Offence in Art: Analysis of the Golgotha Picnic Spectacle

Abstract

The article presents analysis of Rodrigo García’s Golgotha Picnic as an iconoclastic performance. The author refers to Slavic etymology of word obraza (injury) and shows that injuring as shaping is directly connected with artistic work and creating images. In the positive sense obraza implies a formation, in the negative sense — a deformation. In Garcíia’s performance act of injuring consists in deconstruction of Christ’s image. When an artist is doing his work he might offend directly only image of Christ not religious people. But this kind of deformation arouses profound opposition of Christians what is called offence of religious feelings. We should introduce a distinction between an offence of image as something objective and offence as subjective (emotional) reaction of individuals to this fact. People can feel provoke to accuse artist of offence of religious feeling even though it wasn’t his intention to offend them. However even if it wasn’t his intention to offend anyone his work might depreciate religion and change its importance in society. García used in his performance subversive strategies which can have a revolutionary potential.