Muslim's paintings set to raise a storm
An exhibition by a Muslim artist, featuring controversial Christian imagery, has opened in Oxford, writes Phil Clee
The exhibition, at the Ashmolean Museum, is called Crucifixion 2000: In the Name of God, and features contentious images of Christ created by Palestinian-born artist Laila Shawa.
The exhibition aims to explore the Christian theme of the crucifixion in a challenging way to mark both the Millennium and the Easter season.
London-based Laila was invited by James Allen, Professor of Eastern Art, to explore the theme. Prof Allen said: "I expect a reaction and comments from both communities. I believe many Christians will be challenged by the messages, and I think pious Muslims might be disconcerted because the artist is depicting the Crucifixion, which is essentially a Christian belief."
The pictures depict images of Christ and the cross using backgrounds made up of the names of killing fields and sites of genocide and massacres throughout the world. One cross is decorated with rows of greenback dollars; another has rows of Catholic cardinals, backs turned on the viewer and weighing Christ down with their collective numbers. Laila said: "The emphasis is really on whatever people believe in. In other words it is immaterial what rituals or myths they may believe in, as long as it leads them to the ultimate truth that is God."
Prof Allen added: "She sees painting from a political and social perspective, and like a good cartoonist she provokes people to see things they might otherwise miss."
The exhibition will run until May 14.
What do you think of the works in the exhibition? Are you a Christian or a Muslim who finds them offensive, or inspiring? Write to our readers' editor Peter Unsworth at Oxford Mail, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ, fax your letter to 01865 425554, or e-mail Peter atOxfordmail.letters@nqo.com
Story date: Thursday 06 April
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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