America
Pornographic art on display in Canada gallery
London, July 19
Sending out a message that
erotic art is not dying, a gallery in Toronto is displaying a
pornographic art with explicit images of women engaged in various sex
acts, media reported.
"We support artists' rights to freedom of
expression. It is not our practice to censor works," Toronto Sun quoted
John B. Aird Gallery as saying.
The controversial collage by
Rosalie H. Maheux is shaped like a cathedral window that, when examined
closely, contains explicit pornographic images.
A notice posted
at the gallery door at Queen's Park warns visitors, "Exhibit contains
images intended for a mature audience." The sign will remain in place
until the end of the exhibition, July 24. The exhibition features the
work of artists under the age of 30.
A note from Maheux posted next to the piece, Sacred Circles VI, says it depicts the conflict between the sacred and the profane.
"Mandalas
and sacred circles are symbols of life, purity and glorification of God
in many cultures and religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism or
Christianity. The use of hardcore pornographic images in the creation of
these highly detailed patterns goes against the original meanings of
the sacred circle by creating an ambiguous dialogue between attraction
and repulsion," Maheux said.
"However, depending on the
viewer's perception/perversion the object can be the pornographic image
and the subject, the sacred circle," she added.