ARTIST and VISION

The Cloisters Last Supper/Inversion of the Sacred Triptych Series. c. 2004 - present

Currently MeToo movement tsunami have pounded rigid misogyny cliffs of Catholic Church. In Philadelphia Catholic clergy sexual abuse issues had suddenly exploded as it had happened in 2002 in Boston. Such huge scandalous Catholic clergy sexual abuse issues in Philadelphia has caught Pope Francis in a profoundly challenging situation. Recently Pope Francis tried to defend abusive priestin South America. Unfortunate he had admitted he had made grave mistake. He had invited a few victims from South America to Vatican and he asked forgiveness.

In retrospect in the early 1990 I started my Confessional Series. Basic concept of clergy sex abuse theme started then. By the time 2000 approached the seed of The Cloisters Last Supper Series was ready to sprout as a major project for the artist’s career. It took a few decades to complete the nine large triptych series. To investigate Catholic clerical sex abuse issues in relation to MeToo movement issues that concerns me is the most is Pope Francis has been caught in two sides of the institution. Basic human dilemma as in such chaotic challenging time Catholic Church authoritative institution has tried to dictate individual’s sexual preference, gender and moral issues. To bring out compelling cultural issues on my Last Supper Series’ table it may be an appropriate way to look at the issues and start an i-depth dialogue.

The Vatican's history and culture as an institution with a worldwide influence has raised many questions, especially since fundamental human equality issues have always been at the top of my priorities list. How does Catholic Church’s teaching of celibacy would fit to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel’s paintings? How could nudity depicted abundantly in those masterpieces would not support gay and the same sex marriage stances? Putting these puzzles together I see how brilliantly but absolutely secretively the Vatican has hidden the records of the institutionalized clergy sexual abuse but the church has evaded clerical sex abuse issue in historical context. They had a long history of practiced institutionalized practice for centuries. How all these bits of historical information can finally be knitted together today where a medieval era church meets a new generation of iPhone and iPad culture the transparent walls.

- Dr. Masami Teraoka 10/21/18