The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent a notice to RPG Art Foundation asking it to remove an art installation--which serves as a tribute to legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar-- at the Marine Drive here.
According to civic officials, the notice was served on the foundation yesterday giving it a day's ultimatum for uninstalling the sculpture.
Sumeet Chatterjee, senior vice-president, brand and group communications, RPG Enterprises, said, the installation at Marine Drive was set up after due procedure and getting a nod from the civic body.
However, he was quick to add that that the foundation has already initiated the un-installation and is working with the authorities to scout for an alternate site.
The art work on Sachin is one among the many public art installations that the foundation has initiated to beautify public spaces across Mumbai. Each installation designed by highly distinguished artists is donated to the city. Additionally, the foundation also undertakes landscaping and maintenance of the site where the sculpture is placed.
The notice to remove the art installation came after objections raised by various citizen and welfare groups.
The Marine Drive area was notified as a UNESCO world heritage precinct by the state in May 2015.
After a few months of notification, the Nariman Point Churchgate Residents Association, in a September 2015 wrote letter to the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, BMC and raised an objection to any installation or construction on the promenade.
In the letter, the association argued that the promenade is meant for citizens to walk on and it has been designed to get an unobstructed view of the sea.
Images of a child and a sun are omnipresent in all his
artworks to emphasise the need for sustainability for the generations to come.
"Sun is the source of all energy and a child represents the future. So, the whole idea is that we need to make this earth greener and sustainable for the future generations," he says.
According to VB, in an era of glass buildings, basic qualities that made structures sustainable are getting lost so constructing green buildings that "use minimum amount of carbon footprint," has become a necessity.
"I have always tried to make my projects socially, economically and environmentally responsible buildings. The idea is to show that if we take values of what our ancient architecture was all about, it can be adapted to create sustainable green buildings today," he says.
The famous ghats of Benaras have inspired the design concept of IHDP Business Park in Noida. The painting highlights the pictures of the project with the spiritual experiences rendered by the ceremonies taking place on the river banks.
"The work seeks to highlight the pious 'aarti' time on the ghats. Hanging lanterns and water troughs below with 'diyas' and flowers will be installed to create the aura of evening 'aarti' on the ghats of Benaras," says the artist.
The week long show is a moving exhibition that is scheduled to travel across the development sector to "show people how they can live green."
It is set to continue here till September 22.
