KOCHI: An artwork displayed at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) has ignited angry reactions from the Catholic Church, forcing the Biennale Foundation to shut down the venue concerned for a few days.
According to Christian outfits in Kochi, an artwork displayed at the Garden Convention Centre, one of the venues for the ‘Edam’ exhibition, is misrepresenting the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting that depicts the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. The artwork, created by Tom Vattakuzhy, is based on a theatrical adaptation of a story titled ‘Mridvangi’s Tragic Death’.
“The artwork draws comparison with the Holy Mass and the Last Supper. They have misrepresented Jesus Christ. The artwork should be removed within 24 hours or you will be responsible for the consequences,” said an angry social media post from a leader of the Kerala Latin Catholic Association.
Meanwhile, KMB president Bose Krishnamachari said the venue will reopen after holding talks with representatives of the religious bodies concerned and the protest groups.
“The work in question was created by the artist in response to a story by C Gopan, the details of which are clearly mentioned in the accompanying exhibition description. The artwork depicts Mata Hari, a historically documented figure and a convicted spy, in the moments preceding her execution by the French Army,” said curators Aiswarya Suresh and K M Madhusudanan in a statement.
‘Misrepresenting Last Supper will hurt sentiments of faithful’
“Mata Hari was also an exotic dancer, and the use of nudity in the work is directly linked to this historical and narrative context,” the curators said.
“The Kochi Biennale Foundation does not believe that the artwork in question warrants removal. Taking down the work would amount to restricting artistic expression and could be perceived as an act of censorship, which is contrary to the principles of artistic freedom and cultural dialogue that the exhibition seeks to uphold,” the curators’ statement said.
KCBC Jagratha Commission secretary Fr Michael Pulickal said the artwork was published in Bhashaposhini in 2016 and the periodical subsequently withdrawn by the publishers following protests.
“We respect the creative freedom of the artist. But misrepresenting the Last Supper of Jesus Christ will hurt the sentiments of the faithful. We agree that the theme of the artwork is good as it is the last supper of an erotic dancer condemned to death. But how can you draw comparison with a sacred event of a religion? We have sent representations to the minister for culture and the Biennale Foundation demanding to take down the artwork immediately,” Fr Michael said.
While asserting that the artwork will not be taken down, KMB president Bose Krishnamachari said the issue will be solved through talks. “The Kochi Biennale Foundation does not wish to take down the artwork. At the same time, we are mindful of religious sensitivities and believe that a constructive dialogue is the right way forward.
We firmly believe that the artwork is not intended to offend any religion and have the artist’s statement clearly explaining the context. However, the police have conveyed that they will not be in a position to ensure adequate protection to the site or the artwork, in view of the New Year celebrations. Hence, the venue will remain closed for a few days,” he said.
Explaining the context of the artwork, artist Tom Vattakuzhy said, “It is by no means opposed to Christianity; on the contrary, it reflects the values of tenderness, compassion, and empathy that Christianity upholds. I have a sustained interest in art grounded in humanism, from Early Renaissance art through subsequent movements in art history. My Christian upbringing may have contributed to this orientation. I believe that a careful reading of each of my paintings reveals these underlying layers of humanism.”
KCBC files complaint with CM
The KCBC Vigilance Commission has filed a complaint with the chief minister and the cultural affairs minister, demanding a probe into the circumstances surrounding the display of a distorted depiction of the Last Supper at the Kochi Biennale. “It is condemnable that the same artwork, which was published in a magazine years ago and withdrawn following controversy, has been included in events like the Kochi Biennale, which promotes social unity and togetherness with public participation,” said KCBC Vigilance Commission in the letter.