­‘Blasphemous’ display enrages thousands in Belgrade (PHOTOS)

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Published time: October 04, 2012 17:54
Edited time: October 05, 2012 10:45

An exhibition presenting an alternative take on Biblical passages has opened in Belgrade amid protests from thousands of religious activists. The city had to cancel the gay pride parade fearing there won’t be enough policemen to keep order in the city.

Religious activists have taken to the streets of Belgrade to protest against the opening of Ecce Homo – a controversial display by Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin.

Photographs featured at the display recreate Biblical stories such as the Epiphany, The Last Supper and Calvary. However instead of traditional depictions of Christ and the Apostles visitors see rather unusual characters – gay people and transsexuals dressed in revealing and provocative outfits.

In the Last Supper Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin presents Jesus dressed in a lady’s dress and wearing high-heeled shoes while the Apostels wear women’s underwear and BDSM costumes.

Around two thousand policemen were present to avoid violence breaking out, as thousands took to the streets to protest.

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Irinej has already spoken out against the show, calling on state authorities to ban the “blasphemous” display, Serbian Vesti Online reports.

Serbia became the first East European state to house the controversial exhibition Ecce Homo. The first showcasing of the works was in Stockholm in 1998, sparking uproar. The project later toured Scandinavian states and some of central Europe between 1998 and 2004, stirring controversial as it went.

(Image from http://ohlson.se)

(Image from http://ohlson.se)

A Serbian ultra-nationalist waves a cross in front of the riot police as he takes part in a protest against an exhibition "Ecce Home" of photographs by Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin in Belgrade on October 3, 2012. (AFP Photo / Andrej Isakovic)

Serbian ultra-nationalists protest against an exhibition "Ecce Home" of photographs by Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin in Belgrade on October 3, 2012. (AFP Photo / Andrej Isakovic)