Pope Benedict XVI is quite an animal lover (as we noted here). But he is also quite the esthete, and this sculpture, in a museum in Bolzano, the northern Italian town near where the pontiff vacations, apparently went too far for his tastes.
According to a CNS story, the sculpture set off protests this summer that reached the pope's ears when he visited in July. His Secretary of State (sort of the vice-pope) then sent a letter of support to a local official who was leading the charge to have the frog, er, dissected. The letter reportedly said the pope believes the sculpture "has wounded the religious sentiment of the many people who see in the cross the symbol of God's love and our salvation."
Yes, on one level. As the CNS story says, the sculpture "depicts a green frog nailed to the cross, holding a beer stein in one hand and an egg in the other. Its eyes are crossed and its tongue hangs out of its mouth."
But let me play froggy's advocate here--this isn't an Andres Serrano "Piss Christ" or Madonna of the Elephnat Dung or whatever that Brooklyn Museum of Art piece was a few years back.
The sculpture is the work of the German artist Martin Kippenberger, who died in 1997 at the age of 44, a tormented figure himself, it seems:
"Museum officials have defended the work, saying it was intended as a self-portrait showing the torment faced by the artist. The sculpture was made in 1990, and the artist, who was said to consider the frog his alter ego, created other variations on the same theme."
In a more detailed ANSA report, museum officials said they have moved the frog to a less prominent place, but have delined to remove it altogether. They said it is a self-portrait of the artist ''in a state of profound crisis'' and is not an attack on religious feeling.
Sure, not quite the imitation of Christ most might like--certainly not B16--but powerful in its own way, perhaps. Intention is everything. Almost.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Artists are fully aware of the symbolism their works play on. This bozo was no different. He knew his work - placing a frog in the position traditionally held by millions of Christians' savior holds, on the cross - would offend. Didn't care anyway. And the museum administrators are disingenuous to act as though "it's just art" and that Christians -- the Pope or any others -- shouldn't be bothered by it. It's revolting to anyone who takes seriously the truth of Jesus Christ as savior of humankind, plain and simple. If you call yourself a Christian and aren't bothered by it, you should re-examine how much you really care about adoring and respecting Jesus as lord and savior.
The other side of the issue MarkAA:
If you call yourself a christian and are standing in condemnation of a brother, perhaps you should reexamine how much you really care about adoring and respecting Jesus as lord and savior.
The story of the woman at the well, or the stoning of mary magdalene would be a good place to start. Or perhaps to remember that prior to and after the crucifiction, many criminals were executed on crosses. Christianity does not own the patent to a man on a cross.
The fact is, it is only revolting to you because you choose to see it that way.
Good point brought out in the post above, by DG. Hanging criminals on crosses was the punishment of the time. JC wasn't the only man hung out to die.
But Jesus was THE only God/Man who transformed death by crucifixion
from a shameful crimimal punishment into a salvific act of love.
NO frog can compare...and neither can any man.
There is no proof of God/Man. The story book is really unreliable.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.