Anger in art school
Afza Tamkanat speaks out against harassment
By : samyuktha k
Update: 2014-05-02 23:13 GMT
Hyderabad: The Flight – Up Up and Away — the title of the art show put together by the graduating students of Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, found different shades of meaning in the art works itself.
From angst against male chauvinism to the conflict between self and society, the students poured out significant thoughts on various media. But perhaps the loudest argument came from young artist Afza Tamkanat, whose installation, Ashes of Negativity, spoke about the problems faced by the students in the University — a move that has attracted a lot of attention.
The installation, which included 40 terracotta pots with ashes, signifying last rites, was accompanied by a note that evidently showed that work was born out of personal experiences.
“I don’t hate you, but I respect me. Your comments, your opinions do not define me. I do not care what you think about me, because I don’t think about you at all. I cannot improve my work when I am surrounded with negative energy that only tries to bring me down.” the statement read.
And the daughter of senior artist Fawad Tamkanat has no qualms about explaining her angst against the faculty and management of the university. “In fact, I have even told them that this installation is dedicated to them for the kind of agony and harassment other students and I have been through.”
Several students grumbled as they put up their works and installations in the DST Auditorium. There were talks of discrimination, regionalism and even serious forms of harassment. But no one wanted to speak about the pressures they have faced, as they “still have to get certificates from the university”.
Afza, the only one who would speak out, says, “I really hated all the personal comments the lecturers made. They had no right commenting on my life. Their authority was limited to my studies and my art and they often forgot that.”
“A lecturer once even asked me why my father came to drop me to the university every day. And this was in response to a work I made in response to the Delhi gangrape and how women were asked to be accompanied by a man at all times. So where was the need to bring in my personal life, instead of commenting on the art itself?” she adds.
Another student has apparently filed a written complaint to the committee handling sexual harassment. While the student did not want to go on record to avoid further harassment, the CASH committee member, Dr Durgabhavani, says, “It’s a confidential matter.”
Sources also talk about discrimination in assessment of the students. When DC called earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university had confirmed that he did “receive a complaint on assessment issues, which is being considered for further action.”