Kochi Muziris Biennale artwork controversy: artist Tom Vattakuzhy says he didn’t intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments

Artist Tom Vattakuzhy, whose artwork displayed at the ongoing Kochi Muziris Biennale had invited the wrath of the Catholic Church on Wednesday (December 31, 2025), termed the development as ‘unfortunate’ while stating that he had never intended to hurt anyone’s faith or sentiments.

“Born into a Christian family, most of my works had been inspired by the humanism seen in Christian values. This artwork is an extension of that thought process and not a distortion of The Last Supper as alleged by those opposing it,” he said.

The work in question is part of the ‘Edam’ exhibition at the Garden Convention Centre in Bazar Road, which brings together the works of 36 artists, reflecting a wide range of artistic practices and voices.

Mr. Vattakuzhy, whose work has long been part of Kerala’s cultural and literary landscape, said that his work was inspired by the play Mridhavangiyude Durmruthyu by writer C. Gopan and not based on the theme of Last Supper. “The story itself is inspired by a poem written by Vyloppilli, which, in turn, draws from historical events. I have always been inspired by the works of masters based on the early Renaissance. I believe in humanistic art,” he said.

A statement by the curators of the exhibition, including K.M. Madhusudhanan and Aishwarya Suresh, pointed out that the artwork depicted Mata Hari, a historically documented figure and 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 was directly linked to this historical and narrative context. The painting by Mr. Vattakuzhy was therefore part of a long-established chain of artistic and literary interpretation that moved from history to poetry, from poetry to prose, and from prose to visual representation. Within this continuum, the painting was neither isolated nor gratuitous, but firmly grounded in a recognised tradition of cultural and artistic engagement, it said.