Vandalism of art is one thing. But if it is “sacred art”, especially if it comes from West Africa, then the “fun” stops. Perpetrators have to fear for life and limb because of a curse placed on them. Spiritualism has long since become part of everyday life.
Inhalt / Content
Column artwork damaged
An incident at an art exhibition shows that there can be much more “philosophy” behind the presentation of pictures, figures and symbols than just the display of the products of particularly talented people. “It’s just art” doesn’t seem to apply and at this point one wonders what motives actually drive the exhibitors and organizers.
In Polling, in Pfaffenwinkel in Upper Bavaria, for those who are actually interested is the artist column hall “STOA169” constructed. A permanent facility for displaying 121 designed columns. Last weekend, vandals tampered with this art exhibition and damaged a column of African artwork. It is a column by the artist George Adeagbo from Benin, West Africa. He called his work “The Forest of the Gods” (Source).
The perpetrators are threatened with a curse
The vandals took six Ibeji figures from the column. These are therefore depicted deceased twin children. According to the beliefs of the Yoruba, a people of West Africa, predominantly in Benin and southwest Nigeria, these are “holy” figures. Desecration of “holy figures” places a curse on the perpetrator. These twins are carriers of a common soul. According to Yoruba belief, if one of the twins dies, the parents sit down and make such an Ibeji figure. This maintains contact with the soul of the deceased and survivors are under their protection.
The vandals have therefore exposed themselves to such a curse. You have to expect misfortunes and illnesses. This warning about the curse for the wrongdoers in Polling does not come from the ranks of the Yoruba people who believe in ghosts, but from the director of this art exhibition, Bernd Zimmer. He was horrified by the crime and pointed out the great dangers that the perpetrators had exposed themselves to.
Zimmer himself is a painter and created this art project in Polling between 2017 and 2021. The aim of this exhibition is to set an example for international understanding, solidarity and respect for nature.
Much more than just “art”
If you believe in ghosts of the dead, which also have the potential to put a curse on living people, then the question arises as to whether it would be negligent to declare such a source of danger as art, not to put up warning signs and at least for to ensure a minimum level of security.
At least the leader of this art project seems to have such a belief. His warning about the impending curse on the perpetrators shows this clearly. However, it is hardly surprising that there is a Catholic monastery in the same place and that this institution of the self-proclaimed “Body of Christ” is not bothered by the “art” that is obviously based on paganism. Pope Francis, the “representative on earth”, has a heart that is wide open for such spirits, the afterlife and souls of the deceased.
Be it the Pachamama of the indigenous peoples of Brazil (Info) or the shamans in Mongolia, Francis welcomes them all with outstretched arms (Info). A “cosmopolitan openness” that is an example, also for the World Economic Forum in 2024, which appointed a shaman to kick off the event (Info).
Spiritualism has long been “normality”
In the Church of Rome, spiritualism is an integral part of its dogmas. One may euphemistically call this “veneration of the saints and intercessions of Mary,” but it is what it is, the adoration of the dead. The very belief that humans have an immortal soul that separates from the body after death is pure spiritualism. The Gospel does not provide any such information (Info).
Just as spiritualism is anchored in the genes of the Roman Catholic Church, the once Protestant churches have also adopted this paganism. Something like this on a “secular” level, as such an “art” exhibition in Polling tries to suggest, clearly shows how manifest this spiritualism already is in society.
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
Bible verses from King James Version
