Following protests over artwork depicting Jesus, Kochi Biennale temporarily closes exhibition

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale has temporarily shut down one of its exhibition venues following protests from Christian groups regarding an artwork that they claim insults religious sentiments. The artwork, created by Kerala-bred but Qatar-based artist Tom Vattakuzhy, was part of the Biennale’s ‘Edam’ exhibition, which showcases contemporary art.

The controversial piece depicts a half-naked dancer in the place of Jesus Christ in Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting, ‘The Last Supper’. In Vattakuzhy’s reimagining, the dancer is surrounded by nuns who replace Jesus’ disciples from the original artwork. This work has sparked backlash from the Syro-Malabar Church. In a statement as per news reports, it emphasised that the artwork violated “the fundamental respect owed to religious beliefs” and called for the removal of the piece.

This is not the first time Vattakuzhy’s work has faced controversy. A similar backlash occurred in 2016 when the painting was published in a literary magazine, which later retracted the image following public outcry. At the three-month Biennale, the said work has been showcased at the Garden Convention Centre, Bazar Road.

In his letter to the local police, Bose Krishnamachari, president of Kochi-Muziris Biennale, defended the work. He wrote that the body of work presented at Edam from Vattakuzhy’s extensive practice consists primarily of narrative paintings and illustrations. “Many of these works have previously been published in well-known Malayalam publications such as Manorama and Bhashaposhini, among others. The selection on display has been carefully curated from hundreds of paintings and drawings created by the artist over several decades as part of his ongoing practice.”

He further adds: “One of the works in question was created by the artist in response to a story by the writer C Gopan, the details of which are clearly mentioned in the accompanying exhibition description. The artwork depicts 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 is directly linked to this historical and narrative context.

He wrote that 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,” he wrote.

He added that 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.”