How could a sculpture of Abbé Pierre, erect penis, be exhibited in a church?

An indecent symbol… A representation of Abbot Pierre immodestly holding out his shroud? « For what », « the limit is exceeded », « shocking »… On social networks, the latest work by Toulouse sculptor James Colomina outrages Internet users. Silence (“silence” in Latin, Editor’s note), the incriminated work borders on « disrespect »and its presence in the middle of the deconsecrated church of Gesù – in the Carmes district of Toulouse – is judged by many to be « more than worrying ». Abbé Pierre, therefore, on a metal mortuary cart, covered with a suspiciously shaped white sheet, this is the subject which is the subject of debate. Debate, because under this shroud, it is difficult not to imagine something other than the man of the Church – who died in 2007 – in erection. Debate too, because beyond the sculpture, it is its presence in the heart of a place of worship which is disturbing, while the “problematic sexuality” of the priest recently made the headlines.

However, there is no need to appeal to justice, to search the lines of the Civil Code or even to condemn the artist. As mentioned previously, the Gesù church is a place « desecrated »that is to say dedicated to profane use. Since 2000, it has belonged to the city of Toulouse which redeveloped it into an organ concert hall. It is then « quite simple to reserve the premises »explains to Figaro James Colomina. « Usually, I set up without authorization, continues the Toulouse artist. But I didn't want to offend Catholics by exhibiting my work in a traditional church. » He therefore turned to this neo-Gothic building from the 19th^e century. This allowed him to exhibit Silence for two afternoons. « I was able to keep the codes of the church, its sound ambiance and its decorations »rejoices James Colomina.

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Make a mark

The Toulouse artist justified wanting « offer a space for silent, intimate, yet powerful dialogue, inviting each visitor to explore themes of memory, justice and humanity ». The exhibition was visible on 1^is and November 2, a very short-lived duration due to its polemical and engaged nature. The artist still hopes to have made an impression with Silence, « a work that will continue to inspire reflection beyond its discovery »he explains to us.

« It is up to society to lift the veil to finally see what has been buried under decades of silence”

James Colomina

For a long time, the baptized artist, but non-believer, thought that « sacred symbols had to remain intact ». But here he is disappointed by the Church, its secrets, « secretive of realities ». « It is up to society to lift the veil to finally see what has been buried under decades of silence and to question the scars left by this past »argues James Colomina. This cathedral silence is notably embodied by the affair which concerns the sexual behavior of Abbé Pierre, which brought to light around ten sexual abuses committed between 1950 and 2000 on several women. The Toulouse artist became aware of this posthumous scandal when he was « in full sale of Seine water » in the Toulouse districts. He had to « as if by chance » give his « water recipes » to the Emmaüs foundation. « Suffice it to say that I quickly changed my mind »exclaims James Colomina. He then came up with the idea of Silencea project that he hastened to defend to the local newspaper The Dispatch before the start of the exhibition. « I don't give a damn, I talk about the topics I want »he declared, without restraint.

The eternal question of the “blasphemous” work

Faced with such controversial artistic inspiration, an ethical question arises: should we leave absolute freedom to artists when the sacred and faith are directly and indirectly the subject of a work? A question that had already arisen after the massacre of Charlie Hebdo in 2015. Or put another way, what would happen if a sculpture, which can be considered blasphemous, had been exhibited in a mosque, a temple or a synagogue? In any case, on X (formerly Twitter), many Internet users are shocked by the sulfurous Silence. « If Abbé Pierre did harm, he also did good, much more than this artist will do »can we read in an anonymous tweet; « What a shame ! They even attack the dead » in another; or even « What is he waiting for to make a Mohammed with an erection? ? » in a third message…

Faced with these unkind criticisms, often more harsh on his private messaging, James Colomina turns his back: « I get insulted, but I don't pay attention to it. I feel even more legitimate. I create controversy, but it's just the truth and they take it in the face ! »

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Until this artistic dispute, the Toulouse street sculptor had the habit of hiding behind his works. On social networks, he was conspicuous by his absence. A way for him, both, to protect himself from the threats caused by sometimes provocative ideas and, also, to escape fame. « It's a treasure to be an incognito artist, to be able to express myself as I wish »he justifies himself.

Lauded on the Internet, the Silence on the other hand, interested some visitors to the Gesù church: « Some immediately turned around, others found it scandalous, but for the most part, there was only good feedback, he notes. Everyone was shocked by the latest information about Abbé Pierre and it is not surprising that a large part of the spectators support me in this project. Nearly 250 people on Saturday 1^is November and more than 1,000 came on Sunday. An encouragement for the Toulouse artist who wants to continue to denounce what he calls « the atrocities of our world ». Because James Colomina is persuaded: « Art is a weapon, and I intend to use it and get people to react. »