Categorized | Art News

Jesus Christ in Art + Controversy

One of the easiest ways for an artist to get a little media love is to make fun of a religion. People usually take their religion a little too seriously, so it’s a proven method to create some controversy and to get your brand out there. It’s probably better to pick on religions like christianity, buddhism or maybe even judaism though as you may have to go in to protective custody if you go picking on islam (they really take their religion seriously).

I have been noticing Jesus Christ popping up quite a bit lately..

The German artist Martin Kippenberger upset Pope Benedict with his Jesus Christ frog sculpture hanging in the Museion museum of modern and contemporary art in Italy. The green frog is nailed to the cross with a beer in one hand and an egg in the other. The work is called “Zuerst die Fuesse” or “Feet First.” The pope called the work blasphemous.

Martin Kippenberger's Jesus Christ Frog

There’s also Jesus Christ with an erection by Chinese artist Terence Koh. After being shown at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Britain, the gallery is being taken to court by Emily Mapfuwa for “outraging public decency and causing harassment, alarm and distress to the public.”

Terrence Koh's Jesus Christ Erection

Adam Cullen’s Corpus Christi (Women Only Bleed) entry caused one of the judges of the annual Blake Prize for religious art in Australia to quit. The judge says he quit because the painting was so ugly though.

Adam Cullen's Jesus Christ Blake Prize Entry

I have previously mentioned the Chocolate Jesus Christ, the gay Jesus Christ play, and a naked Jesus Christ riding a Surfboard.
>> Art Controversy News

Leave a Reply

Spam Protection by WP-SpamFree