'Blasphemous' exhibit's closure 'sets bad precedent'

MANILA, Philippines - The Cultural Center of the Philippines' (CCP) decision to shut down the controversial "Kulo" display sets a bad precedent and a form of curtailment of freedom of expression, the curator of the art exhibit today said in a statement.

"It is upsetting that the Cultural Center of the Philippines Board of Directors succumbed to the pressure by permanently closing the exhibit. Moreover, the manner by which various opinions were discussed, presented and circulated was frustrating if not disheartening," Jaime Pacena II, participant and curator of the art exhibit, said.

"The latest pronouncement of the CCP Board sets a bad precedent. Our rights to freely express ourselves were curtailed," Pacena added in his statement, issued a day after the CCP Board decided to close down the center's Main Gallery which displays the controversial art exhibit.

The art exhibit, which displays works of 32 artists, opened on June 17. It was supposed to run up to August 21, but was cut short yesterday.

The CCP said that it decided to shut down the gallery was prompted by "numerous emails, text messages and other letters sent to various officers of the CCP, and to the artists themselves."

"with an increasing number of threats to persons and property, the members of the Board of the Cultural Center of the Philippines have decided to close down the Main Gallery where the Kulo Exhibit is on display," the CCP said in a statement.

Various groups, led by the Catholic Church, have threatened to file charges against the CCP and the art exhibit's participating artists for being "blasphemous and sacrilegious."

Groups expressed anger, particularly, over the pieces of artist Mideo Cruz, which had been on display in other venues since 2002 including the Ateneo de Manila, UP Vargas Museum and Kulay Diwa Galleries.

SLIDESHOW: Controversial CCP Exhibit

An introduction to Cruz’s work explains that it “speaks of idolatry and the deconstruction of neo-deities.”

It describes the cross and the image of Christ as representative of Filipinos’ cultural past because Spain and conservative Catholic friars have ruled the country for almost four centuries.

A wall collage opposite the cross is made up of posters of local celebrities, NBA stars, Jesus Christ, Barack Obama, Coca-Cola and the Teletubbies, characters from a children’s TV show. Unfurled condoms, wooden rosaries and wooden penises adorn the wall.

A figure of Christ the King painted with red make-up depicting Mickey Mouse and a poster of Jesus Christ with a wooden penis glued to his face were among the fixtures that irritated many Catholics who have trooped to the venue.

The artist had recently said in interviews that he considers himself as a "visual artists who commonly tries to cross borders of discipline in producing my works."

CCP chair Emily Abrera was quoted as saying last week that it was part of the artists’ duty to challenge prevailing beliefs.

“It is part of our culture to question, to seek answers, to look behind the surface and try to dig out what our real values are,” Abrera said.

Pacena said in his statement that people should focus "on the dialogue of the art and nothing more."

"This is in fact a significant part of the show’s context, which is to re-evaluate past and present dialogues and how these ideas are revealed through the different artworks by 31 participating artists," he said.

Pacena said that instead of shutting down the exhibit, the CCP should have allowed the "dialogue and exchange of thoughts" on the displays.

He said that the displays are meant to create a debate between the artwork, its audience and the artist. Proof of the artist's intent to set a discussion with his audience, the art pieces were accompanied by statements.

"These served as jump-off points from which particular ideas can be deliberated and pondered on," he said.