Vandals attack 'blasphemous' Cultural Center art exhibit

Unidentified vandals on Thursday defaced a controversial art exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Among the art pieces affected by the attack was Mideo Cruz’s “Poleteismo," which showed a giant wooden crucifix with a moveable bright red penis. In a statement posted on its Facebook account, the CCP Visual Arts department appealed for respect following the attack, which occurred less than a week after a group of Catholic bishops threatened to file charges against those involved in the exhibit “Kulo." “[T]though art is representation and does not pretend to be anything more than art, we would like to remind anyone else who are considering violent and destructive acts against art, artists and art institutions that such acts are clearly criminal. Let us all be proper, respectful and tolerant despite our different views," it said. It also called on artists to “maintain a dignified stance" on the controversy. “We request the arts and culture community to [remain] vigilant but let us maintain a dignified stance about this. We will not be equal to the rage and extremism of other entities," the CCP Visual Arts said. “Kulo" has been condemned by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines as “blasphemous." Irate Catholics have also voiced similar sentiments. In response to the controversy and reactions of some Catholics, the CCP is holding a public forum Friday afternoon to air the various points of view on the exhibit. In a statement on its web site, the CCP said, "Two constitutional rights have come into collision through this issue. On one hand is of course the artist’s freedom of expression, against which stands the complaint that the artwork is deemed to discriminate against religious belief." "Archbishop Oscar Cruz, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, has called for a boycott of the exhibit. Other organizations have also called for the removal of Cruz’s work, and even for the closure of the exhibit." Vandalism under investigation The CCP Visual Arts said security was not able to apprehend the vandals, who left illegible signatures in the guestbook. It said the incident is currently under investigation and extra measures have already been put in place. CCP visual arts head Karen Ocampo-Flores told GMA News Online that apart from “Poleteismo," other artworks in the exhibit were also vandalized. “Na-inform na ang artists, natamaan din ang iba," she said. “Kulo" runs from June 17 to August 21 and features 32 artists, all former students at the University of Santo Tomas, hitherto known as a bastion of conservative Catholic teaching. — KBK/HS, GMA News