KOZHIKODE: It is to be recalled that in an attempt to make the city ‘City of Sculptures’ the District Tourism Promotion Council and Lalitha Kala Academy along with many famous artists in and around the country came together and mounted sculptures all over the city. But aesthetic awareness is still lacking among beach goers who consider the granite sculptures as mere granite pieces. It has been five years now, neither authorities nor the public care.
For many the art on granites are mere pieces of stone where they can sit and enjoy while many others climb atop these sculptures fixed at the park on the beach to get a better view of the sea. “Some ignorant and irresponsible parents even enjoy ‘high tea’ over the sculptures”, laments an artist. “People who come here don’t know about the value of the sculptures. All they need is to take selfies, sit, chat and play. Even parents do not tell their kids not to climb on them”, an official at the Mananchira Square says.
“The people are not aware about how to handle these compositions. The reason is lack of artistic orientation”, said artist Johns Mathew. “We cannot blame the public alone, the authorities are also equally responsible for this situation”, he added. “Many structures in the beach don’t have any name boards which explains who created them and their meaning. I believe that understanding of an art depends upon the perception level of people”, said Artist Joseph M Varghese. “But people have the responsibility to protect these works. Because once it gets damaged, it cannot be renovated”, he added.
The sculptures in Mananchira Square too are neglected. The square includes statues of famous writers and their works, but people don’t know about any of them. The square has a bowl of ‘haves and have-nots’ which adds to the image of ‘hunger-free city’ by Polish sculptor Jacek Tylicki. But it seems people have forgotten about the noble concept. Now, instead of food, money and medicine people put garbage!
