Two Charged After Algerian-French Artist's Exhibit Vandalised in Kochi

The Kerala Police have formally registered a case against two local artists, Hochimin P H and Sudamshu, for vandalizing artworks by Algerian-French artist Hanan Benammar at the Durbar Hall Art Gallery in Kochi. The incident occurred in the context of an international exhibition titled "Estranged Geographies," where Benammar's seven linocut graphic prints were on display. The accused artists allegedly destroyed these works, justifying their actions by claiming the artworks were "obscene and anti-women."

The legal action was initiated following a complaint filed by Murali Cheeroth, the Chairperson of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, the organizing body of the exhibition. The First Information Report (FIR) was registered under specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Section 329(3) for criminal trespass, Section 324(4) for criminal mischief causing loss, and Section 3(5) for a criminal act committed by several persons with a common intention. The FIR explicitly states that the accused unlawfully entered the art gallery and destroyed the work of an internationally acclaimed artist.

The vandalism took place around 6:30 PM on a Wednesday, as the gallery was preparing to close. Reports indicate that only two other individuals were present at the time, witnessing the accused tearing down the seven prints. The exhibition itself was curated by Anushka Rajendran and Damian Christinger, adding a layer of professional gravitas to the event that was so violently disrupted.

In his defense, Hochimin P H offered a nuanced, albeit contested, justification. He denied outright destruction, claiming, "I just removed them. I have registered my protest. The translations are obscene and anti-women. It should not have been displayed for public view." This statement frames his actions as a form of protest against content he deemed morally objectionable, rather than mere vandalism.

However, this justification was met with strong condemnation from the artistic establishment. Murali Cheeroth, speaking on behalf of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, categorically refuted the allegations of obscenity. He labeled the claims a "baseless campaign" and criticized the method of protest, stating that instead of raising concerns through constructive dialogue or discussion, the individuals chose the path of destruction. Cheeroth elevated the significance of the incident, describing it not merely as damage to property but as a direct "attack on artistic freedom." He emphasized that the act has provoked outrage throughout the art community in Kerala. Furthermore, he highlighted the prestige of the damaged exhibition, which was backed by reputed cultural organizations and embassies, and suggested that the attack was intended to disrupt the state's traditionally peaceful and progressive cultural landscape.

This event underscores a critical and ongoing tension within the art world: the conflict between artistic freedom of expression and public or personal morality. The legal charges of trespass and mischief frame the act as a criminal offense, while the discourse surrounding it—from the accused's moral outrage to the Akademi's defense of creative liberty—places it squarely within a larger debate about the limits of protest and the protection of cultural expression in a democratic society. The case continues to develop, with the police investigation ongoing.