Feminist And Political Section: The Holy Virgin Mary

The artwork I chose from the Feminist and Political section is The Holy Virgin Mary. This artwork was created by Chris Ofili in 1999. The art work portrays several political and social issues. What I noticed about the artwork is a black Virgin Mary surrounded by buttocks and pornographic images. The artwork of Virgin Mary center on a canvas of shimmering gold background, with eyes straight at the beholder, with wide eyes and a parted mouth. Many Catholics, even Christians, were tempestuously mad that someone could make such art work. The artwork uses cut-outs of pornography, close ups of women private parts. “..The Holy Virgin Mary, was basically what it sounds like- a 20th-century updating of the Madonna- albeit with two important innovations:

Also, according to Cleveland State Art, the “brightly colored pigments,” were, “applied to the canvas in multiple layers of dots. (inspired by images from ancient caves in Zimbabwe).” When this art work made its way all the way from London to the Brooklyn Museum it became the center of attention. Art Space writes, “..the most heated art controversies if the 20th Century, earning Ofili the scorn of the Catholic church, a place on conservative writer and political pundit Bernard Goldberg’s list of the “100 People Who Are Screwing Up America” and instant art world fame.” Therefore, many took it as disrespect because Chris Ofili did surround a religious figure with such negativity. Also, they were upset that someone would let this repulsive art work in to a museum. “Mayor Rudy Giuliani threatened to close the city-funded institution on the grounds that this artwork was offensive to religious viewers,” according to Khan Academy. Chris Ofili was presented with a lawsuit over this artwork, which was accountably what got The Holy Virgin Mary

The mayor of New York city at the time, Rudolph Giuliani, threatened to close the city funding to the institution. Also, he got a lawsuit filed against Chris Ofili on his artwork of The Virgin Mary. Dennis Heiner most certainly did not favor the artwork. He destroyed it and was fined for the damage. Also, the artwork blown a gasket for many religious people, such as Dennis Heiner. This artwork would not advance in political or social state simply because it is out of form from what people have grown up to know. Simply because the art is different people will turn their heads and not look deeper. Khan Academy wrote, “However, Ofili’s work is more nuanced than it appeared to his detractors; the piece reflects on art historical precedents while addressing identity politics, religion, and pop culture. To grasp its complexity, one must look beneath the surface- as dazzling and shocking as it may