There's a new cross on display at the old Holy Trinity Church at Marylebone in the heart of London, but the figure dangling from it isn't Jesus; it's a gorilla. Actually, it's a wax sculpture; one of 60 pieces in an exhibit called The Age of the Marvelous. And the church isn't a church either; at least, not any more. Built in 1825, the former Holy Trinity Church is now One Marylebone, a conference center catering to meetings, events and exhibits, large and small.The very life-like gorilla on a cross was created by artist Paul Fryer with the help of a former Madame Tussauds waxworks expert. The piece is entitled The Privilege of Dominion and is intended to highlight the plight of the Western Lowland Gorilla as well as to challenge the idea that animals have no souls. The artist insists that he didn't intend to offend Christians.
"I do go to church and regard myself as a Christian, though I'm probably a heretic," Fryer said in an interview reported by the London Evening Standard. "I just hope people understand the spirit of it is intended to create discourse and make people think rather than offend anybody."The artist also defended his other work in the exhibit, a Pieta-like sculpture of an electrocuted black Jesus, by saying it was intended to challenge people's notions of race and religion.
"If they had had the chair in Christ's time, people would be wearing little electric chairs now," Fryer said.
The works of fifteen other artists, including a "floating", life-like head of John the Baptist by Martin Sexton and a woman riding a walrus by Keith Tyson, are also in the exhibit.
The Age of the Marvelous will be on display at One Marylebone (né the Holy Trinity Church) in London, from Oct. 14th to October 22nd.
Photo Credit:
1) The Privilege of Dominion (photo from the London Evening Standard)
2) Black Jesus being electrocuted (Paul Fryer)
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Comments
I like the thought behind the electric chair depiction, and agree with him. I've used the electric chair as an illustration of what the cross was like in my teaching and preaching on a few occasions.
But he's extremely naive (or disingenuous) to believe that replacing Jesus with a Gorilla on the cross could be seen as anything but antagonistic, blasphemous (especially given the fact that he's a churchgoer), or absurd. I'd have more respect for him if he just flat-out said something like "I knew this piece would p*ss off Christians, but I believe the point I'm wanting to make [whatever exactly it is] by pushing their buttons worth it." Based on my own experience in art school and in the art world, I believe people often use "artistic expression" as a vague blanket to disguise the fact that they just felt like making something dumb for shock value's sake.
I didn't buy his explanation either, JM. If I had been the artist, I would have said something like, "Well, religion is the 800 lb. gorilla in the house that everyone fears to criticize."
;^)
I am very upset by this picture. You poor soul I will offer my prayers for you today. You must have had a horrible childhood, like so many others that have been taken over by XXXXX.
Thank you for the graces to see the world more clearly, and given me a chance to pray, pray, pray. I am A Servant of Jesus and Mary
It's frightening to think about how many demented people there are in this world! Many of these sub-humans must be from the bowels of hell.
Intelligent, rational and reasonable people who willingly and even gladly mock the God they THINK does not exist or care, those people are to me the very proof of the diabolical. If someone willingly rejects the Holy Spirit, they unwittingly become clay in the hands of the Evil One. And we are not talking about murder or sinister crimes, we are merely talking about self-centeredness, lust, anger, lying, profanity and sins of omission, such as charity to your neighbor. These poor souls who cannot explain the miracle at Fatima, or the weeping virgin at Akita, Japan, or the qualities of the Shroud of Turin, or the inexplicable manifestations of a Catholic exorcism --- these poor souls are to be pitied. "There are none so blind as those who refuse to see."
"Didn't intend to offend Christians.."
You've got to be kidding me.
Of course, this is intended to offend Christians. Why not do something to offend Muslims? You piece of crap!
why is it offensive. are you THAT insecure of your faith that an artists free thought is offensive. god forbid someone thinks outside of a DATED religion that is completely irrelevant to our current day and age.
Catholic/Christian beliefs apparently are the only beliefs left in the world that are ALLOWED to be systematically and consistently mocked anymore; nail a figure of Mohammed or Buddha or Krishna to a cross "for artistic expression" and see what happens!!
My poor lost soul, God made you before the beginning of time and you have strayed into the darkness. I pray God and others may help you re-discover the light God intended you to dwell in... I am so sorry you are among the missing sheep, Jesus will welcome you back, just ask. Prayers and blessings to you, for your conversion.
How disturbing...this is not art, it is blasphemy. Do you not fear God? I pray for you.
