A unique performance art event titled Para Guernica will be held in Pune on April 27, aiming to raise awareness about the human cost of violence, war, and social divisions. The event is organized by the Pune Gallery of Visual Arts (PGVA) under the Maharashtra Cultural Centre and will be held at Jyotsna Bhole Auditorium, Hirabaug Chowk, Tilak Road.
Two shows are scheduled for the day: one from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. and the other from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Both shows are free and open to all on a first-come, first-served basis.
The program draws inspiration from Pablo Picasso’s famous painting ‘Guernica’, which was created in response to the bombing of the Spanish town of Guernica on April 26, 1937. The attack, carried out with the support of Nazi forces by Spanish dictator General Franco, led to the death of more than 1,000 civilians.
Pramod Kale, the concept creator of the event, told The Indian Express, “Para Guernica means stop Guernica. Guernica was a small town in Spain. Gen. Franco, who wanted to be the dictator of Spain, took the help of the Nazis, who bombarded this town on 26th April 1937 and destroyed it totally, killing more than 1000 men, women and children.”
He added, “Picasso created his world-famous painting Guernica to protest against the attack. It became a great symbol of anti-war, anti-massacre, anti-terrorism thoughts and movements worldwide. Our event stands for all these thoughts.”
The performance will feature photographic projections, poetry recitations, and a symbolic visual activity addressing issues such as caste, color, race, and religious discrimination. Kale said the event aims to evoke strong feelings against violence in the minds of the audience.
“This event will have projection of photographs depicting violence everywhere, recitation of rebellious Marathi poems, some of them translated from different languages (courtesy Ganesh Vispute), and an activity done by me showing caste, colour, race and religious discrimination,” Kale said. “This will surely create hatred and disgust against any form of violence in the minds of the spectators.”
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He acknowledged that no single piece of art can change the world, but added, “This event will be our iota of protest against any type of violence.”
Well-known actress Vibhavari Deshpande and Naresh Gund will recite poems during the event. Dr. Nitin Badal, Vikram Marathe, and Sachin Nimbalkar—visual artists—have collaborated with Kale in developing the concept.
Kale said performance art is a growing branch in visual arts globally. “We, in India, also have some performance art artists. But as per my knowledge, none of such sort was ever performed in Pune. So it will be the first of its type performance, and we are awaiting a great response from the art lovers.”
