Sculpture controversy is HOTA than hell

Our city’s burgeoning arts scene seems to have sparked a severe case of Satanic panic, with some residents now planning a protest against ‘evil’ at the Bundall cultural centre. FULL DETAILS

Talk about HOTA than hell.

Our city’s burgeoning arts scene seems to have sparked a severe case of Satanic panic, with some residents apparently planning a protest against ‘evil’ at the Bundall cultural centre.

While the $60m Home of the Arts precinct has been the subject of some heavenly praise after the opening of the world-first Pop Masters exhibition, the latest criticism is just another roadblock in what has been HOTA’s highway to hell.

First it was the revelation that Sue Baynes, spiritual adviser to Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and the city’s pastoral adviser, had claimed there was a “demonic stronghold” at the venue, where a “spiritual battle” raged.

While those comments created an absolute firestorm, the arts venue has remained a fortress of fortitude, withstanding the religious reproof while continuing to welcome patrons from all walks of life.

But now comes the Facebook-based action group protesting against the ‘satanic’ six-metre-high sculpture ‘Double-sided avatar with blue figure’ created by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran and installed at the entrance to the art gallery.

Artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran with his piece at the entrance to the HOTA Gallery. Photo: Alex Chomciz.

The group, titled ‘Remove the Monstrosity from HOTA’, defines their aim as the following:

“We are a group of residents of the beautiful Gold Coast who have come together and are taking legal and lawful action to have the monstrosity removed from the entrance to HOTA.

“Young children and families do not even get the CHOICE to view what we believe to be an R-rated sculpture as they enter the gallery, this is extremely harmful to our community.

“On Saturday the 18th of March 10-12 we are having a protest at the Hota art gallery.”

A member of this group explained further in an email:

“The welfare of our children and families is at stake. Our cities (sic) cultural centre is bleeding with the pain of the so-called artwork a Monstrosity.

“... Further research leads me to believe it is satanic.”

Now, this sculpture is no stranger to criticism.

When it was first installed it was described by some as ‘a poor giraffe who has had a huge shock and turned multi-coloured’, ’an insult to ratepayers and an embarrassment to the GC’ and ‘something my three-year-old would draw’.

Even the mayor was forced to defend the piece, giving a response that was pure performance art in itself: “I say to you, go up, get up close and personal, have a good look at it. Don’t like it, have another drink, keep doing it until you like it. Then by the end of night you go ‘that’s a great piece’.”

Mayor Tom Tate. Photo: Tertius Pickard.

As for the artist, Sydney-based Sri Lankan Nithiyendran has described the piece as both inviting people in and scaring away negative spirits, with the large figure considered imposing but balanced with his ‘playful little blue neon companion’.

“I was looking at these guardian and protective figures across the Asia Pacific, and the way in these big important places they are kind of scary and bold and vibrant and they’re meant to invite people in by scaring the bad stuff away,” he said.

“I think that kind of energy is a really good way to frame the entrance of a museum where thinking and culture takes place.”

As Alanis Morissette once sang … isn’t it ironic. Because instead of keeping the negativity away, this sculpture seems to have become a beacon for antipathy for some people.

“HOTA has standing outside its building a sculpture of a demon that is holding what appears to be a dead child and inside the HOTA building there are works of art signalling satan,” says one of the Facebook Monstrosity members.

“Personally I would not let my children enter the HOTA building at all.”

So maybe it is keeping negativity away?

Look, the purpose of art is not to be pretty and peaceful decoration but polarising pieces that inspire conversation – so I have no issue with anyone who dislikes the entrance sculpture. Art is subjective and beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

Yet the damning nature of this ‘monstrosity’ dialogue does worry me.

How do so many read so much into so little?

And how does our cultural crown of HOTA suddenly become the centre of something so sordid?

It’s enough to conjure up some sympathy for the poor devil*.

* That’s a reference to a Rolling Stones song. No pitchforks directed at me, please.