Is paedophilia in public galleries children visit appropriate?

[Carakeel]

I am posting this in B & S as well as in Arts & Literature, as I would really appreciate the views of the B & S ABers and some of you don't seem to go onto Arts & Literature.
So, Do we really need the new Royal Academy exhibition supporting artists such as Gerald Davis, whose caricature depicts a young girl with pompoms on her socks engaged in oral sex with an older man? This is classed as paedophilia - and the artist doesn't even deny that! The Royal Academy exhibitions are visited by adults and children alike. I have never shared or understood Charles Saatchi's taste in art (remember Tracey Emin's Soiled Bed?), but once again he baffles the mind with the so called artists he supports so readily. Do we really have to put up with paedophilia in our public art exhibitions? Does this not support and condone this type of behaviour? Does this kind of thing not belong in a private exhibition, if it must be shown at all? Your views please.

[Carakeel]

Thank you all for your views.
Whiffey ... I think (and hope!) you mean paedophiles, not paediatricians! Paedophiles kill children's lives, paediatricians save them!!! BIG DIFFERENCE!!!

Thank you all for your views. I am relieved to find so many people as disgusted as I am about this exhibition.

Wardy, I never studied art, but do paint, do exhibit and only occasionally sell paintings. My inspiration is the love for my late son who died of cancer. My paintings have recently been described as giving inspiration to positive thought and to creating a beautifully colourful sense of balance and calm. To me, that is what I want paintings in my home to be. But, I do respect that others feel differently. As an artist I regularly check out what galleries around the globe are showing, hence found the images I mentioned. I can only hope that this exhibition is boycotted my the masses. Perhaps then people like Charles Saatchi and the powers that be will finally understand that this type of exhibition is not suitable for public viewing, but should be kept in a private gallery, if at all.

[justasking]

I looked on the saatchi gallery and i'm not sure if the picture your talking about is the one i see because there was no pom poms in her hair but their was a similar one with a young girl in ankle socks performing oral with the quote "�Monica is about a girl that I was strongly attracted to in 1986.� Gerald Davis reveals. �I recall having very vivid fantasies about her even at that young age. This event never took place � I never made my feelings known to her � so I made it happen with an image.�
Made it happen with an image???? He didn't paint that picture when he was a young boy, he painted it as an adult so if he was a sane thinking person he wouldn't want to make it happen with an image now that he is an adult! To me its peadophilia and i wouldn't advise taking children to the art gallery at all while pictures like this hang on the walls because it will be filled with peadofiles rushing to see it.

[IggyB]

whilst i might personally find some art work disgusting i would not agree with a situation where artists are told what they can and can't create based on the outrage it might cause... being sickened by what some would call art is the price we pay for the freedom of expression we all usually enjoy

[-Zorro-]

ask whiffey

[Carakeel]

Wardy, I wouldn't mind placing a link, but I think the AB ED might not like my doing this, as it could be seen as advertising. I really appreciate your interest though. Thanks.

[RATTER15]

IggyB, no one is telling artists what they can and cannot paint, that is purely down to the artist, if the artist have these sick thoughts and feel like putting said thoughts on canvas maybe they should be put away for their own viewing and their own sick pleasure.

The whole idea of it all is just so absolutely gross

[Pisceangirl]

Not looked at the site, nor will- I can quite imagine how far some so called "artists" will go in the name of free expression. The said artist sounds like a paedophile- otherwize why would he create such filth?! To provoke a reaction?! Why would someone want to provoke that kind of reaction?! It doesn't make any sense! I am a song writer, poet, and artist in my spare time and I ardently respect artistic expression, however, just as the television has a 'watershed time' and also a committee to make sure that some things never get on television due to its unsavoury content (not purely knee jerk censorship but a filtering out of unsuitable material which would upset people), I think there should be restrictions in art galleries, definitely. I would be surprised if there isn't already censoring of exhibitions anyway, but jeez, if there is, it seems whoever's one the comittee has not thoroughly thought through the implications of this particular artist's work.

[IggyB]

having now looked at the pic
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/artpa ges/gerald_davis_monica.htm

whilst it's not to my taste i don't feel outraged or appalled by the depiction... its only a painting and as its style is more cartoon-like than realistic there is some ambiguity over the age of the subject, however I do not feel that age is meant to be the central focus of this work.

[indie_chic]

I have to agree with you there Iggyb (handtwin). I wouldn't want my kids looking at paintings that were so obviously sexual.

[Carakeel]

Well, it would seem that even academicians are agreeing with my views on this exhibition, as the link in parenting shows. I am so glad they too are speaking up about this type of art. Please have a look at this report : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2 372128,00.html

[whiffey]

Thanks to IggyB for posting the link. The exhibit is plain unpleasant. No it should not be on public display - but this is the 21st century - and therefore 'enlightened'

They try to intellectualise it with such pretentious rubbish as "Prepubescent misadventures of scatology, sexual experimentation, and girlfriends-that-never-were imbue his paintings with the purifying qualities of confession....." etc etc

One exhibition I will never visit, thanks.

[canasta]

The work of a disturbed distorted mind, I'm afraid.
In answer to your question, no I don't think this work should be available for viewing by any member of the public.
If it's included in a gallery maybe exclude it for under 18's.