SRINAGARr: Tourism Officials on Monday vandalized the first ever and the only art gallery in Kashmir, Gallerie One, without any prior notice. The Gallery, was inaugurated just over a month ago on January 12, 2015 and was already becoming a major attraction among locals and tourists. The officials failed to produce any notice to justify their actions.
Senior and emerging artists of the valley along with dozens of academics, students, businessmen and other people today protested against the vandalism of artworks. "It was our life long dream to have an art gallery in Kashmir, and finally it had come into existence. But I am extremely shocked that these tourism officials have resorted to vandalism of our artworks," said Masood Hussain, an internationally acclaimed artist based in Kashmir.
Another senior artist, Naushad Gayoor, whose artworks were also at the gallery demanded strict action against the officials responsible for such hooliganism. "We tried to confront the officials and asked them why they were doing this, and demanded to see an order or some sort of notice to justify their actions. But they refused to show anything. It was a very painful incident" said Syed Mujtaba Rizvi, CEO Gallerie One.Artist Yousuf Naqshbandi said that this was an irreplaceable loss. "These artworks are all original and rare. They represent our art and culture on an international platform, and it is the responsibility of the officials to protect these but what they have done proves their mis-use of power and ignorance," he added. Gallerie One, an initiative by Kashmir Art Quest was conceived as a centre for contemporary arts and research. It comprised of a world-class art-gallery, a research centre, a digital media lab, an archiving and a cataloging centre, and a library. The gallery opened with an exhibition of diverse contemporary art forms to much international acclaim earlier this year.