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Artist apes the crucifixion to save threatened gorillas
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent14.10.09
It's a crucifix in a church, but the cross bears the life-like body of a gorilla.
Paul Fryer is likely to provoke protests with his work, The Privilege of Dominion, installed in the former Holy Trinity Church in Marylebone in a show inspired by the cabinets of curiosities popular in the 16th century.
The gorilla was made with the help of a former Madame Tussauds waxwork expert and a hair-inserter. "It does look real - even close up," Fryer said.
He insists he wants to highlight the plight of the Western Lowland Gorillas, and to challenge the Christian notion that animals do not have souls. But he does not want to cause offence.
"I do go to church and regard myself as a Christian, though I'm probably a heretic," he said. "I just hope people understand the spirit of it is intended to create discourse and make people think rather than offend anybody."
If the gorilla does not offend, another of his works just might. In his contemporary version of a Pieta, a life-like black Christ is depicted in an electric chair. An earlier version, featuring a white Christ, provoked protests in the French town of Gap earlier this year.
Fryer, 44, who lives in Derbyshire but has a studio in Kent, said the piece challenged notions of race and religion.
"If they had had the chair in Christ's time, people would be wearing little electric chairs now," Fryer said.
Joe La Placa, the curator, said the works were not blasphemous. "We're so acclimatised to the shock and horror of the Young British Artists that we're primed to look for the sensationalist aspect. But people find these works deeply moving."
Other works in the show include Martin Sexton's life-like "floating" head of John the Baptist and a woman riding a walrus by Keith Tyson.
The Age of the Marvellous is at the former Holy Trinity Church, Marylebone, from today until 22 October.
Reader views (9)
The Bible's offensiveness is built into its own texts. Being offensive with Bible imagery is effortless due the the nature of the inspiration. If a father who is the legislative body and the executive power is fine seeing his innocent son tortured and killed, that's only one fine example. The old testament does the offensiveness even better.
- Seth Strong, Charlottesville, VA USA
Fryer’s symbolism is flawed.. in every way.
But then, he is after nothing but the oxygen of publicity, which you have supplied him in ample measure.
The fact is that Christ stepped up to the cross, a willing victim, to absorb and deflect the pent up wrath of God, from being spent, upon an ungrateful and stubborn people. Another fact is that those who acknowledge this, will also avoid the repercussions of their misdeeds.
The gorillas, by contrast are hapless victims of man’s bloodlust, something that Christ died to atone for. Who will step in the breach, when the time comes, for God’s wrath to overflow against Fryer and to a lesser extent Joe La Placa, Louise Jury and yourself who are all complicit in varying degrees?
- Ray Misquitta, Sutton, Surrey,UK
It's not Jesus is a Gorilla - it's a Gorilla on a cross. The Gorilla is a beautiful, intelligent being, slaughtered by human greed, ignorance and arrogant 'dominion' of earth.
How is that sick?
- Mb, London
this is " Creatvolutionism" at its best.
long live free speech
- Descartes, uk uk
I agree with Black Prince, people seem to be able to be as offensive as they like when the subject matter is Christian...
- Shelly, London
It is a surprising piece rather than shocking. Christ on the cross is an object of contemplation and so is this. The location is incredibly important - that it has been placed in an altar of a former church, somehow makes it more respectful than if it had been placed in a secular site. Paul Fryer is not saying Christ is a gorilla - he is simply making us think about the pain and suffering mankind is capable of, be it inflicted on another man or another animal.
- John Gaffney, London
~I actually think this is a really sensitive approach to several issues and that Paul Fyer is making a bold and brave statement with this art work. What's more, I went to visit the exhibition in the church this morning and it is really beautiful. Go and see it before casting judgement!
- No Comment, London NW
The crucifix is meant to remind Christians of the horrific and cruel treatment he endured: he was flayed (skin hacked to bits with whips with hooks on), which would have put him into anafalactic shock, then nailed onto the cross-bar of the crucifix: historical research would suggest between the bones of his wrist because that was more secure - then made to walk through the streets naked and jeered at, to the place of execution - carrying all the while the heavy wood block he was nailed to upon his raw shoulders, then he was raised up onto the the upright, to which his feet were nailed through the ankles on either side, including a chuck of wood to stop him slipping his feet off over the end of the nail. As his arms grew tired, more weight would have shifted to his feet, causing greater agony, and the sag of his upper body not bearing his weight meant he would start very slowly to suffocate as his slumped body would not have been able to expand his lungs properly. During the 3 days or so it took to suffocate, carrion birds may well have set to work before he'd even died.
That's quite a lot of suffering to belittle.
- Roz, France
...try to show prophet Mohammed as a gorilla and watch what will happen worldwide.....
This is just sickening.
Paul Fryer is a seriously sick type.
- Black Prince, London SW
