An exhibition of artworks in the European Parliament building in Brussels has caused outrage among some right-wing politicians. The artwork that has caused controversy is a photograph by Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson, which depicts Jesus surrounded by leather-clad muscle daddies. Ohlson has said the photograph portrays Jesus supporting LGBTQ+ rights. However, politicians from Italy and Poland have criticised the work as “vulgar”, “disrespectful” and “blasphemous”.
Maria Veronica Rossi, an MEP from Italy’s right-wing populist Lega Nord party, described the work as representing “Jesus surrounded by apostles dressed as sadomasochistic slaves”, while her colleague and Italy’s deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, labelled it “vulgarity and dissect”. However, many people have criticised Salvini’s post, with one stating “shame on you”.
Elisabeth Ohlson, the artist behind the photograph, has responded to the criticism, saying, “I would say that there should be more understanding because there are a lot of pictures of Jesus with heterosexuals, millions, billions of paintings [by] famous artists, but this is just one picture of Jesus loving LGBTQ+ rights. One picture should not be so scary for them.”
The exhibition features several other thought-provoking pieces, including one image that shows a soldier with his foot on a woman’s shoulder as he kicks a boat out to sea. Malin Björk, an MEP for the Swedish Left Party, commented on the negative reactions, saying, “This confirms right-wing nationalist and conservative views when it comes to Christianity and LGBTI people. We will stand up for our LBGTI siblings”.
Elisabeth Ohlson frequently portrays LGBTQ+ people in her photography. In 2019, her LGBTQ-inclusive altar piece, Paradise, was removed by the Church of Sweden after some of the imagery was interpreted as anti-trans. The photograph, depicting a trans woman in a tree holding a snake, was associated with Satan in the Bible.
The exhibition is due to run until the end of this week and is only accessible to those working in the parliament or who are granted special accreditation to visit. The controversy surrounding Ohlson’s photograph has sparked discussions around the portrayal of LGBTQ+ people in art, as well as the acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights in Christianity.