Saturday, August 13, 2011

Brisbane artist's provocative crucifixions

Brisbane artist Luke Roberts' entry in this year's Blake Prize for religious art includes a depiction of the crucifixion that has a lesbian academic kneeling at the feet of a Christ figure played by a drag queen, reports the Sun-Herald.

The artist has created three depictions of the crucifixion of Christ, the report said. 

Another photo features an intersex woman adopting the crucifixion pose, while controversial indigenous artist Richard Bell, who judged this year's Sulman Prize by tossing a coin, features in the third shot.

Roberts' work is one of 73 finalists in the $15,000 Blake Prize.

The winner of Australia's top prize for religious art will be announced on September 15, with the finalists exhibited at the National Art School in Darlinghurst.

''It sounds like something I would not by happy about,'' said the Anglican Bishop of South Sydney, Rob Forsythe, who had not seen Roberts's triptych.

''It's either disrespectful or seeking to take Christ and use for other fundamentally non-religious causes.''

But he added: ''I don't mean it should be forbidden.''

The triptych is Roberts' first entry in the Blake Prize but he is well known for provocative artworks that touch on religion and homosexuality.

''If people think I'm just taking the piss out of Christianity, they're way off track,'' Roberts said.

Roberts said the work was a celebration of Christ and his generosity towards humanity in giving his life.

But many people had suffered because of religious dogmas, he said. ''It's saying we're all Christ-like.''

Bishop Forsythe said artists inevitably felt more confident criticising Christianity but tended to be ''more thoughtful, respectful and nervous of newcomers''.

''We're fair game,'' he said. ''We don't threaten to kill someone because they insult Jesus Christ even if you find it offensive. It's not in the genes of Christianity."