I’m no art connoisseur, but I recognise beauty and ugliness in works of art. Some art inspires awe, other art invokes outrage or offence - especially art that ridicules religious symbols and traditions, such as the infamous “Piss Christ” artwork, or caricatures of baby Moses parting his bath water, or the Danish cartoon which offended Muslims in 2006.
Or Thursday’s cartoon by Kudelka in The Australian depicting Jesus on a cross, under a school shade structure, while Mr Rudd and his deputy look on, and a centurion tries to convince a thief to be nailed to the same cross to save the budget. We may laugh it off, but precious religious symbols ought not to be debased in this way.
The irony is that the caption to Kudelka’s cartoon, “Building a crucifixion revolution,” reminds us that the true Easter story is absolutely revolutionary, offering reconciliation with God, a new beginning, and a hope that never fades away.
Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 4 April 2010.
