PHOTO A sculpture showing Trump crucified on display in a Swiss town. “It's frighteningly realistic”
The sculpture depicting Trump in the gallery in Bale Photo: Eternity / Bestimage / Profimedia
Donald Trump in an orange jumpsuit of a prisoner crucified on a cross with straps used to immobilize prisoners executed by lethal injection: the provocative sculpture of the British artist Mason Storm has been exhibited for several days in a Swiss city, writes AFP.
The resin sculpture titled “Saint or Sinner” represents the US president in prison uniform with his eyes closed. His body is immobilized on a quilted white cross, slightly tilted.
The work, exhibited since Saturday in Bale, in northern Switzerland, can evoke the scene of a crucifixion for and that of an execution by lethal injection. “It is frighteningly realistic. I can say this without hesitation, because during the installation, I was very close to the result. You can see every wrinkle, the skin is so realistic that it is really disturbing,” says Konrad Breznik, owner of the Gleis 4 gallery.
Originally, this art gallery based in Zug, in central Switzerland, wanted to display the work in its headquarters in Basel's train station, but decided to display it in a less frequented space, a showcase of the Basler Kunstmeile, an exhibition space in a pedestrian zone in the city center.
More than 3,000 people passed by the window on Monday. Many of the passers-by smiled, but none were really indignant. “The fact that we can show things like this illustrates that we are in a democracy,” believes Marit, a Norwegian who lives in Bale. She believes that such a work could not be exposed to all eyes in the United States.
Breznik claims that the American president would appreciate the work: “I honestly think that Mr. Trump could very well see himself in the role of a modern Jesus (…) And I am almost certain that he himself is convinced that he is acting in the right direction.”
Londoner Mason Storm, an artist known for his very realistic sculptures and canvases, maintains his anonymity by hiding his face behind hoods or masks. His works are often compared to those of his famous compatriot Banksy.
Before reaching Bale, the work was bought by a collector, “an internationally known personality living in Europe”, but whose name has not been made public.
