Sunday 16 September 2007

What is scandalous about this photograph?

Figure shows a photograph by an American photographer Andres Serrano.

The piece caused a scandal when it was exhibited in 1989, with detractors accusing Serrano of blasphemy and others raising this as a major issue of artistic freedom. Senators Al D'Amato and Jesse Helms expressed outrage that the piece was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, since it is a federal taxpayer-financed institution.

Sister Wendy Beckett, an art critic, consecrated virgin and Catholic nun, voiced her approval of the photograph. She explained in a television interview that she regarded the work as a statement on "what we have done to Christ" - that is, the way contemporary society has come to regard Christ and the values he represents.

2 comments:

Rahul said...

Jesus Christ's depiction here is submerged in a glass of the artist's urine

SEV said...

Urine notwithstanding, a beautiful photo.