MANILA, Philippines—Shock and “shock art” were how two officials of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) viewed the controversial “Kulo” exhibit, showing the defaced images of religious figures, when they faced the Senate on Tuesday.
“As a Catholic of course I was initially shocked… I was also offended,” CCP president Raul Sunico told the joint hearing of the Senate committee on education, arts and culture, and the committee on public information and mass media.
Sunico was responding to Senate Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who asked about his initial reaction when he saw the exhibit, which sparked a heated debate when it was allowed to be displayed at the CCP.
Also asked about her initial reaction after seeing the defaced image of Jesus Christ, CCP chairperson Emily Abrera said she did not see the art as a defaced image of the religious figure.
“That was not my initial reaction, that someone has defaced the image of Jesus Christ,” Abrera said.
“My initial reaction… because I’ve been through so many kinds of exhibit, I recognize this style, it’s an installation as being of the jungle that is shock art. Shock art tries to make a very strong statement… so this was how I approached it,” she said.
Though she preferred some “subtlety” in the art work, Abrera said she did not take it against any religion but as an expression of the things that matter today like power, entertainment, and pursuit of money and material things.
The CCP chairperson said they also have a responsibility to uphold the freedom of the artists.
“It’s probably not the best step to take at that time but we should and encourage dialogue and a discussion of the artists. The artists should have the chance to explain what they were trying to say,” she said.
And despite strong reaction from various sectors in the society, Abrera pointed out that the exhibit attracted over 500,000 visitors based on the guest book
“All the responses were congratulatory and they found it stimulating, they found tit different,” she said.
“There were two entries that said disgusting but out of all the guests that went, there was an ability to engage and understand the art,” she added.