Serrano exhibit opens at ICA amid controversy

The Institute of Contemporary Art unveiled its much-anticipated "Andres Serrano: Works 1983-1993" exhibit Friday night, and as expected, the opening was met with student protest. The exhibit, which features about 50 works by Serrano and is the first complete showing of his works in the United States, explores several of Serrano's art topics -- including bodily fluids, religion, death and the nomadic experience. ICA members were enthralled Friday by such works as "Heaven and Hell" -- featuring a tied-up topless woman with blood dripping down her body and a priest dressed in red -- and "Cabeza de vaca" -- a photograph of an enormous cow's head cut off at the bloodied neck. "I think it's pretty incredible -- pretty disgusting but really powerful," said Tyler School of Art sophomore Andrew Tomasulo. "It's a great exhibit." But outside of the ICA, about 40 University students gathered to protest the exhibit. They were concerned with Serrano's usage of religious imagery, particularly in his well-known "Piss Christ" work. The students assembled at 5 p.m. at the Button, carrying candles and a large crucifix. They marched down Locust Walk to 36th Street, and then to the ICA building at 36th and Sansom streets where they held hands and said prayers. Penn Newman Council President and College senior Jeremy Chiappetta said last night the reason for the protest was "to simply express our views." "Serrano showed the world how he treated his crucifix, and we showed the University how we treat our crucifix," he said. "It's very sad that an artist would choose to piss on a crucifix to create his so-called art." "Piss Christ," which has brought Serrano national attention and scrutiny, is a photograph of a wooden crucifix submerged in Serrano's urine. Upon first glance it looks like a photograph taken under an orange-red liquid. According to ICA Public Relations Coordinator Wendy Steinberg, a viewer would never know the "liquid" was urine without reading the title plaque next to the piece. Chiappetta, who coordinated the protest, said he has never seen "Piss Christ." But "Piss Christ" was not necessarily the main attraction for the several hundred ICA members Friday night. Many more art lovers were seen gathering around the pieces in Serrano's "Morgue (Cause of Death)" series. The photographs in this series are all images of dead bodies, categorized by their cause of death. Examples include "The Morgue (Hacked to Death)" and "The Morgue (Rat Poison Suicide)." Serrano told interested bystanders that "Piss Christ" is not intended to be controversial. "'Piss Christ' didn't turn any heads in Europe," he said. Still, the ICA is warning museum-goers with a sign requesting parents, teachers and guardians to "preview the installation for younger audiences" due to "the powerful and challenging nature of the work." The Serrano exhibit continues through Jan. 15 at the ICA. Admission is $1 for students.

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