A NEW art exhibition which features two of the world’s most infamous tyrants is creating waves.
The Doug Fishbone and Friends Adventureland Golf - a miniature golf course, which has been installed at Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery, has sparked outrage among the Jewish community, which branded it distasteful.
The controversial artwork features a saluting Heil Hitler hole, created by shock artists Jake and Dinos Chapman, and Doug Fishbone’s hole which recreates the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
Ray Cook, honorary secretary for the Jewish Representative Council for Manchester and the region, including Blackpool, has taken a swing at the “bad judgement” of the exhibition.
He said: “It’s in poor taste by the exhibitors.
“After 65 years people may feel these things can be made into jokes but memories of that era last longer than 65 years.
“It trivialises that particular person. We have to be careful about this sort of thing.
“I don’t think we’re in a position to demand it be withdrawn, it’s a free country and people can do what they want if it’s not breaking the law.
“But we feel it is inappropriate and insulting. It is bad judgement by the exhibitors.”
Those behind the exhibition, led by London-based American artist Fishbone and the Nova Festival of Arts and Music, say they sought the views of war veterans who thought the idea of aiming balls at the man who ran a murderous regime was fitting as it mocked the dictator.
The nine-hole course, which will be on show at the Queen Street gallery until October, also features a green monster, desert island and a boarded up library.
Coun Graham Cain, cabinet member for tourism and culture at Blackpool Council, said: “Since the exhibit opened on Saturday we’ve had a really positive response and lots of people trying out the adventure golf course.
“We spoke to the Greater Manchester Jewish Society to explain the purpose of the exhibition and provided them with information and images so they can make their own judgement, which we completely respect. Adventureland Golf won’t appeal to everyone and we understand that.”
Click here to read The Gazette’s original story on the exhibition:
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