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Christ-like Osama image stirs debate
Artworks depicting Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in a Christ-like pose and a statue of the Virgin Mary covered in a burqa have caused a stir in Australia after they were showcased in a prestigious religious art competition. Bearded Orientals: Making the Empire Cross by Priscilla Bracks is a double vision print that depicts both Jesus and Bin Laden. Luke Sullivans The Fourth Secret of Fatima is a statue of Mary, her head and torso obscured by a blue burqa like the one Afghan women had to wear under the Taliban. The artworks were among more than 500 entries in the Blake Prize for Religious Art, and have been included in an exhibition at the National Art School in Sydney. The choice of such artwork is gratuitously offensive to the religious beliefs of many Australians, Australian Prime Minister John Howard told Thursdays Daily Telegraph newspaper. Opposition Labor leader Kevin Rudd also criticised the artwork. I accept you know people can have artistic freedom, but I find this painting off, off in the extreme. I understand how people would be offended by it, he said. Australias 20 million population is overwhelmingly Christian and the print was condemned by the Australian Christian Lobby. Its really unfortunate people take liberties with the Christian faith they wouldnt take with other religions, Lobby spokeswoman Glynis Quinlan told reporters. Posted by: Fred 2007-08-31 |
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