Holland unveils the 'Mecca of Calvin' or Calvinist Church Ka'bah Sculpture

The whole thing is of course insane - first of all - to commission artwork for the 500th birthday of John Calvin - founder of the Dutch Protestant Church - from a Muslim was in itself - foolhardy - to expect that a Muslim - could show sensitivity towards another religion - without violating his own - was perhaps a step towards cultural relativism to far. The man - who was commissioned to do a work honoring - a Christian - leader and possible Saint - built the church a Kaaba - which is of course - the main idol - at the centre of the Islamic religion - all Muslims face it to pray several times a day.

Does this strike you as similar?

To add insult to injury - and to further the charade - he gets dancers dressed in white to circle the Calvin Kaaba - a direct reflection of what takes place around the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia.

Here is the Calvinist Kaaba before he whipped the black cover off to expose the glass cube.

Not surprising Muslims believe all those who don't practise Islam are stupid !!

Stupid I think though - in not being brave enough - to say - perhaps a Christian artist would have been better suited for this sensitive religious work.


Translation from Dutch

DORDRECHT - The Court in Dordrecht, behind the Augustinian Church, home since Friday a large mirror cube. A Calvin Ka'bah in the City? "You say it."

Yesterday afternoon, something to celebrate. The century-old houses on the Court reflect soft newageachtige [new age music] music. A group of predominantly white-clad people-professional dancers, as shown later, to indemnify the 4 meter high cube in the middle of the square around. Lap after lap after lap [around the cube] ... Gradually add themselves more interested in them. All they get a large white shawl, with the name of Aziz (Bekkaoui), the Moroccan-Dutch artist who "live performance" has invented. Two police officers keep an eye on things.

And that is perhaps not superfluous, says Abdel Nassiri, who introduces himself as spokesman of Bekkaoui. Nassiri: "This morning, a Molotov cocktail into the artwork found. Fortunately that is not going off - but fear you. "

Objections

The unveiling of Aziz 'artwork entitled "The Mecca of Calvin" was originally scheduled for June 12. That this took place only yesterday, was, according to the invitation of the Center for Visual Arts in Dordrecht, caused by "confusion about a license that eventually proved necessary to place the cube and objections to this installation. These concerns focus on associate the name of Calvin with the name of the main pilgrimage of Islam. Especially from orthodox religious circles is taken offense to the title of the performance and installation. "

Nassiri can all commotion "express some proposals," he says. "But we have said from the first moment that this work is intended not provocative. That people or explain as, yes ... "

However, some artwork, this title, at this location that has something provocative?

"Look, Dordrecht want on the map as a city of Calvinism. You can also say: as the center of Calvinism. So, as it also says, as the Mecca of Calvinism. So it is intended. As Paris is the Mecca of fashion. "

However, the Kaaba, which is pretty much the symbol of Islam.

"No, that's not the Kaaba. The prophet is a symbol of Islam, so if you can say. The Kaaba is not. In addition: there is only one Kaaba, which is in Mecca. Here is a Kaaba in, and I may. Another looks at a simple cube. Again, I understand the commotion is, Christians see this as the holy place of Christianity. However, it is a matter of interpretation. Art is something for everyone else. And then there is probably someone who did not agree. But fortunately that may in the Netherlands. "

With his "performance" at the Court Aziz has no religious statement to make, also stresses the Dordrecht Visual Arts Center. "Aziz would convey the idea that Calvinist values of origin typically are not exclusive to the Calvinism of our national culture, but with different outlooks and different cultures and nationalities are shared. The belief that as human beings must work hard, be dedicated and occasionally hard on yourself, is actually of all times and religions. "Nassiri:" Even devout Muslims can be very Calvinist. "


Religious tolerance

Meanwhile, the group circles-around-the-cube-border people have grown further. It is quarter past four, half past four. "If it takes a long time ..." sighs a radio reporter.

"This is something Aziz often does with live performances," explains to his spokesman. "Involving People, create unity. Each in its own pace. "

Ten about half past four. The music playing has become louder. Someone from the organization took the floor. It's about Calvin and his significance. "In terms of religious tolerance was not a forerunner John Calvin," it sounds. "It was a child of his time. But in many other respects he was a true innovator. "

Suddenly comes the black cloth - and the actual cube is visible. A cube of mirrors. "The whole way Mecca is now," said Nassiri down. "Now it is more a mirror. And inside, a tree. This symbolizes life, growth. "

"The performance is over." FNV president Agnes Jongerius shares, as a lasting memory, blue "mecca-of-Calvin" bracelets from. Nassiri: "Let's hope that he remains the next four weeks."[+]