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A former Derry MLA says he is outraged and appalled over an exhibition opening in the city tomorrow which includes a photograph depicting Christ on the Crucifix bathed in the artist's urine.

Immersion 'Piss Christ' – a large photograph of a small plastic crucifix submerged in a jar of urine - is the controversial work of American artist Andres Serrano. It makes up part of his Torture exhibition which opens at Derry's Void Gallery on Saturday.

Former MLA, Pat Ramsey, who describes himself as 'a very proud Catholic' and member of the Catholic Cursillo Community in Derry, says he finds the work of art 'appalling' and 'deeply offensive'.

“Many people of faith and who are Christian are deeply offended by this,” said Mr Ramsey.

“Artistry or no artistry, it is very disrespectful. I would not want to see this. I find it appalling that someone would be so disrespectful to people who believe in God. From speaking to Catholic friends today on this, many of them are sickened, finding it disgraceful and deeply offensive that someone would come into this city and treat Jesus Christ so disrespectfully. The artist should reflect on this and the adverse opinion that is coming in.”

Immersion ‘Piss Christ’ catapulted Serrano, who was brought up a Catholic and is a practising Christian, to fame in the late 1980’s. He told the Daily Mirror that he did not create Immersion ‘Piss Christ’ to be controversial.

“Immersion ‘Piss Christ’ is a reflection of my work, not only as an artist, but as a Christian,” he said.

“My use of bodily fluids in connection with religion is just my way of personalising religion for myself, exploring my relationship with God and my catholic upbringing and the ambivalences I have about that.”

MLA Eamonn McCann said that the work was not offensive, but reverent, and called on everyone to go and view it for themselves.

“Anyone who comes to the Void Gallery will see that Piss Christ is a work of great beauty and tenderness,” he said.

“And I find it very difficult to believe that any person of ordinary sensibility would find it offensive. It is not offensive, it is reverent. My interpretation is that it is making a statement about there being nothing sacred in this world any more, when people are being tortured in prison cells. This is a wonderful, powerful exhibition which everyone should go and see.”

Void Gallery Director, Maoliosa Boyle said the gallery has never shied away from controversial or challenging work but sees the role of the gallery to facilitate and provide a space where “freedom of speech, difficult conversations and important discussions can take place”.

“Void values its audiences and wider community and embraces opportunities for discourse around its exhibitions,” she said.

“Void exhibits the work of established Irish and International artists and throughout the last year we have had a strong theme running through all of our exhibitions of social justice. Andres Serrano’s work reinforces this as it looks at the abject horror and injustice of torture.”

The exhibition opens at Void Gallery, in Derry's Patrick Street, on Saturday at 7.30pm.