Glenn
USA
www.stgemmagalgani.com
You'd think Jesus was the only one to die on a cross the way you people are carrying on. This Christian is trying to symbolize that animals have souls too, so is it the change of the key figure on the cross that has you so angry? or that animals are elevated to the same level as man (as having souls)? And for some of you I wonder if the threat you see in the other display is in Jesus being depicted as black? We've improved some in terms of race relations, but I've still seen things that tell me we have a long way to go yet on both sides.
This is disgusting and sick and this just proves the end is near God have mercy on us all.
Fryer your so called art sucks and I can see why your not popular but hey that's just my opinion. why don't you become a human being.
Catholics and all true christian denominations should stand against this sort of blasphemous garbage it is truly a slap in the face for all humanity.
LET'S SEE THE ARTIST MAKE SOMETHING THAT OFFENDS MUSLIMS....OH YEA, THEY MIGHT KILL HIM (SO I GUESS THAT WON'T HAPPEN). SPINELESS PIECE OF CRAP
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Thank you all for such interesting comments. I'll try to answer them here, even the ones that aren't about the news story. 1) No Glenn, I don't fear God. I fear his followers. As Gandhi said, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Perhaps that's part of the message the artist was trying to convey about animals, race, etc., too.
2) Hello Marc and L. WWJD? What would Jesus do? Would he want you to be as intolerant of criticism as militant Muslims? If a faith cannot answer criticism except with anger or suppression, how good can it be? Maybe you think your version of God should be feared the way theirs is. You should be proud that these days (for the most part) it isn't.
(continued next post)
(continued) 3) Hello Carolyn. I can't read the artist's mind but I can offer my own perspective. I think of myself as a man of reason but how do you get someone to listen? Sometimes people need a shock to shake them out of their complacency and get them to think or listen. That's been a function of art for a long time. Of course, we can disregard what the artist said if we like and ascribe to him the motivation of offending just for the sake of offending, right?
4) Hi Turzkova. "There are none so blind as those who refuse to see." Now that's a sentiment I can agree with. We may, however, disagree on what constitutes blindness. Martin Luther called Reason a "dam'd whore" and said that whoever wants to be a Christian should pluck the eyes of it out of their head. How do you decide which things to take on faith and which not to? Forgive me if I stick with the "dam'd whore" a while longer. She provides a method of answering questions validated again and again by the results.
(continued) Maybe you have a better method and can offer a faith-based explanation as to how, in 1204 AD when the Crusaders sacked Constantinople and carried off its sacred relics, they took away, not one, but TWO heads of John the Baptist; both equally venerated in the churches they had been stolen from. Faith is not called blind for nothing, my friend.
(continued) 5) Susan, I appreciate your concern and your care but why do you think I must have had a bad childhood to feel the way I do? I didn't. I wasn't abused. My parents never divorced. They were loving and supportive and encouraged me to try my best in all my endeavors. People come to faith, or leave it, for many reasons and a good or bad childhood doesn't preclude either choice. I am grateful to my parents for many things. One in particular was their teaching me the value of thinking for myself.
The purpose of art, like all of our gifts and talents we receive from God, is to glorify Him. I do not see the glory of God in this so called art just like so much of the things this world calls "art" today. We need art to bring us closer to God, to inspire us in our worship of Him and to challenge us to be better people. Please Lord, help us to use the gifts you give us wisely, to help our brothers and sisters turn toward you and everlasting life. Amen.
Hi, Hugh: So Martin Luther called "reason" a damned whore. How weird! On the other hand, Pope Benedict said faith without reason is not to be trusted and leads to extremism. The Catholic Church is not condemning reason are they, that is the one true Church Christ established by the way. Jesus also said in the gospel of John "If you will not put faith in words then put faith in the works that I do." IOW, there is no need for faith in God, it is proven empirically, it is certain. Now to work on the peripherals, best stay with Jesus' Church for guidance.
As a Devout catholic and fine artist I find the corner stone of this effort purely a commercial one. Shock & outrage often equals publicity. Its just another artist wannabe trying to make a buck. Wouldn't want to be in his shoes on judgement day. The devil is truly working overtime during these times when the shadows are long. Those of us who know the truth, walk in divine light continue to watch and wait in peace amidst the storm of blasphemy. Maranatha. Forgive them for they know not what they do. Christ have mercy on us all.
Ugly art that say's nothing except that he's a bigot and opportunists. It's all the trend to mock Christianity.
wow some of you lot are mental. keep up the good work!
Hmmm...So,he thinks he may be a heretic...He's one sick puppy as far as I'm concerned;just another sensationalist,far from being an artist!
All great art is controversial.
