POLETEISMO: ART OR SACRILEGE – Group 3 How does one sees art? Some might see it based merely on its appearance, and some might see it on its sense, beauty, and its underlying message of history, culture, life, and reality. Mideo Cruz stirred debates and triggered many people because of his controversial work of art “Poleteismo”, an art of mixed religious-portraying images. Many Christians expressed anger and hatred towards him and his art accusing him of blasphemy, immorality and abuse of freedom of expression, and even calling his art “garbage”. In a work of art, it is already expected that the artist’s own beliefs, ideology, values, and perception may contrast with societal values. In this paper, we will validate that Mideo Cruz's "Poleteismo" is an art, regardless of societal norms and values. Art is a clear-cut form of communication that occupies a significant place in evolving societies like ours. However, art in our society has little way out but to patiently carve a place for itself in a social environment that still regards artwork as marginal to human communication. In judging an art, one must be open-minded. The purpose of art is to convey meanings through images and representation of creations that cannot be easily grasped or rendered in ordinary language. It is able to achieve this through an act of intuition by which it unmasks the "illusionism of the world" and transcends what is instantly offered to interpretation. Appreciation of art or styles changes over time and that new or different art or styles can come to be appreciated. The general negative taste of society usually changes with more exposure. Still, taste remains subjective. Art is subjective, it can be interpreted in many different ways which can be unethical or ethical to another which also making it vulnerable to ethical judgement. Even with burst of criticisms, Poleteismo’s message and genuine intent makes it relevant as an art. Poleteismo’s exhibition have marked the increasing tension between freedom of artistic expression and religious tolerance and sensitivity. Kant’s concept of aesthetics defines artists as a free and independent ‘genius’. One who creates new forms, produces original art, and gives rule to art breaking rules and creating breakthrough for new possibilities in the world of arts. The modern artist is now no longer an integrated member of society and it is the artist themselves who is the real subject of every work of art. This has been supported by Friedrich Schiller who famously remarked, “Art is the daughter of freedom” as one of the philosophers who have studied Kant. Aristotle implies that art aims to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. “I wanted to provoke people into thinking. I titled my work ‘Poleteismo’ which loosely translates into ‘many beliefs’ or ‘many deities’.” He further explained that his intention in his art "Poleteismo" is to show his idea of the evolution of Christian worship and idolatry in the Philippines and certainly not to mock Jesus Christ. This explanation of Mideo Cruz’s regarding his work shows how deep his concept of the Philippines is. Through art, he wanted to express this to the public and made them aware of the reality of the Philippine systems as opposed to how others think that he is committing a sacrilegious act. As Oscar Wilde has put it, “there is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is all.” Morality is never a factor in art, and since art is not something limited by morality, Poleteismo is certainly an art even if Filipinos deem his work as immoral and sacrilegious (Fortaleza 2011). As we can see, art undeniably had the ability to shock, and as a source of social provocation, art will continue to shock audiences. Art is boundless and having a freedom of expression which may provoke audience’s perspective by an art that is politically, socially and religiously challenging but nevertheless, it does not take away from experiencing or appreciating its essence nor emphasizing the ethical values of an artist. The artist’s purpose is to express, regardless of how the subject matter may be interpreted. Mideo Cruz’s “Poleteismo” may be a failure to some eyes but nevertheless, it is an art. Bibliography Fortaleza, Rye. “Arts Artium.” Into Pandemonium. https://intopandemonium.wordpress.com/tag/arts/ November 14, 2011.
