Virgin Mary penis painting continues to spark outrage

It’s the provocative painting that has religious leaders and politicians in a lather — even uniting the leaders of rival parties in Queensland. VIEW AND VOTE

POLITICAL leaders have condemned an “obscene” and “repugnant” painting depicting the Virgin Mary holding a giant penis that is hanging at a Queensland university, as its vice-chancellor yesterday went to ground.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the confronting painting Holy Family, which is featured at the Griffith University Art Museum, was “too obscene” for her to even look at and Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington labelled it “repugnant”.

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Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan savaged the painting being put on display and demanded an explanation.

“It’s in appallingly bad taste, it’s extraordinarily juvenile and the people involved should explain how this improves respectful public debate,” he said.

The furore over the artwork, which is included in an exhibition titled The Abyss, on display to the public until the end of the month, has angered religious leaders and made international headlines.

While the university has support from the arts community, it has been widely condemned by politicians, church leaders, religious groups and the public.

“My staff won’t show it to me because they said it’s too obscene and I won’t be looking at it,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“And it’s unfortunate that it has actually come to this situation.

“Personally, I don’t think it should have been shown in the first place, and that is a matter for the Griffith University.”

Ms Frecklington agreed.

“It is disgusting and repugnant and I won’t be going to see it and I wouldn’t want my girls to see it either,” she said.

The artwork, by Juan Davila, is crudely based on Michelangelo’s sculpture The Pieta, which is housed at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and depicts the body of Jesus Christ on the Virgin Mary’s lap after the Crucifixion.

It prompted outrage from Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge, was labelled “vulgar” by State Opposition arts spokesman Dr Christian Rowan, and the Australian Christian Lobby angrily called for its immediate removal.

Yesterday, 63 per cent of almost 1800 people who participated in a couriermail.com.au poll found the painting offensive.

Even people who attended the exhibition hit out at the painting.

Film students Brock Smith and Emma Jordin, both 18, said they didn’t understand the artwork or its meaning.

“The most distracting thing is just having the big penis there, it’s something people don’t want to look at,” Mr Smith said.

“I think it needs to be removed in my opinion. It’s just disgusting to look at.”

Ms Jordin said: “I understand why religious people would be offended.”

Brock Smith and Emma Jordin at the exhibition

But despite the outrage, Griffith University vice-chancellor Professor Carolyn Evans went to ground yesterday and did not answer questions.

Instead, the university provided a statement from acting arts, education and law pro vice-chancellor Scott Harrison, who said the museum could be at times “confronting and challenging, but always thought-provoking”.

“Upon entry to the exhibition there are clear signs stating that the exhibition contains graphic content with nudity and depictions of violence,” he said.

“As a contemporary leading visual and creative arts university, one of the roles of the Museum is to featuring work that stimulates critical debate.”

Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art director Chris Saines said he would consider hanging the same work in the state’s premier art institution, which already has nine pieces of Davila’s work.

“QAGOMA would consider exhibiting the work by Davila currently on display at the Griffith University Art Museum, dependent on the curatorial context in which the work was intended to be shown,” he said.

Griffith University vice-chancellor Professor Carolyn Evans

“Institutions like ours, and Griffith University Art Gallery, are committed to presenting the work of contemporary artists.

“We are a platform for artists’ ideas, however challenging they may be.”

Davila’s art dealer, Kalli Rolfe of Kalli Rolfe Contemporary in Melbourne, described Davila, who won’t talk publicly about his work, as one of the most revered artists in this country nationally and internationally.

“He often tackles difficult subjects,” Rolfe said.

“This particular work challenges the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church, and Juan was brought up in a Catholic country.”

Ms Rolfe said she sold the painting to Brisbane collectors Alex and Kitty Mackay recently and it had previously been in another private collection and not on public view.

“There have been many incidents of controversial reactions to his works and some works have been removed from exhibitions,” she said.

“I’m not surprised by the reaction but at the same time I am very happy that Griffith University fully supports the exhibition and that there is no question of the work being removed.

“They will not exercise any form of censorship.”