"If they had had the chair in Christ's time, people would be wearing little electric chairs now," Fryer said. Didn't Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre say this about the Death Row Rec. Label or in one of their songs. This guy just rips off other peoples ideas. What an ass and his "art" sucks. If you want to go for shock art here is an idea, sicko.... Why not just put a menstr. woman up there on the cross and say under it "if Jesus was a woman"... Geez ppl. do we have no respect for ANYTHING??
This is not great art; this is anti-Christianity drivel masquerading as social commentary. l'd like to see the "artist's" take on Islam's Mohammed. Something with 50+-year-old Mohammed and 9-year-old Aisha suggesting the danger to children of pedophilia. Now, that would be edgy commentary. Attacking Christianity is so cheap and so faux avant garde. "Urine" Christ and faeces on Mary are part of the "art" these "artists" claim is not meant to offend must make us "think." Their stuff sure does make us think ... a whole lot about the moronity and anti-Christianity bigotry of the artist. Claiming to be Christian and a heretic is a nice dodge.
Amazing the controls on this site. "Ass" passes the filters but "pi*s" does not.
I can't help but thinking that those who claim their fear Christians think it would be bigoted to say the same about Muslims. I guess head-chopping has benefits.
That junk will be in the dumpster when the publicity goes away
When you have no talent, you have to rely on shock.
That looks like someone in the WH
Somehow, we in the U.S. are most likely paying for this crap with NEA tax dollars.
As an artist I see nothing original or courageous in these pieces. It looks like just another sheep-like attempt at taking the easy, fashionable route to fame by attacking Christianity. People see this art and immediately categorize it as just another one of 'those' pieces. Is that what you want, Paul? Because it sounds like what you really want is an honest dialogue about religion. So stop bashing us over the head with offensive imagery and do something truly courageous, original and sensitive.. that is if we, the general public are your target audience. If, instead, you're just trying to cozy up to the art world snobs, then by all means, carry on.
I usually don't comment on stuff, but I feel compelled to write about this article. This "art" is disrespectful and disturbing, and greatly offensive to Our Lord and Savior Jesus. Jesus came and died for EVERYBODY. If the artist understood HOW MUCH Jesus loves him, then he would never have offended HIm in this way. And so I end with a prayer. Father God, I pray and ask for forgiveness for this person on their behalf. I ask for your love and mercy, Lord. For he knows not what he does. This I ask in Jesus' Mighty and Holy name. Amen!
Good! how do any of yall know jesus was even real......? at least we know monkeys exist
iamnotnice says:
That looks like someone in the WH
Well, which one?!?!?!?!
This is just sad... that's all I have to say. If you people only realized how much Jesus loves YOU- it would melt your heart. Please realize that Jesus thought of YOU when he was crucified and he died for YOU as a sacrifice for YOUR sins. Please wake up and realize this before it is too late! John 3:16
I love Thee, O Jesus. Have mercy on us all.
jj how do you know George Washington was even real......educate yourself.
That is just sick!!! But this is what this heathen wanted,attention. But he will get this from me. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus change this man. I dare him to sit in front of its image for one hour and just stare and watch how his heart will melt.
If this artist thinks he's a heretic, I wonder why, he delivered these works of art for public viewing? If Jesus lived today it is true He would be executed in a more modern manner, this is true. Are we not all crucifying many things on our own altar and/or cross of whatever we hold sacred before the reality of God's Love and Mercy in our interactions with each other. Instead of horror and condemnation, perhaps we need to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as to what Jesus Himself sees in the art.
"If Jesus lived today it is true He would be executed in a more modern manner"
...but not in Israel, Anne. Israel abolished capital punishment in 1954. If Jesus were unfortunate enough to be convicted of a capital crime in the USA though, he'd have his choice of methods of execution depending on which state he was in: hanging, gassing, electrocution, firing squad or lethal injection. I imagine that in the case of lethal injection, Christians would be wearing little hypodermic needles around their necks.
I don't find this offensive at all. I find it stupid. Someone has way too much time on their hands
It is so ironic that most of the important art was done in the past with real passion and talent, none of which appears to be evident among the so-called "artists" of today. I guess they feel they have to be "different" in order to be noticed. Talent doesn't count anymore. Shock does. That's OK with me, but I do not want my taxes to be spent on it. Let's hope someone can put a stop to the madness.
What junk-it's equal to the cross in urine. In other words not art-just politics.
As a AMERICAN I find this very offensive and stupid.If i was him i could not sleep at night this so call artists, This is not art he need to find him a job,I know i would not wont to be him, And this do make me think how stupid people are,
What does being an American have to do with this? Are you implying that "real" Americans are Christians? If so, kindly fuck off.
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