London: An art gallery in northwest England has found itself at the centre of a controversy after displaying a statue depicting Jesus Christ in a sexually explicit manner.

The sculpture by gay Chinese-born artist Terence Koh, being exhibited by the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, is inviting complaints from Christian religious leaders and visitors alike.

The exhibition, entitled Gone, Yet Still , features 74 different plaster models of people or objects which Koh, 30, claims to have been important in his life. Other than the statue of Christ, there are models of Mickey Mouse and ET. They have also been shown in a sexually explicit way.

The centre, which opened in 2003 after a 35 million pounds grant from the Arts Council, has placed signs outside the exhibition warning people of the works explicit nature. Also included in the exhibition are works by the Turner Prize-nominated artists Tracey Emin and Mark Titchner.

The works come from the private collection of Newcastle-born Anita Zabludowicz, the Sunday Times reported.

So far the gallery has received four written complaints. Others have complained verbally. "For Christians the image of Jesus is very special and to interpret it in a sexualised way is an affront to what we hold dear," said Rev Christopher Warren of St Mary's Catholic cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne.

"While Jesus was a human being in every way, to portray him this way will offend".

The row is the latest in a line of controversies to hit the Baltic. In September, police were called after complaints about a picture of two young nude girls in a photo exhibition. It was owned by Sir Elton John, who then withdrew it.

Source : PTI