Photographer and visual artist Raihan Vadra has alleged that the management of Delhi’s Bikaner House forced him to take down most of the artworks in his solo exhibition, No Idea Is Final, hours before its preview on Wednesday. The removed photographs documented the recent youth protests in Delhi. Vadra, son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra, says he refused one part of the order: a direction to remove two photographs of the Indian national flag.
What Raihan Vadra said
In a statement posted on Instagram before the preview, Raihan Vadra wrote: “Five hours ago, the Bikaner House Management forced me to remove the bulk of the artworks displayed in my show ‘No Idea Is Final’ which opens this evening at 7 pm.” He said the photographs were of the youth protests in Delhi and that the venue had described the content as “objectionable”. “They also directed me to remove two photos of the Tiranga. I have refused. I will not take down a picture of the Indian flag,” Vadra wrote. He added that the show would go on in part for now, but that he would “find another venue and display the entire collection of protest photos.”
74 of 105 photographs taken down
The exhibition was planned with 105 photographs. According to media reports, Vadra was told to remove 75 of them or face cancellation of the show, and 74 were ultimately taken down. ThePrint reported that the exhibition was left with 75 empty wall spaces. Vadra told reporters that Bikaner House objected to the political nature of the protest images. He said the venue had approved his exhibition proposal in June last year and received the layout a week before the opening. He also said he had already removed photographs that carried political slogans. Bikaner House, a heritage property owned by the Rajasthan government, has not issued a public statement on the matter so far.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra responds
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra backed her son in a post on Instagram. “When someone with power becomes afraid of the expression of another, he doesn’t know it, but he has already lost the very power he is trying to protect,” she wrote. “You stand for what is true and everything beautiful will find its way to you. I am proud of you, always will be,” the Congress leader added.
About the exhibition
No Idea Is Final features wildlife photography, abstracts and street photographs of public movements in India. After a preview on Wednesday, October 21, the exhibition opens to the public on Thursday, October 22, and runs until October 25 at Bikaner House, according to the venue’s events calendar.
The protest photographs drew attention earlier this month, when Vadra shared noir-style images of the Delhi demonstrations on social media. The protests are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process. One of Vadra’s frames showed his uncle, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, among the crowd.
Who is Raihan Vadra?
Raihan Vadra is a Delhi-based visual artist and photographer whose work spans wildlife, street and commercial photography. He has no political career. His debut solo exhibition, Dark Perception, was also held at Bikaner House, in 2021. He later curated editions of the group exhibition You Cannot Miss This at the same venue.
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