Charlie Bakhos, founder of Christian Lives Matter. Credit:
Even though the exhibition had only two more days to run, the mayor ordered the removal of Philjames’ painting, telling this masthead that his local area was one of the most religious in Sydney and that “the Christian community (and many Muslims) take offence at Jesus Christ being portrayed as a Looney Tunes character.
“The Christian Messiah and the Muslim Messiah Jesus has no connection to the cartoon character Goofy,” Mannoun said in response to questions from the Herald.
“The right to free speech needs to be balanced with the right to practise your religion without fear, persecution or ridicule,” he said.
Mannoun said complaints had been received from “numerous residents who were disgusted and offended that Liverpool Council was displaying this artwork”.
Liverpool Mayor Ned MannounCredit: Dion Georgopoulos
Jason Breton, the council’s acting chief executive, said the decision to remove the artwork had been based on “the mayor’s position, safety concerns, and the high level of community response”.
A police spokesperson said the local police command was not aware there had been an issue with the painting until the council informed it on Saturday of the decision to remove the artwork.
Other councillors said they were not aware of the decision until contacted by this masthead.
“It’s totally out of line,” said the Herald’s art critic John McDonald of the artwork’s removal. “There should not be a public safety issue about a satirical painting in an art exhibition in a public place. That’s completely ludicrous.”
McDonald said that if the “offended parties” had an issue, they should have taken it up with the organisers and selectors of the Blake Prize.
According to its website, “The Blake Prize is a biennial exhibition that highlights local and international contemporary artists who explore ideas of spirituality and religion through contemporary artworks”. The winner received $35,000.
“Phil is a satirist. He’s a humourist,” said McDonald. The artist’s irreverence “is not just the Christian religion, it’s almost anything”, said the critic, who has previously written of Philjames’ work that the artist “has realised that the chief way we relate to history today is as one big Hollywood costume drama”.
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