Terence Koh, the provocative Canadian darling of the New York art scene, has aroused controversy in Britain after a top gallery displayed one of his sculptures showing Jesus with an erect penis.

©Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images
Terence Koh has generated outrage but also acclaim in London and New York.


Media reported that Mr. Koh's statue at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead "has offended Christians and visitors alike."

Mr. Koh's depiction of Jesus is the centrepiece of a sculptural display titled "Gone, Yet Still."

It features 74 glass-encased plaster models of cultural icons -- some of which are also cast in an aroused state-- ranging from Michelangelo's David to Mickey Mouse and the movie alien E.T.

The exhibition has prompted calls from one Christian advocacy group in the U.K. for the "blasphemous" statue to be destroyed.

"Koh has previously exhibited work with a pornographic theme, so there must be a lot going on in his mind and his life which, ironically, badly needs the saving and healing grace of Jesus Christ," Stephen Green, director of the group Christian Voice, said in a statement condemning the Baltic Centre for "ridiculing the Son of God."

Mr. Green also targeted the centre's annual $6-million, taxpayer-funded budget and said the exhibition "reveals all that is wrong with the arts in the United Kingdom."

Rev. Christopher Warren, a Catholic priest from nearby Newcastle, told the Daily Mail newspaper that "for Christians, the image of Jesus is very special, and to interpret it in a sexualized way is an affront to what we hold dear."

But yesterday, Baltic Centre spokeswoman Ann Cooper said that Mr. Koh's artwork will remain on display until the exhibition ends Jan. 20. Ms. Cooper added that visitors to the gallery are warned that they may be confronted by images of "a sexual or violent nature" in the exhibition.

"Contemporary art by its very nature is often challenging and controversial; reflecting and responding to some very serious personal and social issues in modern life," the gallery said in a statement. "Baltic does not shy away from presenting such works."

The statement also noted that the image of Jesus was originally part of a much larger artwork completed by Mr. Koh in 2005.

"It is a small section taken from a much larger piece which, in its original form, filled an entire room, with the artist's bed being at the centre of the room," the statement said. "It represented a mausoleum -- a room the artist wanted to die in. The glass boxes are all filled with things he wanted to watch over him and protect him. The statue of Jesus Christ is at the top of the structure, above everything else, and therefore watching over everything, including the artist."

The gallery said it would not release an image of Mr. Koh's controversial artwork.

Mr. Koh could not be reached for comment. But in a profile published last year, Mr. Koh said, "People seem even more fascinated by my prices these days than by what I do ย… I know a lot of people hate me for it, thinking of me having success and having money and commanding these prices, but it doesn't stop me."

The Chinese-born, Vancouver-raised artist -- whose creations are sometimes smeared with his own blood or semen -- has generated outrage but also acclaim in London and New York. His works have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars and he's been described as one of modern art's fastest rising stars.