BLASPHEMY art exhibition

In a recent interview with Radio NZ, I was asked if the Blasphemy law should be repealed in New Zealand.  For those that aren't aware, we have a blasphemy libel law relating to publishing only, however there has only been one case against blasphemy libel in the past 100 years, which returned a verdict of not guilty.  Recently The United Nations affirmed, through general comment No.34, that we humans have a right to blaspheme - 'Laws restricting blasphemy are incompatible with universal human standards and go against a free and democratic society.
This may be so, but the issue for me is that fundamentalist religious churches in New Zealand today, and increasingly those immigrants following Islam, still actively preach the dire consequences of blasphemy, instilling 'fear' into their followers.  Families and religious communities still revile and ostracize those that speak against, or depart from religion.  In this, Church's should be held accountable, their preachings go against an individual's right to freedom of expression and non-belief.  They are equally culpable in the violation of 'hate speech'.

'You' preacher - sold

Three main religions - Jewish, Christian, Muslim.  All following the same God, yet they vehemently deny one another. With hostility.  And from this, thousands upon thousands of separate denominations, all saying 'their' brand of religion is the 'true' word of God.  They finger point at each other - saying 'false preacher'.   The words in religious books, along with preaching...... impose judgements within the minds of followers, who in turn point their finger against those who are different, or do not fit the requirements of 'moral, good & correct'.

Torment of evil - 

Acanthus Crown - sold

The story goes, that jesus wore the crown of thorns at his crucifixion, as a humiliation.  This painting reflects on the issue of 'subjugation', and books of religion being woman's crown of 'humiliation & subjugation'.   'In principio erat verbum' (in the beginning was the word) - refers to holy books of god's  inspired word.  Inspired & written by man?

'Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful' - Seneca

Unknowing - sold

I

Crucifixio - sold

The words in the painting are not pleasant, however preachers & religious books say, if a child is not part of a christian family, and the child dies, then they spend eternity in hell.  A murderer is 'saved' and spends eternity in heaven, if he simply 'believes' in jesus.  

Calamitous - Sold

The 'loving' god apparently, yet when one considers the many violent, oppressive & contradictory writings in the Quran, Jewish & Christian bibles, it can have very 'adverse' effects to a person's 'reasons of logic', especially when it states in the bible that god is the 'creator of evil', and man is made in his image.  
Furthermore...... consider the corrupt origins of the Catholic Church, their widespread massacre/torture of those who did not support or went against their 'religious rule', and then consider the verse in religious books - 'love thy enemies'.   
  

     Oppressors Sword - $3,200  (1400x1000)
For sale

To do mainly with 'fundamentalist' Islam belief.  Enslave the soul with the word, impose judgement with the sword (com gladius imponere judicium) - latin.

Christ's bride - $1,900

Inspired by ex-priest - Bernard Frosenborg - his book 1904 - 'Thirty years in hell - from darkness to light'.  An expose of the horrendous goings-on within the catholic church.  The title of the painting 'Christ's bride', refers to the church, setting themselves up as the 'Universal church', in partnership with Jesus the 'son of god'.  The 'ultimate' blasphemy according to Jewish leaders.  'Lies woven in her devil's loom' is a line from the book.

True trinity - sold

Imago Dei - image of god.  The church steeple with its pagan origins.  Christianity is the only religion that embraces the 'trinity' (father, son, holy ghost).  To many, the 'true' trinity is about Power, Religion & politics - to control the masses.  Followers are pawns - easily manipulated, of lowest value.

Adoratio - sold

God worshipping 'woman'.  Tongue in cheek, having a bit of fun here.   However....... who or what is god?  God - a 'word' to keep simple minds content and happy - an easy answer to 'who did it'?  Religious books, written by men,  say that 'they' were created in god's image, women came second.  Yet we women are the ones 'giving life'.  The initial basis for religion, based on 'myth', was a time of goddess worship.

Domine Deus - latin for 'Lord God'.  Lady Divine - earth mother, or goddess. 

The Adam Painting - Sold

The first painting done in the 'Blasphemy' series.  This painting initiated my 'second' name & double identity, when my husband stated he didn't want it shown using 'his' name (my name also for over 20 years).  My husband and his family belong to one of N.Z.s more fundamentalist churches.  

It was then refused by the Nelson Art Awards as being 'offensive' to community audience.  I wrote a letter asking them to reconsider, saying it was based on 'truth' and said that sometimes the truth 'is' offensive.  They declined again.  N.Z.'s famous art critic - Hamish Keith - wrote an article about their decision, saying it was a sad day for the arts,  that Nelson Arts Council would be better suited to running a 'cup cake award'.  

Seven Sins - Sold

S A L I G I A - latin representation of the seven deadly sins.  Color representation here, red-sin, gold-glory, black-corruption.  The Catholic/Christian church, holds itself out to be the 'universal/ultimate/absolute' church of God.  Do people ever ask how this widespread belief became so accepted?

Researching religion & its heritage is a fascinating subject, learning of the church's fallacious origins, its violent and oppressive history, and it's deployment of 'The Crusades' (their armies), in enforcing 'their' religion as being the 'true' word of god, gives insight into how the 'prominence' of the church came about.  The Crusades, massacred, tortured, raped and oppressed millions, all in the name of 'God', over a span of several hundred years.

Realism & 'studies'

'Maserati 250F' commission - sold

Joie de Vivre - Peoples Choice Award - sold

Josephine's profile - Supreme Award - NFS

Goldie 'study' - NFS

Descendent of Makareti - NFS

Napoleon over the Mount - 'study' NFS

Nichola Romney is a

descendent of George Romney - english painter

Lady Hamilton, the lover & companion of Lord 

Nelson (below),  and also loved passionately

by George Romney, who did numerous paintings of her.

Lord Nelson

George Romney - Famous english artist

http://scandalouswoman.blogspot.com/2010/07/when-george-met-emma-author-jo-manning.html