April, 2008: Austrian artist Alfred Hrdlicka stirred controversy with his depiction of The Last Supper as a "homosexual orgy." The last supper is the term used to describe Jesus of Nazareth's final meal with the Apostles before being arrested and crucified.
The artwork was part of an exhibit titled "Religion, Flesh and Power" that was displayed in the museum at Vienna's Roman Catholic Cathedral.
After receiving many complaints, the piece was taken down. It was not the only controversial work of art in the collection, however. A work depicting Jesus naked on the cross with no face is among the other provocative and homoerotic pictures and sculptures.
Alfred Hrdlicka Facts
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Hrdlicka is an atheist
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Many complaints called the works blasphemous
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Work is being compared to Muhammad cartoon controversy
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Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn said removing the work was not censorship
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Drew the Last Supper scene in 1984 as a tribute to Pier Paolo PasoliniMSNBC: Furor, Debate Over Jesus Orgy Drawing
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Leonardo da Vinci painted one of the most famous Last Supper depictions
