7/4 Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 (edited) August 28, 2008 Italy museum defies pope anger over crucified frog By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 4:51 p.m. ET ROME (AP) -- An art museum in northern Italy said Thursday it will continue displaying a sculpture portraying a green frog nailed to a cross that has angered Pope Benedict XVI and local officials. The board of the foundation of the Museion in the city of Bolzano voted to keep the work by the late German artist Martin Kippenberger, the museum said in a statement. Earlier in August the pope had written a letter to Franz Pahl, the president of the Trentino-Alto Adige region that includes Bolzano, denouncing the sculpture. It ''has offended the religious feelings of many people who consider the cross a symbol of God's love and of our redemption,'' Pahl quoted the pope as writing in the letter. Pahl himself has long opposed the display of ''Zuerst die Fuesse'' (''First the Feet'' in German), even staging a hunger strike this summer and saying he would not seek re-election unless it was removed. In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Pahl said he was outraged by the museum's decision to keep the work, which he claims ''pokes fun at the Catholic population and offends religion and the pope.'' The 1990 wooden sculpture shows the crucified frog nailed through the feet and hands like Jesus Christ. The frog, eyes popping and tongue sticking out, wears a loincloth and holds a mug of beer and an egg in its hands. The museum said the 3-foot (1-meter) -tall sculpture has nothing to do with religion, but is an ironic self-portrait of the artist and an expression of his angst. ''With humor and a tragicomic sense, which belongs to art since the times of Greek tragedy, Kippenberger ... faces his condition of suffering, which he expresses in many works, also, for example, in a video in which he crucifies himself,'' the museum said in a statement. Born in Dortmund, Kippenberger moved from painting and sculpture to work in all mediums, often combining elements of Neo-expressionism, Pop and Dadaism. His art has been displayed across the world, including Zurich, Paris, Jerusalem, London and New York. He died in 1997, aged 43. Edited August 28, 2008 by 7/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 that frog is brown - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 pretty strange lookin' sculpture... ...touchy folks. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 how 'bout one in silver? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 in green: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 Have an egg Allen... . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 that frog is brown - "How now brown frog" just doesn't have the same ring to it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 But it sounds fresh! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Van Basten II Posted August 28, 2008 Report Share Posted August 28, 2008 Shouldn't it be the french who should be insulted by the sculpture.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christiern Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 I could perhaps understand a protest from the FFFF (Flemish Fraternity of Frog Fanciers). Since when has the Pope's organization had a monopoly on crosses? Religious fanatics (regardless of sect) are ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willard Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 He died in 1997, aged 43. Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 that frog is brown - red...more red to me. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christiern Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Maybe Popie would prefer a white frog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 I like the silver one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Skid Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 He died in 1997, aged 43. Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord. If the LORD is that much of a pussy that he gets pissed off enough to kill someone over a stupid sculpture, it sounds like the LORD could use some anger management classes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 He died in 1997, aged 43. Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord. If the LORD is that much of a pussy that he gets pissed off enough to kill someone over a stupid sculpture, it sounds like the LORD could use some anger management classes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Man, that takes balls. Fortunately, it appears the frog is well equipped... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 watched a group of japanese tourists last week posing for crucification photos in the cologne cathedral Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 watched a group of japanese tourists last week posing for crucification photos in the cologne cathedral Could catch on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christiern Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Will we see jittery people in need of a crucifix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jostber Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Santa has also been crucified one time: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 But the frog looks cooler. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosco Posted August 29, 2008 Report Share Posted August 29, 2008 It ''has offended the religious feelings of many people who consider the cross a symbol of God's love and of our redemption,'' Pahl quoted the pope as writing in the letter. The apparatus used to put someone to death is 'a symbol of God's love and of our redemption'? So, if Jesus had been hanged the symbol of God's love would have been a gallows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.