Artist Sarah Maple receives death threats for paintings

[DJ B4VVY]

I don't know if you guys have heard about this but I saw it yesterday on BBC news. Check it out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7701168.stm

She's got her own website too, I think she's lost the plot TBH

http://www.sarahmaple.com/

[Rab C Nesbit]

It's art!
If you can't paint, write, make music about what's in your head, then what can you do?

[Evil_Genious]

She knew what she was doing before she did it. She is not shocked and dissapointed by the backlash, if she does she's dillusional and stupid.

Anyway, if you are a Muslim. Don't take notice and the problem doesnt exist anymore. Judgement will come from God when that time comes. Until then, you need to learn how to not get offended at everything you see. Because that itself is a weakness you shouldn't possess. You cannot spread Islam with violence, you need to spread with education and example. Until people 'get' that, the two will clash. Those who expect a reaction, and provoke for it, are satisfied when they receive one that they expected. So challenge that by defying the expected reaction and not do what they thought you was gna do.

Anyway, I'm not offended. I just won't be visiting and I have no interest in it.

[Sunshine]

Originally Posted by Evil_Genious She knew what she was doing before she did it. She is not shocked and dissapointed by the backlash, if she does she's dillusional and stupid. Anyway, if you are a Muslim. Don't take notice and the problem doesnt exist anymore. Judgement will come from God when that time comes. Until then, you need to learn how to not get offended at everything you see. Because that itself is a weakness you shouldn't possess. You cannot spread Islam with violence, you need to spread with education and example. Until people 'get' that, the two will clash. Those who expect a reaction, and provoke for it, are satisfied when they receive one that they expected. So challenge that by defying the expected reaction and not do what they thought you was gna do. Anyway, I'm not offended. I just won't be visiting and I have no interest in it.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[incredible]

I agree with all this...

I would like to add what a dumb bitch. It's not Art, it's attention seeking IMO.

Originally Posted by Evil_Genious She knew what she was doing before she did it. She is not shocked and dissapointed by the backlash, if she does she's dillusional and stupid. Anyway, if you are a Muslim. Don't take notice and the problem doesnt exist anymore. Judgement will come from God when that time comes. Until then, you need to learn how to not get offended at everything you see. Because that itself is a weakness you shouldn't possess. You cannot spread Islam with violence, you need to spread with education and example. Until people 'get' that, the two will clash. Those who expect a reaction, and provoke for it, are satisfied when they receive one that they expected. So challenge that by defying the expected reaction and not do what they thought you was gna do. Anyway, I'm not offended. I just won't be visiting and I have no interest in it.

[Kayz]

Good find Bav! However im going to try and make an educated answer to this taking into perspective what people understand by Art from both Muslim and a Non-Muslim's point of view. What Art really means and how it is depicted by many today. We need to understand both sides of the story and why people think or say x,y,z towards a painting whether they agree to it or not.

First of all we must understand that Art can be interpreted in many different ways. My interpretation on a piece of art will be very different to somebody elses interpretation of the same peice of Art. There is no right or wrong answer, if the painting is clearly depicting a bright coloured sun, then my interpretation could be - "I see a moon in this painting", and i still wont be wrong in saying that.

Expressing freedom of speech in such a way by painting something which is open for interpretation and by default nobody can say your wrong is actually and ironically the best way to express or if you like "practice" your freedom of speech. Wouldnt you agree? Im not an artist but i can tell you, like English Literature, Art is open for interpretation and there is no right or wrong answer.

In summary this is what Art is all about.

However going back to a thread that was made by Scrooge some time ago: Let's Discuss Freedom of Speech? - "Freedom of Speech" in my opinion one is allowed to express their freedom of speech provided it dosent insult or offend people which "they" will deem as offensive, not whether you think it is offensive or not. If there was no such thing as "offensive" then i wouldnt expect the word "Racism" to carry any weight.. wouldnt you agree?



Now going back to commenting on Sarah Maples paintings, those who are not Muslim or dont understand what the religion is all about, to them her paintings are depicted as not offensive. They have their own interpretation of Art as it "dosent affect them" as such, they cant see what all the fuss is about, a woman holding a pig? Whats the big deal with these Muslims?

The funny thing is, i clicked on the link above, i watched the small clip on the BBC website, and they failed to mention or emphasize what part a pig plays in Islam. They were just talking about "offensive to muslims"? How vague is that? If you told me Religion "X" found people having pets such as cats offensive then id be in tatters if i didnt know "why" that religion deems it to be offensive?

Do you see where im coming from and why some people dont understand why its offensive to Muslims? Its purely because they dont know what the moral story a pig plays in Islam. That is why some dont understand why these Muslims are upset, people who dont know a lot about Islam are resorting back to calling it "just a peice of art - freedom on speech" like i have explained above, each to their own when it comes to interpretation, thats the way they see it.

So from an artists point of view i wholly understand what they are saying in terms of art. However they fail to understand the offensive side of it, i wonder what their reactions would be like if somebody was to take a religious iconic symbol from their religion (Other than Islam) and placed it against something horrible, disgusting and decadent?

Speaking on behalf of other religions I dont think "any religion" would tolerate something like this now would they? But no the hate is just reserved for Muslims and im not at all suprised. As for those who dont have a religion - atheists .


Finally the artist herself mentions "Combining East and West culture" in her interview with the BBC, she may be partially right however a Muslim woman holding a pig is not a cultural thing, thats a fail already on her behalf. This goes to show that before she even embarked on her painting she thought she would be in safe haven "in the west" and the people here would take it lightly as "Art" and not as if Bin Laden will take a first class Qatar flight from the East to come and find her in the West... I think she now realises that its not just a cultural thing, its a religion thing which of course is universal and affects not just Muslims in the East but West also and from all over the world!

Originally Posted by incredible It's not Art, it's attention seeking IMO.

She is after a short publicity stunt and fame, but she dosent realise the debt she's putting herself in which could be rather costly.

[Cheeky_Princess]

Well said Kayz and EG

I dunno i saw that pic and it made me laugh the one with the piglet.. i can see how its deemed offensive and that.. her work is meant to provake thats the purpose of it.. get a bit attention and stuff.. the thing thats wrong here is how the people acted to it... instead of peacefull ways of showing they dont agree with her work by attacking the gallery it just goes on to give muslims the bad name again.... i mean the media would always pick on that bit.. never the fact her work infact can be interpted to be offensive

east meets west? religion is not culture.. its a way of life so thats completely wrong

i dnt think the gallery is free but it does make me curious to go check her work out...

[Lucy]

thats the only way shes gona get fame,allow such ppl,coz the more ppl react to her,she gets wat she wants,LOL@ no offence...ppl who say tht MEAN offence

[mani]

then from this they just get more and more offensive hopin that the publicity will get them a lil more something.

blatantly offending isnt freedom of speech