Saddam sculpture banned, painting investigated Last Updated Tue, 07 Feb 2006 16:20:06 EST
A sculpture depicting former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and a painting of a female nude by an Indian artist are among the latest artworks drawing objection from authorities worldwide. a.. In Belgium, the mayor of the western coastal town of Middelkerke has banned a sculpture from display at an upcoming art festival. A spokesperson for Middelkerke Mayor Michel Landuvt said Monday that the sculpture by Czech artist David Cerny will not be displayed within the town limits. The sculpture features an underwear-clad Hussein, with his hands bound behind his back, floating shark-like in a tank of water. The piece references one of British artist Damien Hirst's best known sculptures: a tiger shark split in half and preserved in a tank of formaldehyde. Landuvt feared that the piece may provoke negative reactions, Leo Coulier, secretary of Middelkerke's town hall, said Monday. "It is a controversial, potentially explosive thing," he said. Cerny's sculpture was to have been part of the town's Beaufort 2006 art festival, set to begin April 1. Instead, the piece will be exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in Oostende, another coastal city, beginning in April. On the other side of the world, Indian authorities are investigating a complaint about the latest work by a well-known Mumbai painter. The artwork of 90-year-old artist Maqbool Fida Husain, who often depicts Hindu gods and goddesses in the nude, has often drawn criticism from Indian nationalists. One of his latest paintings plays off an image frequently used in patriotic publications: a sari-clad woman standing before a wheel, known as a dharma chakra. However, in Husain's version, the woman - who represents "Mother India" - is nude, with the names of some Indian states written across her body. "Husain's latest painting offends not only Hindus but Indians at large," said a spokesperson for the group that lodged the police complaint. "He cannot be allowed to insult Indians and Hindus in the name of artistic licence." Freedom of speech and artistic licence have been hotly debated in the past two weeks, as violent confrontations continue around the world in reaction to the publication of editorial cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. Copyright ©2006 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
