Entertainment

‘Extraordinary’ museum of censored art opens in Spain

The objects are part of a collection belonging to Tatxo Benet, a Catalan businessman

Published

7 months ago

October 28, 2023

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'Extraordinary' museum of censored art opens in Spain

A crucified Ronald McDonald clown and sketches by former Guantanamo prisoners take pride of place at a new museum in Spain devoted to previously censored art.

The private Museum of Forbidden Art, which opened to the public in Barcelona on Thursday, features 42 works from around the world that have been denounced, attacked or removed from exhibition.

Works by artists such as Spanish master Francisco de Goya, US cultural icon Andy Warhol and Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei are spread over two floors.

The objects are part of a collection of 200 such works belonging to Tatxo Benet, a Catalan businessman.

While they push boundaries and often sparked controversy, Benet said this was not enough to be included in the museum, located in the centre of the Catalan capital, one of the world’s most visited cities.

“We don’t collect or show scandalous or controversial works in the museum. We show works in the museum that have been censored, assaulted, violated, banned,” he told AFP.

“Works that have a history behind them, without that history they wouldn’t be here,” he added.

‘ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE’

Many works deal with religion, such as Finnish artist Jani Leinonen’s “McJesus” of a Ronald McDonald sculpture crucified to a wooden cross, which was withdrawn from a museum in Israel.

Benet, one of the founders of Spanish multimedia group Mediapro, said he started building his collection in 2018 when he bought an installation called “Political Prisoners in Contemporary Spain”.

It consisted of black-and-white photos with pixellated faces of people who had broken the law, among them Catalan separatist leaders who faced legal action over a failed 2017 secession bid.

The work, by Spanish artist Santiago Sierra, was pulled from a Madrid art fair just two hours after Benet bought it. It is now on display at another museum in the Catalan city of Lleida.

The museum also displays paintings and sketches by former prisoners at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, including one of the Statue of Liberty submerged in water with only the hand holding a torch and top of the crown visible.

The US government ordered that art made by inmates at the detention centre would have to be destroyed when they are released after an exhibition of works in New York in 2017 sparked controversy.

“Any artist who can’t show their work because someone prevents them from doing so is an artist who is censored, and therefore will always have a place in this museum,” Benet said.

‘AMAZED’

Benet was speaking a few metres from a self-portrait of late US artist Chuck Close, known for his massive photorealistic portraits.

The National Gallery of Art in Washington gave up dedicating an exhibition to Close’s works after several women accused him of sexually harassing them several years earlier when they came to his studio to pose.

Benet said having so many controversial works together caused visitors’ “levels of tolerance to widen and the level of scandal of the work to be lowered”.

Corinna Dechateaubourg, a 56-year-old German who was visiting from Hamburg on the exhibition’s opening day, said she kept looking up more information on the works on her mobile phone.

“I’m amazed, it’s extraordinary, it’s really interesting,” she told AFP.

Montserrat Izquierdo, a 67-year-old Spaniard, said “it is good to be able to see what is forbidden, what you are not allowed to see normally”.

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Entertainment

Netizens start blocking Alia Bhatt for keeping mum on Gaza crisis

Published

23 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Netizens start blocking Alia Bhatt for keeping mum on Gaza crisis

The India actor is accused of not speaking out against genocide in Gaza.

Alia has seemingly landed on the ‘Blockout 2024’ list for not addressing the mounting criticism on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Alia Bhatt is in the headlines after her Met Gala 2024 appearance as she has been receiving hatred for keeping mum on the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

Bollywood actress, Alia Bhatt has been making the headlines for her stunning appearance at the Met Gala 2024.

The actress’ popularity has skyrocketed after her show-stopping appearance on the red carpet, with everyone talking about her surreal look.

However, now, Alia has seemingly landed on the ‘Blockout 2024’ list for not addressing the mounting criticism on the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Like many other Hollywood celebrities, Alia Bhatt has allegedly been accused of keeping mum about the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
And now, her name has popped up in the ‘Blockout 2024’ movement, which has been going viral on TikTok.

For the unversed, netizens have started this phenomenon on social media, wherein they are ‘blocking’ celebrities who have been indifferent to the plight of the people of Palestine and Israel amidst the ongoing conflict.

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Entertainment

Why Inaya Khan does not bother reading comments of men followers on Instagram

Published

23 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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Why Inaya Khan does not bother reading comments of men followers on Instagram

Appearing on a podcast, showbiz star Inaya Khan has said she does not bother reading comments from male followers on her Instagram posts, because most of their messages pertain to marriage.

Inaya Khan revealed that despite having a significant number of male followers on Instagram, she only pays attention to comments from her female followers, with her cousins informing her about them.

Khan shared that she often receives messages from male followers claiming her as their wife, to which she humorously responded that she is currently single and content.

While marriage is not her current focus, Khan expressed her admiration for the saree, a clothing item her mother taught her to wear and manage.

In a previous appearance on the same show, Khan admitted to having crushes on A-list actors Mikaal Zulfiqar and Feroze Khan, particularly praising Zulfiqar’s personality and character traits.

Khan, known for her roles in dramas such as ‘Khoat’ and ‘Mere Apne’, detailed the qualities she desires in a life partner, emphasizing loyalty and a caring nature.

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Entertainment

Is Ayeza Khan retiring from showbiz?

Published

23 hours ago

May 16, 2024

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As the last episode of drama series ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ is just around the corner, fans want to know about the future of Ayeza Khan who in a message on Instagram had said ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ was her last project.

Ayeza Khan, celebrated for her stunning performances, has been a part of several hit dramas.

With a career spanning over a decade, Ayeza has charmed audiences with her acting prowess.

Currently, Ayeza is making headlines for her role in the popular drama series ‘Jaan-e-Jahan,’ where she stars alongside Hamza Ali Abbasi.

The show has garnered immense popularity, captivating viewers in both Pakistan and India. As many as 38 episodes have aired so far and the last episode is just around the corner.

However, amidst the drama’s success, fans are left wondering about Ayeza’s future projects.

Her Instagram story that she posted in November 2023, hinting at a possible departure from the industry, resurfaces.

In the said post, Ayeza referred to ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ as her ‘last project,’ sparking rumours about her retirement from acting.

Ayeza Khan’s journey in the entertainment world began with her debut in ‘Tum Jo Miley’ in 2009.

However, it was her portrayal of ‘Farah Ibrahim’ in the 2013 drama ‘Pyarey Afzal, opposite acclaimed actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, that propelled her to fame.

As speculations regarding Ayeza’s future in the industry go viral, fans eagerly await confirmation about her next move. Whether ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ marks the end of Ayeza Khan’s acting career or simply a pause in her journey remains to be seen. Only time will tell.

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