‘Distorted depiction of The Last Supper’: Christian groups object to painting at Kochi-Muziris Biennale

At the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. (Courtesy: Kochi Biennale Foundation)

A painting by Kerala-based artist Tom Vattakuzhy, on display at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) as part of the exhibition ‘Edam’, has come under scrutiny following allegations from Christian and Catholic groups that it hurts religious sentiments.

In a statement, public relations officer of Syro-Malabar Church, Tom Olikkarott, said, “The church strongly condemns the distorted depiction of The Last Supper, which is a holy symbol of the Christian faith. It amounts to a violation of basic respect towards religious faith. In 2016, the artwork in question was withdrawn after it was published in a magazine following the protest from the faithful. The church doubts that the exhibition of the same artwork was done intentionally to insult the Christian faith…We hope the authorities will take fair and responsible steps in this regard.’’

The artwork has also faced objections from the Kerala Latin Catholic Association.

When contacted, Vattakuzhy said, “I do not see that the ongoing claims and allegations are based on any facts. Therefore, I do not wish to say anything about them at the moment.”

In a statement, K M Madhusudhanan and Aishwarya Suresh, curators of the exhibition ‘Edam’, and president of Kochi-Muziris Biennale Bose Krishnamachari noted that the work in question has been created in response to a story by writer C Gopan, and depicts Mata Hari, a convicted spy, in the moments preceding her execution by the French Army. “Mata Hari was also an exotic dancer, and the use of nudity in the work is directly linked to this historical and narrative context,” the statement said. “C Gopan’s story itself is inspired by a poem written by Vailoppilli, which in turn draws from historical events. The painting by Tom Vattakuzhy is therefore part of a long-established chain of artistic and literary interpretation that moves from history to poetry, from poetry to prose, and from prose to visual representation. Within this continuum, the painting is neither isolated nor gratuitous, but firmly grounded in a recognised tradition of cultural and artistic engagement,” it said.

“While there are inherent differences between literary and visual mediums, all the works presented in the exhibition have been carefully selected and curated after due consideration. The Kochi Biennale Foundation does not believe that the artwork in question warrants removal. Taking down the work would amount to restricting artistic expression and could be perceived as an act of censorship, which is contrary to the principles of artistic freedom and cultural dialogue that the exhibition seeks to uphold,” the statement said.

The venue displaying the artwork, although, has been temporarily shut.