#kosolapov

Fiberglass sculpture painted red h. cm. 225 produced at Salvadori Arte foundry in Pistoia - Italy

Fiberglass sculpture painted red h. cm. 225 produced at Salvadori Arte foundry in Pistoia - Italy

www.salvadoriarte.it

Recently, having been introduced to several examples of "offensive" art, I have started to think of what makes blasphemous images blasphemous. 

In different religions and countries blasphemy has different definition. However, in general, something is considered blasphemous if it is sacrilegious against God, or other sacred things.

There are no universal rules for identifying blasphemous images. However, most commonly, they display sexuality/nudity and bodily fluids. Generally, they underline society’s tensions with the concept of human body.

I have always admired artist’s bravery to create works using religious symbols, borrowed from different religions, including my own. Russian artist, Alexander Kosolapov has become one of the main internationally recognized representatives of blasphemous art coming from my own country. His work This is My Blood has been identified as a satire of modern consumerism. Living in a cosmopolitan world and being affected by the society of consumption I could not help noticing the irony in the images like this. For me, images that convey ironic or sarcastic messages using religious symbols or figures will always be offensive. However, I tried to take into the consideration different  points of view, thinking whether these art works should be accused of blasphemy. As S Brent Plate noticed, what could be considered offensive for one,is absolutely acceptable for another.

People and their values, and sometimes government playing the role of a defender of social views, construct their own representation of what should be considered sacred and what is profane. Without this set framework of views and values blasphemous art would never exist. 

Thus, to be considered blasphemous the image needs both an artist and an accuser.