POLYTHEISMO : POLYTHEISMO An Analysis of Mideo Cruz’ Controversial Painting
BY
PROF RONNIE ESPERGAL PASIGUI
Background : Background Art Exhibit entitled “KULO” held at CCP
Exhibit for the 400 years of UST
Not sponsored by UST
Exhibit by Alumni of UST
Mideo Cruz – alumni of UST?
Polytheismo : Polytheismo
Background : Background Mideo’s art is entitled “POLYTHEISMO”
Exhibited here and abroad – including Loyola House of Studies in Ateneo
most of the statues, images, posters of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and other saints were doodled with paints, deformed, defaced, and desecrated.
Background : Background Several religious statues were also violated with several acts of sacrilege and desecration like the old statue of Christ the King attached with ears and nose of rabbits made of aluminum can, the image of the famous Jesus Eyes with a penis shaped ashtray plastered on it and covering its face and crucifixes with movable penises.
Mideo alone? : Mideo alone? Jam Montoya – Spanish artist, turned the Holy Cards into pornographic trading cards
Cosimo Cavallaro, an Italian-Canadian artist who made the life size Chocolate Jesus, nude and has anatomically correct part protruding between the legs of the chocolate statue way back in 2007.
Mideo alone? : Mideo alone? Alfred Hrdlicka, the Austrian artist who drew a homosexual version of the last supper in 2008 in a very lewd depiction of the passion, wherein Jesus and his disciples are engaged in an orgy.
Slide 8 :
Gay Version of the Last Supper : Gay Version of the Last Supper
Mideo alone? : Mideo alone? Giussepe Veneziano, the Italian painter who painted the Virgin Mary carrying in her arms a baby Adolf Hitler.
Virgin Mary with Adolf Hiltler by Giussepe Veneziano, : Virgin Mary with Adolf Hiltler by Giussepe Veneziano,
Artistic Freedom? : Artistic Freedom? Section 14. The State shall foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression. (Art XIV, Sect 14)
Artistic Freedom? : Artistic Freedom? The "Kulo" exhibit is a reality check on artistic limits and underscores the need for continuing art education among Filipinos.
"This is a lesson to us, a reflection in terms of the artist, how far they an stretch this notion of freedom and creative expression and question themselves in terms of what responsibility they have in terms of handling certain images,”.
In Defense of Artistic Freedom? : In Defense of Artistic Freedom? "Its difficult for visual artists to defend their work. They speak thru color and lines,”
“it shows that the power of art has the power to create discussion and controversy…Just like the truth, art can sometimes hurt,” (David Celdran)
In Defense of Artistic Freedom? : In Defense of Artistic Freedom? “If you just look at artwork and see what offends you, ambabaw mo.”(Celdran)
Pero para naman sa Concerned Artists of the Philippines, kulang lang daw ang mga Pilipino sa edukasyon pagdating sa sining.
In Defense of Artistic Freedom? : In Defense of Artistic Freedom? Singer and University of the Philippines Diliman professor Roselle Pineda said it was “a sad day for artists and guardians of freedom of artistic expression…
In Defense of Artistic Freedom? : In Defense of Artistic Freedom? Dean of the UP College of Mass Communications and writer Rolando Tolentino Tweeted his sentiments in Filipino.
“Imelda is a hypocrite and her tastes when it comes to truth/goodness/beauty. This was a dictatorship, or has she forgotten?”
In Defense of Artistic Freedom? : In Defense of Artistic Freedom? “If you don’t want to see or hear things against your beliefs, do not go to where the debates are unless you want to be a victim even if you orchestrated your own victimization.”
“Censorship is a blow against all artists. The state has the capability to repress those it believes to be offensive to its own interests.”
In Defense of Artistic Freedom? : In Defense of Artistic Freedom? Artist and former dean of the UP College of Fine Arts Leonilo Doloricon in the meantime said, “Those holier than thou crusaders against Mideo Cruz’ should stay in the church everyday not in museums and galleries.”
In Defense of Artistic Freedom? : In Defense of Artistic Freedom? Award-winning writer and painter Jun Cruz Reyes also expressed commiseration with Cruz.
“Poor Mideo M. Cruz, misunderstood all over again. Let me borrow a quote for you: “Brilliant ideas are always getting violent opposition from mediocre minds” — Albert Einstein.
In Defense of Artistic Freedom? : In Defense of Artistic Freedom? Brace yourself Mideo. In the end, your art will see you through. I salute you.”Yet another group, Artists ARREST (Artists’ Response to the Call for Social Change and Transformation) slammed President Benigno Aquino III for supporting the CCP’s decision to close down the exhibit, saying that Aquino’s move “smacked of hypocrisy.”
Against Mideo? : Against Mideo? The UST Rector/The Bishops/Catholics
Lito Zuleta - he simply branded cruz’ work as a shock for shock’s sake
Ted Laguatan opined that Mideo Cruz resorted to gimmickry just to provoke and catch people’s attention
Against Mideo? : Against Mideo? Bastos at hindi sining ang naka-exhibit na obra ng kontrobersyal na artist na si Mideo Cruz sa Cultural Center of the Philippines. Ito ay ayon kay Rep. Imelda Marcos
She was shocked by it. She called the exhibit “shameful.”
“We built that to be the sanctuary of the Filipino soul and a monument to the Filipino spirit. “
Marcos said the exhibit was not only ugly, it was “not true and not at all beautiful.”
Against Mideo? : Against Mideo? His art actually shows the person the he is, within and without: dark, perverse, twisted, crass, chaotic, senseless and obsessed with the male phallus. If this is a normal behavior then everyone else is crazy. God too, must be crazy.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also expressed support to calls for the resignation of the CCP’s board of directors.
Against Mideo? : Against Mideo? Senator Jinggoy Estrada delivered a privileged speech calling for the resignation of the officials of the CCP. He condemned the exhibit and said that those behind it should be sanctioned. He labelled the exhibition “an outrageous abuse of artistry and freedom of expression.”
“These ugly, insulting, blasphemous images achieve nothing, enrich no one, and debase instead of uplift,” (Jinggoy Estrada)
Mideo Cruz : Mideo Cruz Mideo Cruz said in an interview that his art mirrors the ugliness of the reaction of the people towards his art.
Objectivity : Objectivity The public should not focus on the narrow issues of religious beliefs or the lack thereof when it comes to the controversy.
To be able to lay down an objective opinion, it would be better to look at the issue from all sides and not be convinced merely by various television reports, pictures and a few descriptions. It’s important that the matter be seen in its entirety, including the subtle and unspoken implications and messages of the issue,”
Objectivity : Objectivity Cruz has courage. He has dared to tackle the issue of idolatry which many others shy from discussing. I am a Christian. I read the bible. I pray whether it concerns a simple cold or the cancer that affects the country. I beg the forgiveness of Catholics, but I believe that the graven images and statues are false gods. And it’s said in the bible that to worship false idols is to worship the god who has been created by men.”
Objectivity : Objectivity “My Jesus Christ in not made of wood or stone. He does not have long hair nor does he bear a mustache and a beard. Not a poster that can be framed. Not a gold pendant. Cannot be a tattooed image. He is the Living Christ.. ”
AS STUDENTS OF HUMANITIES!!!!! : AS STUDENTS OF HUMANITIES!!!!! Be an intelligent Art Critic: Make your critic based on the following:
Art criticism (Descriptive, Interpretive, Evaluative)
The Factors that affect an artwork (History, Style, Purpose, Iconography)
Note: : Note: Keep you eyes and your mind open as we swim through the arts of the humanities.
THANK YOU!