An artwork displayed at the Atelier34zero Muzeum art centre in Jette (Brussels) is causing concern among some local residents. It is a photograph of a man's head between a woman's legs. ‘It is not pornographic,’ responds the centre’s Daniil Schestakov.
The photograph by Brussels photographer Pierre Radisic has been hung on a large canvas on the façade of the arts centre. Every three months, a different work of art is displayed in this spot.
However, several passers-by were a bit shocked when they saw the work, French-language media reports claim. Local people have also expressed their unhappiness online.
‘Is this really appropriate for children to see this?’ a woman asks in the residents' group on Facebook. ‘Shameful’ and ‘conceptual nonsense,’ is someone else’s response. Several local residents, however, were more conciliatory: they did not see any problem or said that the photo was no worse than what they see in TV series and films.
‘Debate is good’
In the museum itself, people shrug their shoulders. ‘We didn't really receive any negative reactions here,’ insists Daniil Schestakov. ‘I'm also surprised that people are losing sleep over it, because it's not pornographic. In this photo series, the artist explores the duality between men and women.’
Schestakov also says he is convinced that the arts centre is doing its job. ‘The idea behind displaying these canvases outside is precisely to show art to people who don't usually visit art galleries. It's also good when works spark debate.’
Schestakov readily admits that he is pleased with the attention that the “controversy” is generating. ‘It gets people talking about us. By the way, could you mention that there will be an exhibition by this photographer in the second half of this year?’