Street artist James Colomina unveiled, Friday November 1st in Toulouse, a sculpture denouncing sexual violence including Abbé Pierrewho died in 2007, was recently accused by several women, during a brief exhibition in a deconsecrated church.
The work, in a white color, contrasting with the usual red resin used by the artist, represents the man of the Church on a metal mortuary cart, a sheet covering his body and suggesting an erection.
“He is dead, but the problem remains there”deciphers Mr. Colomina to AFP, evoking the omerta which has long allowed the alleged actions of the founder of Emmaüs to be passed over in silence – “this completely ambivalent character, who did a lot of good and a lot of harm” – and the lack of transparency of the Catholic institution in this matter.
“This installation (…) reminds us that even after death, the injuries and trauma caused by these acts continue to permeate the collective memory, haunting the victims and the whole of society”he adds.
The work is exhibited within the desecrated church of Gesù, in the city center of Toulouse, and accompanied by religious songs in Latin.
For two days only
The exhibition is open to the public for two days only, until Saturday, between noon and 7 p.m.
Iconic figure in France and founder of Emmaüs, Abbé Pierre, whose real name is Henri Grouès, has been the target of a series of testimonies from women on sexual violence committed between the 1950s and the 2000s since July. and for some that may amount to rape or target minors.
James Colomina, who describes himself as “committed artist”regularly denounces current events, such as when he installed on children's playgrounds in Paris, New York and London, a sculpture of Russian President Vladimir Putin sitting astride a miniature tank, after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
During the Paris Olympic Games, he successively pointed out, through artistic installations, the banning of athletes forced to compete under a neutral flag, and the investments “excessive” agreed to clean up the Seine, not very effective according to him.
