Austrian Cathedral's 'Birthing Virgin Mary' Exhibit Sparks Blasphemy Controversy and Vandalism

 On July 3rd (local time), according to The Washington Post and other sources, the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in Linz, Austria, removed the sculpture 'Enthroned' by contemporary artist Esther Strauß on July 1st.

The artwork was dismantled just a day after it was exhibited inside the cathedral because vandals broke in during the early morning hours and decapitated the statue of the Virgin Mary.

The damaged artwork depicted the Virgin Mary sitting on a rock giving birth to Jesus, a stark departure from the traditionally beautiful and sacred depictions of Mary in religious art, which caused the controversy.

In the sculpture, the Virgin Mary is shown with her skirt hiked up and legs spread in the typical position women assume during childbirth, with her face contorted in labor pains.

Additionally, the sculpture did not idealize Mary's body, instead presenting a raw depiction of a pregnant woman's bulging belly and thick legs.

Due to these reasons, the artwork drew criticism from some Catholic groups even before the exhibition. Although it was part of a thematic exhibition on women's and family's roles and gender equality and was intended to be a temporary installation, critics argued it was inappropriate for display in a cathedral.

An online petition claiming the artwork was blasphemous and demanding its removal garnered more than 12,000 signatures.

In response to the vandalism, the Diocese of Linz stated, "We knew this work would be controversial," and added, "We regret if the piece has hurt the faith of some believers, but we strongly condemn the act of attacking artistic freedom and vandalizing the artwork."

Esther Strauß, the female artist who conceived the piece, argued, "The image of the Virgin Mary in traditional art has mostly been created by men and is confined within the patriarchal system," and added, "In my work, the Virgin Mary has reclaimed her own body."

Theresa Limburger, who sculpted the piece based on Strauß's concept, commented, "I expected controversy, but I never imagined the work would be destroyed."

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