Artist Sanjeev Kumar Sinha’s artwork on display at the Eco Park in Patna. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, May 19: Visitors to the Eco Park in the city are stumped by a 20ft-tall installation put up recently by the state human resource development (HRD) department. Reason: the work of art, which contains several sharp objects like scissors and saws, has no fencing around it.

Most visitors believe that the installation, created by artist Sanjeev Kumar Sinha, a former student of College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, is a security hazard.

“Such a structure should have a high fencing around it. Although the weapons are welded to the structure, criminals can misuse them. Also, if children go too near the structure out of curiosity, they might get hurt,” said Bhumika Chaudhury, a regular at the park.

The artwork, according to Sinha’s interpretation, depicts Buddha’s Shanti Stupa in the contemporary times of conflict. An iron bird is perched on the top of the minaret-shaped cage and a large number of sharp-edged objects like swords, daggers, scissors, knives, saws, gardener’s tools and others are installed on thin iron frames, while the base of the structure is wrapped with barbed wires.

According to sources, the installation was put on display at the Gandhi Maidan during the Bihar Divas celebrations from March 22 to 24. After the event, HRD officials set it up at the park — spread over 30 acres — where thousands of visitors could appreciate it.

Visitors, however, claim the park is not the best place to display such artwork.

“Art lovers can go to museums and galleries. In parks we need trees and plants, not installations like this,” said Anshuman Kumar, another visitor.

Visitors to the park face another problem: the artwork is too complicated for many to comprehend. In absence of a written description on what the structure depicts, many people find the artwork “meaningless”.

“There are very few people who understand contemporary art. The metal structure, though a piece of art, looks out of place in the park amid grass patches, plants and trees,” said Marina Aiman, a student of Patna Women’s College.

The HRD department finds the park the best place to display the artwork, though.

“The artwork shows that the bird of peace is in danger and this is a beautiful message. We want people of the city to appreciate the art and if we confine it to the museum, very few people will get to see it. In the next one month, residents will get to see such huge artworks at 10-12 public places, including roundabouts and parks,” HRD principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh told The Telegraph.

On the danger the structure poses for visitors, he said a proper fence would be erected around it.