The shocking art exhibit of Mideo Cruz at CCP which took us all by surprise is only the tip of the ice-berg of what went wrong in the modern definition of art and freedom of expression. Some think that that art comes from a natural desire to express oneself through drawing, painting, sculpture, and installation of different pieces of articles to compose one’s opinion or one’s viewpoint. Wikipedia defines art as: “Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items (often with symbolic significance) in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music, literature, film, photography, sculpture, and paintings. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics, and even disciplines such as history and psychology analyze its relationship with humans and generations.”

This comprehensive definition which covers so many department of art actualizes what we see, what we hear and what we think of art but it does not speak about the responsibility or the ethics of arts. What is it for? Does it make sense for artists to be responsible for their artworks?

Although not mentioned often in circles of artists around the world, their responsibility to mold the opinions, influence the thoughts and the culture of their society is crucial. Art is not only a production effort from a factory to be admired or vituperated. The kind of society that exists also defines the artists and his artworks. In the more liberal and Western nations whose culture have forgotten its Christian roots and deliberately moves towards secularism, their art becomes empty, look more like a vandalism and a confusion rather than a purposive expression of one’s admiration of the Creator’s beauty and magnificence in the creation. Abstract painting and sculpture to me does not really bring meaning or purpose but depicts a disorderly thought or reaction about the realities of life. What Mideo Cruz did was blasphemous in a society that is steep in its religious consciousness and one that is seeking to ground people to its Judeo-Christian roots.

This is blasphemous in the sense that why would he need to put the face of Jesus Christ in his artwork only to trample, deface, and vilify the person of the Lord by putting a penis sculpture across His picture? Why didn’t he try to put his own picture or the picture of his mother or father instead of Jesus Christ? Will it make a difference? Looking at a photo of his controversial artwork called 'Poleteismo,' which is made up of a collage of religious photos, a woman, a man and a wooden rosary beads, it does not take long for any person to interpret his expression of as a hatred of religious tradition for a Catholic, and for a Christian believer, his ignorance and indifference to the person of Jesus Christ.

It is just right that the religious community should voice out their concern of these art exhibits which are using the public exhibit halls to publish their personal hatred and their inflamed perversion. If the exhibit of his so called “art” could have been in his own private museum, house or apartment, we would not have been offended by his blatant action. The removal and castigation of the “Kulo” exhibits at the CCP in my opinion is justified in the sense that more people were outraged, more of them saw a great disservice in the art of Mr. Mideo Cruz. It is my opinion that he can rise up better than just composing a perverted artwork and focus on the positive, light and life giving nature of art.

During the time of Renaissance (14th-17th century) when classical work were rediscovered and new techniques, methods, reforms and learnings were spread, artworks and sculptures included, these were used by artists as a vehicle of their praise and worship of the Creator. The general theme of that period is unhindered freedom of expression towards worship of the Creator. This was the time when Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Galileo, Newton, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Erasmus, Zwingli, Thomas Moore, Martin Luther, and John Calvin spread the ideas of personal faith, freedom of expression from the shackles of religious oppression, individual belief and faith in the Creator so that the whole of Europe achieved a cultural change that has never since been equalled. This was tantamount to the change brought about by Christianity transforming the whole Roman Empire in just 100 years since its birth. 

The changes that swept the whole continental Europe brought about the modern period that proceeded from this time. It was not humanism that brought the changes to the society but their discovery that faith in God is personal, faith in God is preceded by repentance which brings salvation to our soul and the expression or means of their gratitude were expressed by the people in literary outputs, painting, frescoes, sculptures, architecture and science and engineering achievements. The magnitude of this great cultural shift from the Dark Age brought about the Reformation and the Modern period which we have enjoyed to this day.

My objection of his art stems mainly from his refusal and blindness to acknowledge that faith is essential for one’s well-being as communicated by his piece of art. Second, his blatant disregard of our Christian roots and culture or his insensitivity is second only to none as depicted by putting a penis across the face of Jesus Christ. Third, this irresponsible work of art does not only blaspheme the name of the Lord, but also debases, disturbs the emotions and thoughts of those who view them. That reason alone does not give peace to one. It also shows how little he thought of his work of art whether this could bring healing, enlightenment, darkness or disorder.

By being careless in our societal responsibility with our work of art, we have not only lowered this art, but we have also shown before the world the content of our thoughts and emotions. Artists are seldom separate from their works of arts. They indeed express themselves through their passion and their canvass which seems to tell us how dark, rebellious and careless his thoughts are.

Every time we use our talents, service or science for the promotion of rebellious ideas, we will also reap its consequence. The mind of man that is given to peace and life will also reap righteousness, peace and joy in the midst of turbulence around his society. As Paul said, no one lives or dies for himself alone because every person on this earth is connected to each other by familial relationships, race, culture or belief. We ought therefore to live considerately and think also of others who could be offended or stumble because of our careless words, writings, or art works.