Ex-CCP exec, artist tells Ombudsman: ‘Kulo’ exhibit not obscene

The artist behind the controversial “Poleteismo" artwork and a former Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) official on Thursday answered charges filed against them, saying the exhibit was not obscene. Artist Mideo Cruz filed a 22-page counter-affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman explaining why he should not be charged for violating Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code on obscene exhibitions and indecent shows. The counter-affidavit was Cruz’s answer to a complaint filed before the Ombudsman by Ang Kapatiran party-list group member and lawyer Manuel Dayrit last August 12. In his reply, Cruz explained in detail the meaning of his controversial artwork, which depicted condoms and phalluses juxtaposed with religious symbols. “The phalluses are symbolic representations of patriarchy, power and worship… I have simply appropriated this critique for my own purposes as an artist," he said. “Condoms generously strewn all over the installation… represent the questions I raise against the hypocrisies I see in Philippine culture," he added. Academic discourse Cruz also argued the artwork is not obscene because it seeks “to contribute to the discourses of the pen and the sword, education and revolution." “Hindi ko po ito inilagay sa simbahan o sa ano mang lugar na dalanginan. Hindi rin po ako lumapit sa media at naghanap ng publisidad. Higit sa lahat, may sapat namang babala sa pintuan ng gallery para sa mga manonood bago nila ito pasukin," he said. “Kaya ang namamahala ng exhibit ay may inaasahang mahinahon kahit kritikal na diskurso mula sa mga manood, tungo sa mas malalim na pag-unawa ng mga mensaheng taglay ng ibat-ibang imaheng makikita sa Poleteismo," he added. Cruz was one of 31 artists whose works were exhibited in Kulô, which opened on June 17, and was originally scheduled to run until Aug. 21, as part of the CCP’s celebration of national hero Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday. The exhibit was prematurely closed on Aug. 9 following complaints from various groups, including the Roman Catholic Church. The CCP said threats to persons and property influenced the management's decision to close down the gallery. ‘I performed my duties’ Former CCP Visual Arts division head Karen Ocampo-Flores, in a separate counter-affidavit, also argued that the entire “Kulo" exhibit cannot be considered immoral, indecent and obscene. “Poleteismo is but a small part of the larger Kulô exhibit; by this measure alone, it can hardly be argued that the exhibit lacks any serious literary, artistic or political value as to remove it from constitutional protection," she said. She added that the exhibit was about the artists’ commentary on society. “My review of the so-called offensive items informed me that overall, the artist was still saying something about particular transfigurations of authority or our notions of the sacred," she said. The former CCP executive, who resigned a day after the exhibit was closed, also said that she did her job in protecting freedom of expression. “I would be remiss in my constitutional duty to help ensure that the CCP truly belongs to all Filipinos as an institution imbued with the public interest if that I am partial to one religion that happens to be predominant in the Philippines," she said. — VS, GMA News