London gallery pulled art, fearing Muslim reaction: curator
Last Updated: Saturday, October 7, 2006 | 10:48 AM ET
CBC Arts
A curator at a British art gallery alleges several works by surrealist Hans Bellmer, known for his life-size nude dolls of girls, were removed out of concern that they might upset Muslims.
Agnes de la Beaumelle, a curator at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London, said Friday that Bellmer's works were taken away from an exhibit the day before it was due to open on Sept. 20.
Beaumelle, who protested the action, alleged that the gallery’s director pulled the pieces "simply not to shock the population" of Muslims who live in the east London neighbourhood.
But the gallery issued a statement saying some pieces from the well-known artist, who died in 1975, were not included because of space constraints.
Beaumelle said, as a curator, she was "surprised" by the decision of the gallery’s director, Iwona Blazwick.
Beaumelle said Blazwick would have known the kind of art she was committing the gallery to after agreeing to show Bellmer’s art.
The exhibit runs until Nov. 19.
The move comes only a week after Berlin’s Dutsche Opera cancelled performances of the Mozart opera Idomeneo, citing security concerns.
The company’s director feared a scene featuring the severed heads of Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha and Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, could trigger protests from Muslims.
The decision angered free speech advocates and drew the criticism of artists and politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Opera officials recently stated the opera could still be staged provided proper security was in place. The performances were scheduled for November.
