48c is back in the news
And about time. The Mint really beat everyone else with the scoop on this one. First off, a piece in today’s Times of India: “Out of galleries, onto streets.” Penned by Neelam Raaj, this one starts off in the slightly louche environs of the typical elitist wine-sipping art opening–I found myself on the brink of an unwanted flashback, my left hand involuntarily curling into a wineglass-holding fist, while the fingers on my right started twitching, blindly searching for tray food:
The talk of democratising art usually takes place in white-walled spaces over glasses of white wine. But now, it seems that the debate is all set to spill over to the streets as Delhi gets set to host its first public art festival. Starting this Friday, the festival titled 48 degrees Celsius, will attempt to bring art out of the gallery, into the public domain, so that a wider audience can enjoy it.
Well, alright! Let’s get debating! Debating and enjoying. And hey, what’s a little press coverage without a little bit of Alex-plagiarism? Eh? (See here for an earlier example). Check out this line from the TOI story:
And it isn’t just art for art’s sake. The festival addresses a key issue that affects us all the pressing ecological crisis that looms larger with each passing smog-filled winter morning.
Now check out this line from my “welcome to the 48c blog!” written and posted like a week ago:
This must be the most ambitious public art project the city has ever seen (those strangely spermatazoid stainless steel sculptures that sprouted up one dark night by the AIIMS flyover don’t count), and it addresses a key issue that affects us all: the pressing ecological crisis that looms larger with each passing smog-filled winter morning.
Hey! What happened to the part where I say the word “spermatazoid”? They never plagiarize my favorite parts. I’ve noticed that. Oh well, at least I know that someone is reading this.
Indo-Asian News Service does a more creditable job of pulling together something entirely original, however it lacks the moody intro. I guess it’s true: you really can’t have it all.