Anish Kapoor has said that antisemitic graffiti daubed on his sculpture at the Palace of Versailles will stay until his exhibition finishes in November.
Speaking to the French newspaper Le Figaro about the vandalism, which happened on Saturday night/Sunday morning, The Guardian reports that Kapoor said: “From now on, in the name of our universal principles, these abominable words will become part of my work, they will overlay it and stigmatise it.”
The large steel and rock sculpture, titled Dirty Corner but dubbed ‘the queen’s vagina’ by some, has attracted controversy since it was unveiled in June as part of an exhibition of Kapoor’s work in the Palace’s gardens. Shortly after the show opened it was splattered with yellow paint but was quickly cleaned up. This time, Kapoor is adamant that the graffiti should stay.
“I had already questioned the wisdom of cleaning it after the first vandalism,” he said. “This time, I am convinced that nothing should be removed from these slurs, from these words which belong to antisemitism that we’d rather forget.”
Kapoor also commented that the vandalism was relevant to the current refugee situation and the relationship between Europe and those fleeing the war in Syria.
“This is what leads to the exclusion of our Syrian brothers and sisters,” he said. “Shame on France for the act of a hate-filled minority! This is a violent attack against the human spirit and culture.”
More on a-n.co.uk:
Vandals attack Anish Kapoor’s vagina – but is it a sphincter? – Russell Williams explores France’s paradoxical relationship with controversial artworks
Chicago’s mayor flattered, Kapoor angered as Chinese oil bubble stirs up troubled waters
