Art Lovers discussion

Do you think secular institutions have an obligation to be sensitive to believers in their presentation of religious works of art?

George and Melanie Holcomb

This question could be open for debate, also. I am NOT trying to start a controversy and hope everyone will be sensitive to everyone else's points of view. But I hope this will elicit some good discussion!

I'll start by posting a few perhaps, 'controversial' pieces...again NO OFFENSE INTENDED toward ANYONE of any religion, faith, belief (or non-belief)

LA NONA ORA
Maurizio Cattelan
1999

Humour and religion has often been resulted in risqué work, and Maurizio Cattelan definitely delivered on that with “La Nona Ora”. The life-size installation of Pope John Paul II struck down by a meteor created mixed reaction after its 1999 debut, specifically for how realistic and lifelike the figure of John Paul II was. The original installation was completed with a shattered skylight and red carpet, creating many interpretations of what “La Nona Ora” meant. Did the meteor represent an act of God, or merely that the Pope is human like the rest of us and can be struck down like us all?

https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandc...

American Jesus: Hold Me, Carry Me Boldly
David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle is known for his colourful, often twisted, take on pop culture, showcasing the biggest stars from The Kardashians to Jesus Christ himself. His exhibition American Jesus: Hold Me, Carry Me Boldly, displayed the iconicism that our society hold towards celebrities as though they are religious figures, with numerous images of Jesus and Michael Jackson. The poppy, religious themed imagery features a contemporary artist who was both crucified in the media and idolised by the masses, creating an interesting analysis between pop culture figures and religious ones alike.

Piss Christ
ANDRES SERRANO
1987

Take a photograph of a crucifix submerged in urine, and you get one of the most famous and widely debated images in photography. Andres Serrano’s “Piss Christ” caused an uproar after its 1987 debut, with everyone from conservative U.S senators to French Catholic Fundamentalists condemning the photo as a display of disrespect. A Christian himself, Serrano explained that the image aimed to represent how society has cheapened the image of Christ and the hypocrisy of followers who twist his words to fit their own purpose.

Modern Makonde carving in ebony: Modern Makonde sculptures often depict spirits, or Shetani

Heather:
I read somewhere that there were some relics taken from an ancient burial ground (native American??) and put into a museum and the people of that culture were very upset because it desecrated the symbolism of the pieces. Does anyone know about this?

Baptism of Christ
Piero della Francesca
1448-1450