Artwork removed from Oslo exhibition after outraging Jews (linked Israel and US to nazism)

Ha'aretz ^ | Februari 20 2004 | Associated Press

[knighthawk]

OSLO - A Norwegian art gallery removed a painting Friday from its exhibition "Anti-Semite in the Name of God," saying it had infuriated Jews, including a Holocaust survivor.

The painting, by Norwegian artist Chris Reddy, includes the text "Israel" and "USA," with each "S" replaced by a Nazi Swastika.

Andreas Engelstad, owner of the Galleri A Minor in Oslo, said the Israeli Embassy demanded that the painting be removed, but that it was the reaction of other Jews that prompted his decision.

"I took it down not because of the Embassy, but out of respect for victims of the Holocaust," he told The Associated Press by telephone. "One of the victims called me and said they were hurt by the painting."

The decision made top news in Norway on Friday, partly because it came just a month after a furious dispute between Israel and Sweden over an exhibition in Stockholm that enraged the Israeli ambassador there.

That exhibit showed the picture of a Palestinian suicide bomber, and so outraged Israeli Ambassador Zvi Mazel that he tried to damage it by throwing a light fixture at it.

In Norway, Israeli Ambassador Liora Herzl sent a letter to the gallery, saying Reddy's painting was unacceptable because it linked Israel and the United States to Nazism.

Norwegian news agency NTB said Reddy was furious at the decision to remove his artwork.

"It is questionable that Ambassador Liora Herzl has taken the fascists' tool, censorship, into use," he was quoted as saying. He could not immediately be reached for comment by the AP.

Engelstad said Reddy's exhibition seeks to use a variety of artworks to illustrate how political and religious forces influence a person's thinking. None of the other works was deemed offensive and will remain on display until March 7, he said.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[DonQ]

Did the Europeans bleat like this when Moslems compelled various clothing manufacturers (including shoe companies and dress companies) to recall and destroy millions of dollars in merchandise because some swoosh in the design looked - if you squinted at it upside down in a fog - like an Arabic word??

[syriacus]

Meanwhile...another FR thread...   Video of [Norwegian] peacekeepers in Kosovo shooting dogs causes stir in Norway

      – A videotape set to music of Norwegian peacekeepers in Kosovo shooting dogs drew furious reactions in their homeland Friday. The footage, called "Hotdog," aired on national TV on Thursday night and was edited to look and sound like a music video. During the video, a soldier is shown shooting a dog at long range with a rifle, and another Norwegian peacekeeper appeared to empty his pistol into it at close range as the animal writhed in...

       

[GovernmentShrinker]

saying it had infuriated Jews

I seriously doubt that Jews were the only people infuriated by it. Sounds like the gallery is trying to downplay the reaction.

That exhibit showed the picture of a Palestinian suicide bomber, and so outraged Israeli Ambassador Zvi Mazel that he tried to damage it by throwing a light fixture at it.

Hmmmm . . . not very ambassadorial behavior.

[syriacus]

Is this the artist?

http://www.reddymade.com/

Chris Reddy F. 10.06-1970 Tromsø NORway
Norwegian South African Indian
Studies
Academy of fine art Oslo 1994-99
Art History University of Tromsø 1993-94
Art school IN Kabelvåg 1991-93
Ex.phil UNIversity of Tromsø 1990
Exhibitions
Norwegian Derby, Øvrevoll, 2003
Peace of Art, Oslo Kollektiv 2003
Fem Kaffe & Krem iN Oslo, 2003
Gallery Pepe, Chelsea New York, solo 2002
Mh2O, New York, Solo, 2002
IKM, GrønlanD Oslo, Solo Des. 2001
Galleri Saami, Solo Okt.2001
Popop Gallery, Oslo, kollektiv utstilling 2001
National Gallery, Glokal Kunst/Touring, kollektiv 2000/01
Glokal ART at IKM Oslo, Kollektiv 1999
International Young art at Sothebys, Kollektiv Berlin Germany 2000
Avgangsutstillingen for Kunstakademiet i Oslo, Stenersen Museet 1999
International Young Art Goes Baltic, Rostock Tyskland 1999
Oslo Børs, solo 1999
Galleri 21:25, Oslo, solo 1998
Avgangsutstilling, Nordnorsk Kunstnersentrum Svolvær, kollektiv 1993
Unge Kunstnere i Tromsø, kollektiv 1991

Drummer in Farout Fishing, ROCK Band. Since 1990
Released Audio
Farout Fishing – New Shiva – Platerecords 2001 CD album
Farout Fishing – New Rock Album – Platerecords 2000 CD album
Farout Fishing – Since 1990 – Platerecords 1999 CD single
Farout Fishing – Live at Garbo – Platerecords CD album
Farout Fishing – Bashflack – Platerecords 1996 CD album
Farout Fishing – Wipperly Wopperly Eyes – Platerecords 7"Mlp
Farout Fishing – Farout Fishing - Platerecords 12"Mlp
Concerts all over europe since 1991 Back to main page

[yonif]

The painting, by Norwegian artist Chris Reddy, includes the text "Israel" and "USA," with each "S" replaced by a Nazi Swastika.

[Alouette]

includes the text "Israel" and "USA," with each "S" replaced by a Nazi Swastika.

You mean like this?

[YankeeinOkieville]

"I took it down not because of the Embassy, but out of respect for victims of the Holocaust," he told The Associated Press by telephone. "One of the victims called me and said they were hurt by the painting."

Good thing he called, otherwise the gallery owner would not have known such a thing as swastikas were hurtful and offensive to Holocaust survivors.