UPDATED: Oct 22, 2026 10:51 IST
A major controversy has erupted at Delhi's Bikaner House after visual artist and photographer Rehan Vadra was asked to take down 74 photographs from his solo exhibition just hours before its opening. The administration objected to the political nature of the artworks, which documented youth protests, street photography in the national capital, and images featuring the Indian tricolour. Vadra stated that he was served an ultimatum requiring the removal of the artworks or facing the cancellation and sealing of the exhibition space. He complied by removing the disputed works to storage while asserting that he would exhibit the entire collection at another venue. The move prompted strong political reactions, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra speaking out on social media in support of her son, criticising the curtailment of artistic expression. The incident has triggered a wider debate between political factions over creative liberty and booking policies at state-managed cultural institutions.
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Delhi Photo Exhibition Row: Protest Images Removed At Bikaner House Over Booking Policy
A major controversy emerged after the management of Bikaner House in Delhi directed an artist to remove seventy-four photographs ahead of an exhibition opening. The affected artworks, documenting public youth movements, protests in the national capital, and street photography, were declared objectionable and contrary to venue booking policies. Venue authorities issued a notice requiring the works to be cleared within thirty minutes or face event cancellation and sealing of the premises. While an initial attempt was made to reverse the frames, the administration insisted on complete removal and storage of the pieces, including photographs featuring the national flag. The venue administration cited the political timing and outside context in Delhi as reasons for restricting the display. While the two galleries displaying the flagged works were cleared, the remainder of the exhibition is scheduled to continue through Sunday, with plans underway to showcase the excluded photographs at alternative venues in Delhi and Bengaluru.
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