Artist Mideo Cruz and his "poleteismo" exhibits
It started as a compilation of work by 32 artists, all former students at the University of Santo Tomas, which they called “Kulo” and exhibited at the Cultural Center of the Philippine’s (CCP) Main Gallery.
The art show was meant to be part of CCP’s celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, starting on June 17 until August 21.
As the show progressed, however, and media started covering it, many were disturbed and aghast at what they saw of artist Mideo Cruz’s “poleteismo” exhibits and labeled them as “blasphemous.”
What is “poleteismo” or “politeismo” as it is spelled in Spanish?
It is defined as some sort of a doctrine or a system of religion where it acknowledges the existence of diverse gods or divine powers whose different features are being worshiped (idolatry).
No wonder the Church and the Catholic faithful raised hell and condemned Cruz’s artworks when they saw 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.
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.
There were also, reportedly, photos of heroes like Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini placed together with controversial Filipinos, Chavit Singson and former senator Jamby Madrigal, in the company of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
How more despicable can it go? It truly runs against the grain of religious sensitivities.
Shades of the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, which published 12 wicked illustrations of Islam’s prophet Muhammad? You bet it is, and, perhaps, even worse.
While the Danish publication has been condemned around the Islamic world, and has led to the burning of embassies and a boycott of Denmark by Muslim nations, what the CCP management and Cruz got were admonition and cry for closure of the art show – thanks to our religious kind of upbringing that brings the good in us. No cries for jihad.
The CCP controversy simply brought to fore the issue of freedom of expression.
The issue irritated and exasperated the religious sector, and even those outside the box, that no less than President Benigno Aquino got involved, saying, “I did stress the idea that there are rights but if those rights hurt the rights of others, there is something wrong and that is not covered by the law. I reminded them that there is no freedom that is absolute.”
The issue is nothing but freedom of expression turned abusive and awry.
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