Religious right censors art

Religious right censors art

By Karl Miller

MELBOURNE — Last week a campaign by the religious right resulted in the cancellation of an art exhibition. Their cries of "blasphemy" were centred on a photo of a crucifix immersed in urine.

The National Gallery of Victoria was exhibiting the works of US photographer Andres Serrano. The photo, "Piss Christ", was the subject of unsuccessful legal action by the Catholic archbishop of Melbourne. Christian protesters picketed the gallery.

On October 11, a man tried to smash the photo with a hammer. The next day, two protesters created a diversion, allowing one of them to damage the picture. The gallery then cancelled the exhibition. Picket organisers denied any link with the individuals involved.

This religious censorship is possible in the political atmosphere created by the Howard government's attacks on wages and living conditions. To get away with it, the government has fostered a narrow-minded ideological environment discouraging solidarity, human rights and free expression.

Censorship of any kind strengthens this environment and makes such attacks easier.

Left groups like the International Socialist Organisation, which call for state censorship of right-wing groups, such as local councils banning Hanson meetings, are playing into conservatives' hands.

From GLW issue 294