FUELLING CHANDIGARH’S CREATIVE DRIVE
Nothing gives the human heart more pleasure than a colourful piece of art, but while some readers say creativity can find expression anywhere from walls of buildings to vehicles, others feel drivers shouldn’t be distracted and risk accidents
DISTRACTION ON ROADS NOT RECOMMENDED
Good artwork is worth admiration, which is why the vehicles with artwork should not be registered. The human brain is created in such a way that it automatically shifts its attention to something attractive. However, this distraction while driving is not recommended, especially in traffic. The beauty of art is that it has no boundaries. An artist can do wonders with the available resources to spread his or her message. In order to promote artwork in Chandigarh, the UT administration should think of painting the sides of the showrooms with social messages. Pranav Sharma
ART SHOULD BE DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC PLACES
Every act by the legislatures and rules framed thereunder are ruled by common sense. Going by the spirit behind Section 52 of the Motor Vehicle Act, the learned high court judge did not see any violation in allowing registration of a car with artwork. Public transport, including rail coaches, bear huge advertisements in colour. Senior officers should not blindly support dealing clerks and let them bother the public on flimsy grounds, forcing them to approach courts for grievance redressal, thereby adding to their work overload. Art is the expression or application of creative skill and imagination, especially through a visual medium like painting or sculpture. ‘Omnis ars naturae imitatio est’(all art is imitation of nature) and onus is on one and all to promote it. Art should be displayed at public places/ buildings, as has been done at the Chandigarh railway station. Artwork on private and public vehicles should be incentivised to add to the vibrancy of the city. Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
ORGANISE EXHIBITIONS TO DISPLAY ARTWORK
ln the name of some novel artwork on their flashy cars in peculiar colours, owners will distract the attention of other drivers of vehicles on roads and cause accidents. Registration of such cars is like allowing distracting billboards at road crossings again. Such artwork should be promoted only at art exhibitions and not on moving cars. SC Luthra
ART GALLERIES, KALA KENDRAS RIGHT FORUMS
Any vehicle displaying art could pose increased risk of accidents as other drivers on the roads could get distracted. Roads are not meant for showcasing artwork but for smooth and safe movement of vehicles and its occupants. As transport authorities are not permitting hoardings and billboards along highways and roads as these distract drivers, HC’S reference to buses and trucks plying intracity can’t be basis for its order as they represent a minuscule number of vehicles in comparison to the numbers of cars on the roads, which pose higher risks. Art galleries, kala kendras and theatres are the right forums for promotion of arts and artists. Anil Vinayak, Amritsar
ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO ENCOURAGE ARTISTS
Art, as Brazilian artist Romero Britto puts it, is too important not to share. Art comes to the rescue when words are rendered useless. A car or perhaps any other vehicle, insofar as it displays artwork within the confines of the provisions of law and which, in fact, does not dilute its base colour as appearing in the registration certificate, warrants registration. Automobile and art make a nonpareil combination which, if given effect to, can contribute to the aesthetic value of roads, in addition to endorsing art and expressiveness. The UT administration ought to foster artists by encouraging skill-development courses at concessional rates. Art competitions and showcasing can further facilitate visually appealing work of people. Walls, on which ‘grey’ has become the colour norm, should be used for art exhibitions that render meaning to the term City Beautiful. Gagandeep Singh
CREATIVE EXPRESSION SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED
Art is something that brings colours to life. Creativity is expressed for various reasons, including evoking a response from others or depicting an idea or belief. Why can’t art and cars go together? After all, a car is a masterpiece of mechanical art showcased by the manufacturers. It’s something we own and is a part of our daily life. So, if someone wishes to modify it with art that should be okay. Loving what we have is what gives us happiness and calm. It’s time rules should be modified to allow cars with artwork. With regard to administrative purposes, some modifications must be made in the motor vehicles rules to promote are on vehicles. Komal Sharma, Chandigarh
DON’T DISTRACT DRIVERS
Cars with artwork should not be registered because these will distract others driving on the roads, which could lead to accidents. Dr Susheela Hooda, Panchkula
IF HO-HO BUSES CAN HAVE ART, WHY NOT CARS?
If the registration authority can register the administration’s doubledecker hop on-hop off tourist bus with artwork, then what’s wrong with an Ambassador car? Why can’t the same authority register a personal car with same sort of artwork on it? When Chandigarh was planned by Le-corbusier in the 1950s. It was too small then with Madhya Marg as its centre. See how the city has grown. But our administration is blindly following the same old rules framed years ago. Change is a must with the passage of time. Gurpreet S Malhotra, Kansal
IN INDIA, FOLLOW THE COUNTRY’S RULES
Creative expressions or fancy dress shows are to be held in art galleries and auditoriums, not on the road. These are distractions for other vehicle owners. The Motor Vehicles Act, as also the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, prohibit change of any, or all, particulars, as mentioned in the certificate of registration, as provided by the manufacturer. Art cars have a substantial following in the West, but when in India, one has to follow Indian laws.
Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur