Pornographic art on display in Canada gallery

Sending out a message that erotic art is not dying, a gallery in Toronto is displaying a pornographic art with explicit images of women engaged in various sex acts, media reported.

"We support artists' rights to freedom of expression. It is not our practice to censor works," Toronto Sun quoted John B. Aird Gallery as saying.

The controversial collage by Rosalie H. Maheux is shaped like a cathedral window that, when examined closely, contains explicit pornographic images.

A notice posted at the gallery door at Queen's Park warns visitors, "Exhibit contains images intended for a mature audience." The sign will remain in place until the end of the exhibition, July 24. The exhibition features the work of artists under the age of 30.

A note from Maheux posted next to the piece, Sacred Circles VI, says it depicts the conflict between the sacred and the profane.

"Mandalas and sacred circles are symbols of life, purity and glorification of God in many cultures and religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism or Christianity. The use of hardcore pornographic images in the creation of these highly detailed patterns goes against the original meanings of the sacred circle by creating an ambiguous dialogue between attraction and repulsion," Maheux said.

"However, depending on the viewer's perception/perversion the object can be the pornographic image and the subject, the sacred circle," she added.