I am a devout Catholic, and I will always stand by its doctrines and teachings that had been circulating among us for about 2000 years. I am also an aspiring artist and am truly passionate towards the arts.
The Mideo Cruz art exhibit Kulo earned different kinds of commentaries from fellow artists, ecclesiastical leaders, legislators, politicians, and from the common Filipino mass. Thanks be to God, for at least, our kamalayan has once again talked about the Arts- the most influential form of self-expression throughout different generations: from the renaissance and psychedelic periods that revolved through time. Sadly, our conservative pseudo-Hispanic mentality keeps on babbling against the work that explicitly shows the ever venerable cross-the dominant symbol of Christianity- with a red erecting penis. In a sneak peek of it, here’s my instant reaction: “For all the saints’ sake, it was a very stupid and filthy creation.”
But somehow, in giving an artistic meaning towards Mideo’s craziness, it was truly justifying to take a second look at it, and give it a deeper meaning- a definition that takes a lot of artistic contemplation and a somewhat, a sense of open-mindedness.
In due respect, with the word ART, I consider the disgusting exhibit as art, in deed.
It is an art, as it explicitly shows the foolish creativity that flourishes from someone’s mind. It truly takes a genius to show the world that kind of imagination, by moving reflexes and thus creating that kind of image by carving or painting- that is expected to catch the attention of our Saradong Katolikong mindset, and thus giving heinous meanings that may degrade the individual, whose sole purpose (if it is) is to express his thoughts towards our unseen polytheism brought to us by our materialistic cravings.
I am caught and trapped in the middle of my devotion to Holy Mother Church and in my interest towards the arts. I have no choice but to be neutral by it, and remain defending the other and defending the other, as well.
I can never accept, seeing the image of my dear Jesus Christ with used condoms, nor (honestly) can I write the word ‘condom’ near to the name of Christ. But as I have seen in one occurrence an image of Christ the King displayed with all the aromatic smell of the hanged sampaguitas, with in which an FHM poster is stapled, about an inch and a half away from it. There are also cases where the Catholic clergymen are mainly involved in cases of sexual abuses, both for young girls and boys. We could also see these politician-hypocrites who are adorned with their luxurious cars displayed in parking areas in churches, that by the way, vows poverty towards their spirituality and institution. Poverty pala eh.
Friends, we have different kinds of being allured into Politeisimo, that unconsciously travels like air, but just that we cannot realize its existence. We consider sex, wealth, vices, and pride as our gods whom we serve!
We always serve our sexual pleasures by passing our eyes with the ever alluring bold posts in EDSA that eventually ends up in masturbation (or worse, buying prostitutes for sale sa Circle). The politician’s dying will towards owning the supposed wealth for the public, thus making him avail expensive condos in New York; that would make her buy and kill the truth that has defied history.
Obviously, we Catholics who are offended by what that foolish artist did are offended because of what he did to the venerable image. But as I see it, it turns out not be an anti-Christian one, as it sends a message not to Christ, but to us Filipinos who made the Christian religion a defending shield towards our own animistic and polytheistic culture. As far as I heard Mideo Cruz explaining that cross, (if my memory serves us right) which according to him is the relic of our race, for we can see through the mirror in the heart of that cross, is our self- the individual who is a part of the race that distorted the meaning of Christianity, even though we were exiled within the church’s wall for about 300 years.
The other major problem towards that art, is our close mindedness that does not help us in appreciating what art is.
(to be continued)
Habang tayo'y nagpapakasaya sa long weekend na inaprubahan ng Pangulo, ay inaalala naman natin ang Araw ng mga Pambansang Bayani.
