Link goes to paywall, but article pasted here
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/ ... edophilia/
Emmanuel Macron condemns attack on artwork accused of depicting paedophilia
Legal bids have failed to remove controversial canvas that was spray painted by an elderly protester at the Palais de Tokyo
By
Rebecca Rosman
IN PARIS
8 May 2023 • 3:56pm
Controversial Swiss artist Mirian Cahn whose painting in the Palais de Tokyo was damaged on Sunday
Emmanuel Macron has defended a Swiss artist’s controversial painting – which critics say portrays paedophilia – after it was defaced at the Palais de Tokyo on Sunday.
“Targeting a work of art is an attack on our values,” the French president wrote on Twitter.
“In France, art is always free and respect for artistic creation is guaranteed,” he added.
Titled “F--- Abstraction!,” the painting by Swiss artist Miriam Cahn depicts a small person with their hands tied behind their back performing oral sex on an imposing faceless figure.
The painting by Miriam Cahn will continue to be shown in the palais de Tokyo with the damage from a paint attack
The painting will continue to be shown, carrying the damage from the paint attack
Critics, including children’s rights organisations and far-Right political groups, have argued the smaller figure in the painting depicts a child: a charge that Cahn has vehemently denied.
Rather, the 73-year-old artist says the painting portrays how rape is used as a weapon of war, particularly in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last month, in a previous defence over a legal bid to remove the painting, Cahn wrote that the size between the two figures is a metaphor depicting “the corporal power of the oppressor, and the fragility of the oppressed”.
The resulting judgment saw France’s supreme court rule in favour of keeping the artwork on display.
‘Certainly hard to look at’
On Monday, Rima Abdul Malak, the French culture minister, visited the Palais de Tokyo to defend the painting, denouncing the defacement as “a direct attack on freedom of expression”.
She added: “These works are certainly hard to look at, but they start from an intention to denounce the horrors of war.”
According to a source close to the police investigation surrounding the vandalism, an “elderly man” who was “unhappy with the sexual portrayal of a child and an adult,” walked into the exhibit on Sunday and applied purple spray paint to the artwork.
The Palais de Tokyo says the man “was immediately apprehended by security guards” before being taken away by police. The modern art museum also said it “will file a complaint for damage to property and freedom of expression”.
The painting, which has attracted some 80,000 visitors so far, will remain on display until the exhibit ends on May 14.
President Macron defends paedo painting
- Ymarsakar
- captain of 1,000
- Posts: 4470
Re: President Macron defends paedo painting
They like to show you what they are doing. A kind of naked declaration and dare.
What are you going to do about it? They are thinking.
What are you going to do about it? They are thinking.
- Momma J
- captain of 1,000
- Posts: 1494
Re: President Macron defends paedo painting
It took me a few minutes to find the painting ... followed by instant regret at seeing the blatant attack on children (no matter what the artists claims) .... followed by a slow burning fire to remain strong and refuse to act as if I am blind to the evils around me.
Thanks Niemand
Thanks Niemand
- Niemand
- Level 34 Illuminated
- Posts: 13998
Re: President Macron defends paedo painting
I haven't been able to find it at all. When I did an image search it took me to unrelated pornography! [Edit to add: Just have found it. I think the accusations are justified. It does look like a child doing something to a man.]Momma J wrote: ↑May 10th, 2023, 5:43 am It took me a few minutes to find the painting ... followed by instant regret at seeing the blatant attack on children (no matter what the artists claims) .... followed by a slow burning fire to remain strong and refuse to act as if I am blind to the evils around me.
Thanks Niemand
I'm not previously familiar with her oeuvre. From what I can see she had produced a lot of very ugly paintings... not my tastes at all.
- Momma J
- captain of 1,000
- Posts: 1494
Re: President Macron defends paedo painting
I glanced briefly at her work. Troubling images. I would not like to be trapped in her head. Even Dali did not resonate the same depths of depravity that I felt with Miriam Cahn 's paintings. (Which is not entirely fair because I really like some of Dali's work, troubling as it is)Niemand wrote: ↑May 10th, 2023, 3:49 pmI haven't been able to find it at all. When I did an image search it took me to unrelated pornography! [Edit to add: Just have found it. I think the accusations are justified. It does look like a child doing something to a man.]Momma J wrote: ↑May 10th, 2023, 5:43 am It took me a few minutes to find the painting ... followed by instant regret at seeing the blatant attack on children (no matter what the artists claims) .... followed by a slow burning fire to remain strong and refuse to act as if I am blind to the evils around me.
Thanks Niemand
I'm not previously familiar with her oeuvre. From what I can see she had produced a lot of very ugly paintings... not my tastes at all.