no occasion to hit out at M.F. Husain. Husain never replied to his verbal attacks and in the history of art, this artist stands nowhere now. Or senior dancers and musicians bitching about other dancers and musicians is disgustingly common.
— I hate dishonest gallerists who sell the work of artists and then don’t pay up. Or worse, keep the work of artists and not show it to clients due to inertia or lazy employees. Either don’t keep the work, if you do, at least show it.
— I hate artists who pester buyers and collectors at art shows and exhibitions and undercut their galleries, so much so that many gallerists have started not inviting artists to art openings.
— I hate it when artists turn curators and play favourites, trying to prop up their friends. Curating is serious business and not everybody’s cup of tea, so please let us do it. Ditto for selecting artists for art camps, it becomes a snake farm often, when artists of only one shade participate.
— I hate the schism between the arts and crafts and worse still is when folk arts are treated as second grade activity.
— I hate the fact that our handloom industry is almost getting choked to the gills by the lack of popular support. Why don’t the young women wear flowing and exquisite hand-woven sarees with pride? Why must they wear western outfits that often make them look ridiculous?
— I hate that there is such paucity of space within the media for the arts, for it is my conviction that only if art is part of popular mindscape, will it get its much needed support from the private sector. And believe me, there is interest within the community, it is up to us in the media to present it in a palatable manner. Having said that, a major peeve is with arts writers who jargonise their writing to make the arts unapproachable.
But then as they say, give a woman a reason to bitch and she can fill the entire universe with it — then how can the Dilli billi control the urge to indulge in the tenth rasa that even Bharat’s Natyashastra doesn’t have — the ninda rasa! The English meaning of ninda is to criticise or censure and believe you me, it doesn’t have a drop of rasa that ninda has!

Alka Raghuvanshi is an art writer, curator and artist