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Uncovering Sensation the controversial exhibition heard around the world By Molly Labell & Richard Lopez

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Page 1: Museum Controversies

Uncovering Sensation

the controversial exhibition heard around the world

By Molly Labell&

Richard Lopez

Page 2: Museum Controversies

Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection

Overview of discussion topics:

1. The Hype of Sensation: What was the exhibition and why was it controversial

1.Religion: A topic of artistic controversy

1.Media, Friend and Foe: The frenzy and Viral nature creating a world of discussion

Page 3: Museum Controversies

The Hype of Sensation

Sensation Exhibition was on display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art (BMA) Oct 2nd 1999- Jan 9 2000

The Artworks in Sensation were from the collection of Charles Saatchi, a leading collector of contemporary art. Norman Rosenthal, the Royal Academy of Arts secretary organized 110 works by 42 artists.

Charles Saatchi

Chris OfiliThe Holy Virgin MaryCenter of the controversy in New York City

Damien HirstThe Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991)

Marcus Harvey(1995) depiction of the child killer Myra HindleyCenter of Controversy in London

Page 4: Museum Controversies

London Vs New York City

“a sole disregard not only for the emotional pain and trauma that would inevitably be experienced by the families of the Moors victims but also the families of any child victim.” – BBC News

•The height of the controversy centered around The Moors murders •The portrait was made up of hundreds of copies of a child's handprint

• Myra Hindley herself sent a letter from jail suggesting that her portrait be removed from the exhibition,

Myra Hindley Portrait

Jake and Dinos Chapman

•The BBC described [Sensation] as "gory images of dismembered limbs and explicit pornography”.•Child mannequins with noses replaced by penises and mouths in the form of an anus.

Jake and Dinos ChapmanZygotic acceleration, biogenetic, de-sublimated libidinal model 1995

Page 5: Museum Controversies

London Vs New York City

"You don't have a right to government subsidy for desecrating somebody else's religion." –Giuliani

Unlike the controversy in London which centered around the welfare of children New York City had an adverse reaction to religious connotations in Chris Ofili’s work.

Giuliani's Threat:

•Unless the exhibition took down Chris Ofili’s The Holy Virgin Mary the Mayor would terminate the city’s annual contribution of $7.2 million to the BMA 1/3 of their capital

•Withhold $20 million promised for capital improvements

•Dismiss the museums trustees

•Reclaim the city owned building, leaving a multibillion dollar collection of art and artifacts homeless

Religious Uproar

"The idea of having so-called works of art in which people are throwing elephant dung at a picture of the Virgin Mary is sick.” –Giuliani

"one must ask if it is an attack on religion itself” –Cardinal John O'Connor, the Archbishop of New York

On 16 December 1999, a 72-year-old man was arrested for criminal mischief after smearing the Ofili painting with white paint.Dennis Heiner

"induces revulsion”--William A. Donohue

Page 6: Museum Controversies

Censoring Religion in Artwork

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – First Amendment US Constitution

Death of the VirginCaravaggio (1604)

Piss Christ Andres Serrano (1987)

Gay JesusAlfred Hrdlicka (2008)

Page 7: Museum Controversies

The Media friend and Foe

Homo censorious takes a few elements out of context--specific words, titles, part of a design--and treats them as if they embody the entire work of art.

Insists on a single interpretation of a work of art Makes interpretations that are concrete and literal

Decontextualizes a few elements—specific words, titles, part of a design—and treats them as if they embody the entire work of art Assumes a paternalistic attitude of others Overestimates the effects of exposure to cultural expression and assumes the effects to be immediate and irreversible Wishes to impose his own sense of morality onto the entire public Inadvertently stokes the public’s desire to view precisely what he wishes to prohibit

Description of The Holy Virgin Mary

“smeared,” “smattered,” “splattered,” “smattered,” “splotched,” “stained,” with elephant dung…

Page 8: Museum Controversies

Public Showdown

MAYOR RUDOLPH GIULIANI: If I ignored it, then the argument would be on the other side: How can you ignore something as disgusting, horrible and awful as this? And my view is you do what you think is right. I believe opposing this is the right thing.

ARNOLD LEHMAN, Director, Brooklyn Museum of Art: This is an important exhibition. I mean, this is a defining exhibition of a decade of the most creative energy that's come out of Great Britain in a very long time. And that's why we did it, these works are challenging, and thought provoking, and some are beautiful, some are very difficult to look at.

HILLARY CLINTON: It is not appropriate to penalize and punish an institution such as the Brooklyn museum that has served this community with distinction over many years

MUSEUM GOER: I can't believe that this has caused this commotion.I don't know. I don't have an adverse reaction to it. You know, it's someone's view on something.

MUSEM GOER: I'm furious about this. This is a tremendous insult to the mother of my God and to me.I think it's a disgrace that people can bash other people's religion.