Serrano’s Piss Christ Upsets Again

Andres Serrano’s ‘Piss Christ’ hanging at the Fesch Museum, Corsica

Last week around 50 protesters stormed the Fesch Museum in Corsica brandishing a large sign emblazoned with the words ‘Piss Christ out’ – referring of course to Andres Serrano’s notorious work, Piss Christ; a photograph of a small plastic crucifix suspended in a container of the artist’s urine.  The photograph is currently included in a collection based exhibition, installed next to an 18th century painting of the Virgin Mary. While the protesters assert that the work is an affront to Catholicism, exhibition curator Eric Mézil thinks they’re being unreasonable, telling Le Figaro “We must see the works for what they are, not for intentions that the artists could be imagined to have had.” At least they haven’t resorted to a physical attack – in 2011 Piss Christ was slashed by vandals in Avignon and in 1997 another edition was beaten with a hammer at the NGV in Melbourne.

Ok here it is…

Jay Z’s ‘performance art film’ for his new single ‘Picasso Baby‘ has now been released.  The footage was gleaned from a 6 hour ‘endurance performance’ by Jay Z at New York’s Pace Gallery that included an audience of celebs, fans and art world heavyweights like George Condo, Lorna Simpson, Lawrence Weiner, Wangechi Mutu,  Andres Serrano and the granddaughter of Picasso himself, Diana Widmaier.  See if you can pick em out in the clip above.

‘Piss Christ’ attacked

Andres Serrano's damaged photograph 'Piss Christ' (1987), still on display in Avignon

Andres Serrano’s infamous photograph Piss Christ (featuring a crucifix submerged in the artist’s urine) was attacked while on exhibition at gallerist Yvon Lambert‘s 18th-century mansion in Avignon on Sunday.  The subject of mounting protests in recent weeks, the work was slashed with a screwdriver by two young assailants who also threatened a gallery security guard with a hammer.  (This isn’t the first time the controversial work has come under fire – in 1997 two youths destroyed a previous edition at the NGV in Melbourne).  The as-yet un-apprehended vandals involved in Sunday’s skirmish also damaged another Serrano work featuring a meditating nun.  Gallery Director Eric Mézil stated that the gallery will re-open today with the destroyed works on show “so people can see what barbarians can do”.