Gilbert and George's Sonofagod Pictures:

Artists arouse MP's fury

Charlotte Higgins, arts correspondent for The Guardian reports on the
new work by artist Gilbert and George.

To the left is part of Gilbert and George's Sonofagod Pictures: Was Jesus Heterosexual? series of works at the White Cube Gallery.

Gilbert and George are the finest dressed, and quite possibly most courteous, artists in London. But their new series of works is anything but polite.

Even before going on display today at London's White Cube gallery, the 21 new artworks - collectively titled Sonofagod Pictures: Was Jesus Heterosexual? - have aroused the fury of the Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, who has called them "blasphemous in the extreme, as [Gilbert and George] will find out when finally they stand before the Son of God". But the Bishop of Stepney, according to George, has been "very polite and very nice, and requested a studio visit".

For Sonofagod Pictures the artists have used the symbols and signs of belief systems; from lucky horseshoes and charms to crosses and stars of David.

Despite the confrontational images and the accompanying texts (such as "Jesus says forgive yourself/God loves fucking! Enjoy"), the artists say that the works are not offensive. Gilbert: "Christians are abusive to humans - to women, to queers. They threaten us with hell." George: "That's offensive, not us."

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Read an interview from a few years back with dynamic team of the British art scene - HERE