Karen Flores, the embattled head of the Visual arts and Cureo division of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has resigned. Her resignation came shortly after the decision of the board to close down the controversial "Poleteismo" exhibit which included the controversial art work of Mideo Cruz. Cruz work, which many artists and people found very crude and a bad art, was allowed to be exhibited at the Cultural Center. It created a huge uproar among those who found Cruz' work blasphemous, and those that found it obscene and in extremely bad form.
CCP's decision to close down the exhibit is not the best decision under those circumstances. It just showed that the board was bullied into submission, not a very good ending for such an inane and totally nonsensical issue.
Closing down the exhibit just meant that it was bullied, and reacted in such jerky fashion that it actually sent a signal to the people, that hey, we never intended this but will be doing it by the way.
BY the way, I really don't understand what some artists are militating about. They are still saying that this is about rights.
What about rights, when the CCP already gave Mideo Cruz the right to exhibit such a very bad and tasteless art in its premises? I mean, CCP's mandate is showcase the best Pinoy art. Defintely, Cruz' visual exhibit is not, and I say again, not the best there is among the hundreds of Pnoy arts literally out there.
Example, Herber Bartolome's art pieces were never shown at the CCP, and don't ever tell me that Herber's work pales in comparison with Mideo Cruz, excuse me!
How about Joey de Leon's paintings and sculpture pieces? His work is thought provoking and really extremely good and is among those considered to be at par with international standards, yet, sadly, never even saw the light of day at the CCP.
These artists deserve a spot in that hallowed institution, but, until now, no invitation. Are you telling me that CCP people are tasteless people and unsophisticated that they rather show a thrashy piece over a fine one? That is what happened here.
BY exhibiting such a mediocre work by Cruz, the CCP has already proven that it respects the rights of artists to be exhibited. Artists, however, must realize that not all are to be given a space at the CCP. You must be the best.
In Cruz case, probably, he was the best among the mediocre artists pretending to be maverick artists, that's why he was featured.
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