Blasphemy: Art That Offends
Questions of censorship and freedom of expression are as topical now as they have ever been, as evidenced by the recent international backlash against the Jyllands Posten Islamic caricatures. The boundary between artistic freedom and incitement is becoming ever more blurred, and the modes of objection by political and religious fundamentalists to art which they consider offensive are becoming ever more fervent and extreme. Blasphemy: Art That Offends examines the subject, from the emergence of blasphemy as a concept in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, to its contemporary status and definition in an ostensibly more liberal world, but one that is divided over what is acceptable, with politics and religion remaining inextricably linked. With works ranging from fourteenth century Islamic calligraphy to Andres Serrano's Piss Christ and Theo van Gogh's Submission, Blasphemy: Art That Offends takes a broad view of what is, and has historically been, perceived as controversial, idolatrous or obscene. This is a beautifully illustrated and timely consideration of art and its relationship to authority, censorship and public taste.