Question: when are catholic tastes not Catholic?Answer: when Pope Benedict XVI is shown semi-nude wearing pantyhose.
Miss Kitty, a sculpture of that description resembling the Supreme Pontiff, by the Milanese artist Paolo Schmidlin, so offended the mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti, that she demanded its removal along with several other works from the exhibition “Vade Retro” scheduled to open in July at the Palazzo della Ragione in that city.
The show of 150 works focusing on art and homosexuality, curated by Vittorio Sgarbi, former under secretary of culture, was then cancelled.
Mr Sgarbi, Ms Moratti and His Holiness were not available for comment, but we understand that discussions are now taking place with the city of Padua to stage the show there.
The Holy See may wonder at this treatment but can be reassured that popes and prelates are now the height of contemporary art fashion.
Alexander Melamid, who sold his Soviet-Realist style portraits of hip-hop’s biggest stars (50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West and Rev Run) to a US hedge fund last year, has now set his sights on the Catholic hierarchy.
Melamid, half of the former Russian artist double act Komar and Melamid, previously known for encouraging elephants to paint at an elephant art academy in Thailand, told The Art Newspaper: “During the last eight months I have been living in Rome, painting cardinals, priests and monks. What unites these two groups [rappers and the higher clergy] and what is the most important thing for me: Bling Bling. Crucifixes reign supreme. God bless you.”
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