The Philippine Online Chronicles

Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) officials said that they were divided over the controversial “Kulo” exhibit, during the Senate hearing today.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada asked the CCP officials about their initial reaction when they saw the exhibit , which features artworks of religious images with wooden penis, rabbit ears, and others.

"Was I not shocked? Yes, I was. For some of those images, I didn't really particularly care for them. There were some that spoke to me. For example, standing in front of the cross with the mirror, it caused me to wonder why he did that. I wondered too if I was crucified this way, would I be able to take it," said CCP chairperson Emily Abrera.

CCP president Raul Sunico likewise said he was “initially shocked” as a Catholic and he “was also offended.”

"I know it has really challenged the sensitivities of the religious,” Sunico explained. “On the side of the artists, they see it as a symbolic and not literal.”

“What was not acceptable before is acceptable now,” he added. “Maybe this is something that is ahead of its time. Maybe it is something that will never be accepted in the future but we have to be credited that we also consulted the other side before making our decision."

Abrera added, however, "[Sunico] favored a closing down. I put forth the idea that we had a responsibility towards the artist, that our work was to uphold artistic freedom. That was probably not the best step to take at that time but we should encourage dialogue about the art pieces."

According to the CCP chairperson, the exhibit had drawn 500,000 visitors and that “all the responses were congratulatory and they found it stimulating, they found it different.”

Meanwhile, “Poleteismo” artist Mideo Cruz was absent during the Senate inquiry, however, the supposed subpoena will not be issued anymore.

"It’s not really the artist that is under inquiry so to speak. It’s really the CCP as a public institution," said education committee chair Sen. Edgardo Angara.

"There is no more need for another session. We believe that this particular session has been very quite comprehensive and we heard practically all the stakeholders involved in the controversy. We believe that we have exhausted, perhaps we have already pursued all lines of inquiry that we need not set another session," he added.

Cruz, the artist behind the controversial artworks, earlier apologized to those who were offended by his art.

“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa mga nasaktan. Pero hindi ako 'yung tao na nagpipinta ng magandang bulaklak o magandang tanawin. Ang mga ginagawa kong proyekto ay mga bagay na susundutin ng kaunti ang ating mga pag-iisip,” he said.

“Not art at all”

National Artist for Literature Dr. Francisco Sionil Jose, who was also present in the hearing, commented that Cruz's artwork is “not art at all.”

“There is really nothing obscene in the art. All art is propaganda but not all propaganda is art. Art is a horrible and very demanding mistress,” the national artist added.

The said exhibit was shut down on August 9 as a “preventive security measure.” It was supposed to run until August 21.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) also released a statement saying, “We are deeply saddened, hurt and insulted.”

“The exhibit is an act of vandalism not simply of the sacred images and icons of our Catholic and Christian heritage. ‘Politeismo’ is a vandalization of our Faith and desecration of our Lord,” they added.