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More On Madhusree Dutta
June 15th, 2008
An article in the Rocky Mountain News.
And a comment posted anonymously to my original post on the ArtsJournal NPAC blog:
From what I have heard from several very reliable sources was that the decision was made by the conference organizers themselves (not at the request of any funder–in fact, major funders were surprised to hear that this took place and were equally surprised that artists have censored each other). I believe that Melanie Joseph handled the situation incredibly well. Prior to the session, the moderator and panelists didn’t know the situation.
If we can’t be trusted with having civic dialogue around an artistic product, how can we work together for change? The conference organizers couldn’t have handled the situation in a worse manner. Shame on them. I have the feeling that this isn’t going to be the last we hear of this. The Rocky Mountain News picked it up in an article, and I heard rumblings that the New York Times would be covering this incident. And rightfully so…
The idea that artists are doing this themselves is what is most disturbing. I have a feeling we haven’t heard the last of this.
Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Scott Walters)
June 17th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Hi,
I am Madhusree. I have just chanced upon this article / blog and thought that I must make myself visible, if only to prove that I am not a wild underground creature in some no man’s land. I am very accessible and as much in circulation as any of you. The event at NCPA is very unfortunate, to say the least. But honestly it was not unexpected. If there was no self-censorship working slyly within the US how this regime which not only killed people in Asia but also
severely deprived its own citizens, has survived for so long. However I am also very touched and reassured by the responses, ranging from civilised message of solidarity to angry response to the self appointed
censorship agency at the NCPA, that I have received from several delegates.
I know very well that all American artists are not pro-state. Infact some American artists have been centre of our inspiration in the struggle against American imperialism. I have always believed that an effective change in the world order can be brought forward only by the American citizens and more specifically by American intellectuals and artists. In a way, I am happy that this controversy concerning my participation has foregrounded some issues which need to be internally worked out within the collective of performing artists. A national / international unity of artists cannot be constructed by keeping a few international issues under the wrap. Otherwise it may boomearang on you. No unity is apolitical - as you know very well. I am honoured to be a small catalyst to the process. It only increases my faith in American artists and strengthen our resolve to fight American imperialism.
The DVD in question was a small excerpt from the documentation of World Social Forum 2004. In that event 3000 artists from all over the world (including America) participated with their works against globalisation, neo-imperialism and war. The last day of the forum was marked with an anti-war march by a 70,000 strong international crowd. Since it was the year of 2004, the march was vibrant with anti-Bush emotion and slogans. The DVD starts with some shots of that march which invoked the wrath of the organisers. I was the curator of the art section of the forum in 2004. When the convention organisers asked me to talk in the panel titled ‘Radical ideas from beyond the borders’ - I presumed it would be best to talk about this unique event of 3000 international artists (15% of them were American) coming together under a single umbrella. But their idea of ‘radical’ and ‘beyond the border’ turned out to be very different. And the rest you know…
It is not true that my name was only short listed and then dropped from the list as the organisers did not find me suitable for the panel - as claimed by Ann Meier Baker (of Chorus America). Infact the organisers booked my date as early as August 2007 for the conference. Anyway this is a battle of principle and I do not want this to get drowned in a series of blames and counter blames. Artists’ unity needs to be worked out both at the level of logistic and ideology. Lets work towards that.
Cheers!