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Henri
de Toulouse-Lautrec and Jesus Christ
by
Alain Le Quernec
My
"Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec" poster has recently been removed
from the exhibition at the Wilanow Poster Museum, following pressure
brought by catholic extremists, and this despite the fact that it
received the Gold medal award. As far as I am concerned, the poster
has just been honored a second time: it has served to highlight
that which I despise most of all in the world: religious fanaticism,
regardless of the religion in question.
This fanaticism is the same that condemns dynamites the statues
of Buddha in Afghanistan, builds Jewish colonies in Palestine, and
burns books in Nazi Germany. This is the religious fanaticism that
is never far from far-right nationalism, indeed, from fascism itself.
I often ask myself what purpose serve my posters - small, mocking
messages - and even if the Warsaw International Poster Biennial
is the most prestigious in the world, its medals will never be more
than melting chocolate in a game of "did-you-see-me-there",
one day recipient of a prize, the next day serving on the jury,
a little circus with the same old clowns.
I accept the game, but it's just a game and above all, I do not
want to take it too seriously....
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is considered one of the fathers of the
modern poster. To celebrate the centenary of his death and honor
his memory, 100 poster designers throughout the world were asked
to offer a tribute to their "grandfather".
The image of this great artist is often associated with clichÈs
of the Parisian life, that of pleasure, and also that of whores
and brothels. As I worked on this subject, I wished to stand apart
from others who would certainly evoke that image, that of the Parisian
life. I preferred to recall that Toulouse-Lautrec's life was a life
of pain, of physical pain following a childhood accident which made
him a dwarf for the rest of his life. Whatever his life was like
in Paris, I know how important his visits with his mother were,
in the south of France (at one moment, I considered doing a pieta...).
In using the image of the crucifixion, I recalled the symbolism
of suffering, of bodily suffering, this image that the catholic
church has multiplied for us to excess, even with seeming delight
(self-flagellation, thorns, and so on...), and which has become
for us a symbol in and of itself. In using this symbol, I wanted
to make others understand his suffering. Where is the offense? Where
is the offense to religion?
I am not the master of others' points of view. While others speak
of Toulouse-Lautrec in joking terms, I wanted to talk of his pain...
this was my choice. Some approved of this approach, this sensitivity,
by honoring it with the Gold medal. Nonetheless, I accept that others
may find it stupid, inappropriate, even offensive. Since I have
never accepted that anyone can dictate my point of view, I do not
pretend to dictate that of others. This is the meaning of individual
liberty.
In wishing to remove my work, the little fanatics do me honor. They
are providing publicity for my poster; those who did not notice
it before will want to see it. All this I know, and that is why
I will not scream out against this act of censure. I would feel
cheap advertising such a scandal because only my insignificant self
would profit from it.
Nonetheless, I would very much like to scream because these people
exist all over the world, in Warsaw, in Paris, in Tel Avis or in
Kabul. They frighten me, I am ashamed of them, they hurt me. I love
Poland because I have lived there. I love Poland for its culture,
which permitted it to survive even when it was split in the west
as in the east. I love the Poland of Wajda, Tomaszewki, Kantor,
Abakanowicz and so many others, who, even during the Communist period,
caused its culture to shine around the world... even the Communist
censure, as stupid as it was, hesitated sometimes before attempting
to forbid a cultural work...
There is nothing more to add. May heaven keep these people, who
pretend to be religious, but who do not represent their religion,
and in fact, represent only the worst aspect of it, that of the
Inquisition, from ever taking power in Poland, in France or in Afghanistan.
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