An exhibition in Modena, Italy, featuring a controversial painting that appeared to show Christ in a provocative pose sparked outrage and culminated in a violent incident last week. The artwork, by Andrea Saltini, became the focal point of anger when a destructive act occurred at the Museo Diocesano, located in the historical Church of Sant’Ignazio in Carpi, which has been deconsecrated. Critics condemned the piece as "blasphemous," leading to a petition for the exhibition's early termination, which quickly amassed over 30,000 supporters. The situation escalated when an unidentified assailant, concealed with a mask, attacked the artwork by slashing and defacing it with black paint.
Saltini, present during the assault, confronted the vandal in an attempt to protect his work but was injured in the process, sustaining a neck injury from the assailant's blade. Despite the immediate response from law enforcement, the perpetrator managed to escape. Local reports highlighted the discovery of the discarded knife, mask, and a black wig, hinting at the assailant's disguise, near the crime scene. Saltini received medical attention and was released from the hospital with minor injuries, requiring four stitches.
In the aftermath, Saltini's legal representative, Giuseppe Chierici, advocated for a community-wide introspection on the bounds of disagreement and the principles of free speech and thought. Saltini's desire for a respectful and open dialogue on the matter was emphasized.
The contentious piece, titled INRI (2024), is part of Saltini's "Gratia Plena" exhibition, which reinterprets well-known religious imagery. Notably, another piece, Paraclito (2024), reimagines the Pietà with an astronaut in the Virgin Mary's stead. INRI itself portrays a lifeless, naked Christ with the Roman soldier Longinus positioned controversially above him.
The act of vandalism has been widely criticized, including by Pro Vita & Famiglia, an anti-abortion group, which condemned the violence against Saltini's work. Monsignor Erio Castellucci, a prominent religious figure in the region, commented on the incident, advocating for art as a means to provoke thought and encourage dialogue rather than conflict and aggression, underscoring the importance of debate over condemnation in the face of offensive art.
Selena Mattei