The Philippine Online Chronicles

Filipinos have gotten interested in art not because we have budding Picassos in the midst, but because of a series of highly controversial artistic images displayed at no less than the Cultural Center of the Philippines, or CCP.

The CCP had on display various works of art by artists from the University of Sto. Tomas in line with their 400^th anniversary. It is Mideo Cruz’s work that has garnered the ire of not only Catholic bishops, but also various political figures and members of the community.

Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos has called the exhibit “ugly and shameful”. According to Marcos, that type of artwork doesn’t belong in the CCP because “we built the Cultural Center for what is beautiful, and what I saw was not at all beautiful. We built the center as a sanctuary for the Filipino soul.”

Manila Representative Amado Bagatsing has called it a “sacrilege” and has called for the resignation of CCP officials that allowed the artwork to be put on display. The CBCP has called it “blasphemous”. TV Patrol’s Mark Logan told Cruz that if he were an aetheist, the artist “shouldn’t violate the beliefs of others”. The reporter has even said that if Cruz gets lynched, it’s his fault and he shouldn’t seek the protection of the media from the angry public.

In an intelligent move, Malacanang has distanced itself from the controversy by refusing to comment on the issue when the news broke out. While many people criticized that President Aquino didn’t at least show his displeasure about the artwork, at least it was because he could have been busy with his MILF talks. He must have chosen to focus on issues that mattered at the moment rather than desecrated images of Jesus Christ, letting the CPBP deal with that problem so that the Palace can focus on economic and political issues instead.

The CCP has defended its decision to put up the installation, as it is “part of the exhibit”. According to CCP Chairperson Emily Abrera, “this is part of the dialogue of the discourse, part of social community. Not all art is for aesthetic purposes...and that is the context from which the exhibit must be taken.” She continued by saying that, “It is part of our culture to question, it is part of our culture to seek answers, to look behind the surface and dig out what our real values are. This is a time for questioning for many.”

Whether you agree with her or not, the art installation has put art in the mindset of the Filipino people. It has made people go to the CCP to take a look. It has made us question what is truly art, because for many people the questionable work on display is garbage. It certainly generated massive publicity for the CCP and the artist, Mideo Cruz. His installation is called “Poleteismo”.

The questionable art pieces include images of Jesus Christ with bunny ears and The Virgin Mary adorned with non-religious items. There is a condom draped on a cross. There is a condom on the Holy Family.

The exhibit has raised the hackles of so many people. Some pieces of work have been vandalized. The website of Cruz was inundated with threats and criticism. Cruz has been called homosexual and has been threatened in various ways. Whether Cruz deserves criticism for his work, it is also wrong for people to make threats and to inflict physical harm on another person. It is also wrong to call someone homosexual, as if it were an insult.

According to the artist’s website, his “art production has been built upon overtly and subversively expanding and evolving communicative language and contexts. Aiming to stimulate interaction and critical consumption of art”. In layman’s terms, this means that Cruz’s art is purposeful and intentional. In his defense, Cruz continues to say that he likes to provoke and start a debate, but that he didn’t realize the severity of the reaction of the people towards his work. This is extremely hard to believe.

How can he claim that defacing Christian images isn’t going to get any type of reaction? This is a country wherein we can’t even get a proper family planning policy set in place because of the vehement reaction of religious groups.

Anytime you play with religion, you’re bound to get extreme reactions, no matter where you live in the world. If Cruz had instead used images of Buddah or implied negative and controversial things about Allah, perhaps placed a condom on the Star of David, he would also have earned the ire of people from other religions. If he put a condom on a Muslim image, would the Muslims consider it art?

However, what if Cruz didn’t use religious symbols? Perhaps if he put a penis or bunny ears on the image of Gloria Arroyo, Filipinos wouldn’t react just as vehemently. He probably would have gotten a good laugh from people if he used political images instead. If Cruz had used the image of the Twin Towers in 911 or the American flag and placed condoms and a penis on the picture, it is certain that the Americans would have a lot to say about the matter.

On the other hand, could the art exhibit of Cruz not be made into a religious issue? This is art, and shouldn’t art be an expression of self? A reflection of beauty? A mirror of what is in the soul? This is the stand taken by those on Cruz’ side.

However, even art advocates are having a difficult time accepting these as pieces of art work. If Cruz’s artistic intention was to gain attention and get a reaction, he is successful 100 percent! If his artistic intention is to poke at the CBCP for being against the RH bill, then he certainly got noticed. However, by placing condoms next to sacred images, Cruz has put a face of morality on the use of birth control and family planning responsibility.

This controversy is a matter of respect. Is the CCP right in showing the exhibit and letting the people judge the work for its own merit? Perhaps. After all, people wouldn’t want others to dictate what is art and what is beautiful or acceptable. Censorship is a tricky thing and once you let others tell you what you can and cannot see, then that becomes a problem.

Did the artist show disrespect in playing with the images? Certainly. Just because the piece is in a gallery doesn’t make it art. If he placed a condom on a statue in church, he would have been vilified. It’s no different here just because he managed to get some floor space at the CCP. Cruz knew he was playing with fire the minute he used those images held sacred by others. Cruz has also crossed the fine line between freedom of expression and art.

There is already a very fine line when it comes to freedom of expression, respect and art. In a culture where everything is inter-related, you can’t make something without it having social, political, religious and cultural implications.

The CCP has backed down to pressure and closed the exhibit. Whether they should have been put up in the first place is questionable, although at least they gave Filipino artists a venue to show their work. However, next time, they should also consider if the artwork on display is appropriate for children to see.

Whether the artist should have made the work in the first place is another thing. In the end, it is up to the viewing public to decide if they like something created by an artist or not. If Cruz says that he wants a debate and to let people be the judge, the people have certainly spoken loud and clear.

Photo: “Cultural Center of the Philippines” by jon mannion, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved