Deface Jesus and risk doing time

When vandals destroyed pieces of modern art in an exhibition in Moscow, it wasn't the perpetrators who got into trouble. According to the law, their actions were justifiable. Museum director Yuri Samodurov however, is now facing several years in prison for putting on another of the "Christianity-offensive" shows.

In 2003 the Andrei Sakharov Museum and Community Center put up artwork in a show called "Careful, Religion!" When the display was vandalised by orthodox Christians, the organisers of the exhibition were put to blame. In the opinion of the Russian court, it was the centre's fault for provoking offense, and worthy of a 200,000 Russian Ruble fine (5,400 euros). Now, the museum's director is once again facing charges for inciting religious hatred. Despite using peep-hole viewing methods so that only those people interested would look at the 2007 "Forbidden Art" show, both director Yuri Samodurov and curator Andrei Erofeev are facing prison terms for displaying defaced religious symbols.

Contributors

Mickey Mouse journeys through art history, Alexander Savich.

"This is my second offense, so I'm expecting a prison sentence"

Yuri Samodurov is the director of the museum and facing charges for inciting religious hatred.

Our centre takes part in various social actions and events and we often let NGOs that are unable to meet elsewhere use rooms here. We try to support people who are being censored and "Forbidden Art" was an exhibition that had already been taken down once in 2006.

Other galleries also show similar works of art. But we are not just a museum; we are a social centre named after the famous dissident Andrei Sakharov. Art exhibitions on show here are perceived as political statements, as a protest against the attempts of the Russian Orthodox Church to become a dominant power in Russian society. The problem is that the church is the only ideological ally for the Russian government. The current powers can't connect with the most basic values of modern society such as political competition, judicial independence, the importance of trade unions and media autonomy. That's why it relies on the church. It's trying to turn Orthodox Christianity into a foundation of modern Russian society. We can't agree with that.

And that's why they insist on prosecuting the centre. The criminal investigator [a person who is supposed to be impartial in investigating the case in Russian procedures] told me, as he laughed, that he's spoken to 160 people and everyone said they wanted our centre to be closed down. He said that if that's what the people want, then it's his job to see that it's done. So essentially it's the fabrication of a criminal case. He's calling on an art expert who also testified for the trial against us in 2005. She's openly admitted that the first and last time she went to a modern art exhibition was in 1993 and she hated it. She said she doesn't even consider modern art to be art at all. It's pretty clear what's her "expert opinion" is going to be like.

The case is obviously political. It's not even the court that decides in the end anyway. It was Putin who had the last word in the 2005 case. Luckily I had a friend who offered to show him a letter of explanation from me. Following that, the Minister of Culture had a talk with one of the heads of the Orthodox Church. And when the sentence was given, I only got a fine rather than the three years in prison that the attorney suggested. What's more, he found my co-accused not guilty, and I thank him for that. But this time it's different. This is my second offense, so I'm expecting a prison sentence. But I'm starting to think of it as part of my job now anyway."

Yuri Samodurov's picture

Yuri Samodurov

  • Russia
  • Museum Director

Observers peer through the temporarily constructed walls with fitted peepholes to see the works

Orthodox Christian protestors argue that the artwork offends their religion

Pieces from the "Forbidden Art" exhibition, on show at the centre in 2007

Vagrich Bakhcanyan.

 

Caviar-Icon, Alexander Kosolapov.

 

Coca-Cola/ This is my blood, Alexander Kosolapov.

Comments

This is just so crazy. How

This is just so crazy. How in the world were their acts justified? What is wrong with this world? He who is in power certainly controls the rules, it is more evident now more then ever.

Unregistered user

careful! religinn!

my! and here i thought xn's didnt practice idolatry.
this just goes to show that more people worship the image and not the idea.

Unregistered user

God can go to fucking hell

Jesus f***ing christ. Allah be damned. Every form of the f***ing god delusion is becoming a f***ing problem.

Unregistered user

May God have mercy on us

May God have mercy on us

Unregistered user

a bad thing we are muslims and know it

in our religion we have to belive all probhets adam.....moses....,david.. jeasus....and mohammed...it is a bad company for make people angry we know it from danmark.i hope he ll be sad and appologise all muslims and crists and ALLAH forgive him....

Unregistered user

I know where you are

I know where you are spending eternity whether you believe it or not. You are playing with fire and will definitely get burned.

Unregistered user

For the vision still has its time

For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.
eye too am artiste
http://www.poetrypoem.com/charlaxici
titles
http://www.poetrypoem.com/charlax3
fabels
http://www.poetrypoem.com/charlax
poems
copy and past
Jesus Saves

Artists should not be punished for working

people that say these images are offending their religion should have a good look at themselves. Every artist should have the freedom to work without ignorant interference. Art is how you percieve it , for instance the above pictures could symbolise the world greed and worshipping of materalism and commercialism.
It could be percieved as humanities values, and the way the world is today in regards to the priorities of governments and institutions.
People use religion as an excuse to vent their anger against those who are different and like to challenge peoples imaginations.
What about judge not less you be judged?
And let he who is free from sin throw the first stone?
If people dont like these exibitions then dont go to them.
But they have no right to tell everyone else what they should see.
Im a christian but im not offended by these pictures because i think that each artist is portraying an image and its up to you what image your see.
Artists should not to be punished for their work just because a few pig headed hypocrites think that they know everything about morals.
Instead of judging and comdemning artists they should be taking a look at themselves.
People were born with free will and its not the 1700s anymore,
It should be a time of freedom of expression and one of the few freedoms is art,so next time they pass by an exhibition they should remember that art is an imitation of life and if they dont like it, they should not go to see it,they should utilise their time to help people that need help rather than hurt people they dont understand.
Thats what a good Christian would do.

Unregistered user

Art lifts up and inspires; only rubbish tears down and mocks.

If 'Rory' above has no understanding of the reason that Christians are tired of having untalented imbeciles mock and blaspheme their religion, their God and their lifestyles, and having those imbeciles whine and moan about their 'artistic rights' - then perhaps Rory would allow some degenerate artiste to paint a nude of his mother engaging in bestial behavior with swine, and put it on public display. Then, by example, he could show us what 'good Christians' do. The fact is taht he describnes himself as a 'Christian' but thinks it is fine for others to blaspheme the God whom he only claims to serve. That is the essence of hypocrisy.
But in reality let us say 'well done' for the authorities- and for Christians everywhere who will no longer 'go to the back of the bus'.

Unregistered user

Does the exhibition publicly

Does the exhibition publicly display a painting of a nude of jesus "engaging in bestial behavior with swine"?

How can you claim to know how one is suppose to worship anyone or anything? Are you saying your way to be a Christian is the only right way to be a Christian? Your argument about the fact that accepting criticism about who you are or what you believe prevents you from being who you are or believing what you believe is completely flawed and ludicrous.

Unregistered user

What They Call "Art" Today!

Centuries and decades ago art was defined by either historical or social acceptable and "redeeming" themes whether that medium be in canvas, sculpture, or fabric. But today, the word "Art" and "Artist" is associated with either the words of "acceptability", "Bohemian," "Anarchist" and even "Religious Expression," etc.

Unfortunately, a great deal of "art expression" and even the artists themselves are, in reality, immoral and amoral as well! They disguise their "belief systems" their unbridled hatred for religion, Christianity in particular under the thinly disguised cloak of "artistry" or "freedom of expression." If you can't get recognition as an artist then you turn towards those themes that offend the common public or shock the sensibilities of the public!

The first amendment's right of "freedom of speech and expression" has been so distorted, or should I say "skewed" that "art" can be freely defined and disguised as anything. I could take snapshots of children in provacative poses that is only one step from being defined as "child pornography" or women in suggestive photographic poses that escapes the defination of pornography by a technicality. THIS is WHAT art has degenerated today! Many of today's moral degenerates become tommorrow's "artists."

Even the Russian society, which is primarily either atheistic or agnostic, recognizes the difference between "freedom of expression," and blatant hatred and the desire to offend and denigrate ALL that is sacred to those who view such "artistic garbage." These pictures do NOT belong in ANY museum to be viewd, instead, there is only one place that these pictures SHOULD be and that is the local land fill where it is in good company with both the garbage and human waste products!

Unregistered user

What they call art today indeed!

What they call art today indeed - it's wonderful!!! Shame you're too controlled by faith to enjoy it, it's well worth a go. Give it a try and stop living by the book... it's a distortion of anything 'faith' should be anyway when it makes you so unhappy.

Unregistered user

How in the world are the

How in the world are the vandals well within their right? What is wrong with this world? Whoever is in power, controls the rules, it is more obvious everyday.

Unregistered user