Mideo Cruz’s work “Poleteismo,” which was exhibited at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, has polarized public opinion so sharply that any commentary, if it is to have any value, is expected to weigh in on the pressing question of who is right and who is wrong. I hope that some room can be made for a non-moral, non-legal and non-aesthetic appraisal that looks at this controversy as symptomatic of the structural and semantic shifts that our society is undergoing in its transition to modernity.
Let us briefly review the current shape of the debate. On one side are those who strongly feel that Cruz has overstepped the limits of his rights as an artist by portraying symbols venerated in Christianity in a highly disrespectful and mocking manner. On the other side are those who believe that Cruz is well within his constitutional rights as an artist to express his ideas as he sees fit, and that the CCP is to be applauded for giving him space in accordance with its mandate to promote art. Still others argue that “Poleteismo” is mediocre art that relies on shock effect to call attention to itself, and that it does not deserve to be exhibited at the CCP.
Read Full Article »