Exignation in the Paderborn cathedral: Art campaign with chicken ensures scandal!

Exignation in the Paderborn cathedral: Art campaign with chicken ensures scandal!

Two weeks ago, a ceremony for the 1250th anniversary of Westphalia took place in the Paderborn Cathedral. This event attracted numerous high-ranking guests, including Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU). After speeches and musical performances, a highly expected dance performance was presented, which was rehearsed by theater educators in cooperation with the local dance theater body talk with young people from Westphalia.

The performance included a shocking staging. A woman and a half -naked man swung with scythe, while another man with a bare torso and a filled bowl performed with plucked chicken. This man sang the provocative text "Meat is meat" for the melody of the 80s hit "Live Is Life" (Opus). The performance lasted about five minutes and initially remained largely without significant reactions from the audience. Frank Tafershofer, spokesman for the Landschaftverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL), even reported applause and no complaints during the event.

violent reactions and excuses

After the event, however, the performance came into the crossfire of criticism, especially conservative Christians. Over 21,000 people signed a petition to Archbishop Bentz entitled "Against the Depreciation of the Paderborn Cathedral". The petition calls for a fine and atonement act as well as a new consecration of the cathedral. In their explanation, the Paderborn cathedral chapter and the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) regretted that the campaign violated religious feelings. They emphasized that such an effect was not intended and did not correspond to the claim to this holy place, such as katholisch.de reported.

The diocese of Paderborn officially apologized for the injured feelings and explained that there would be a revised procedure for approval of events in the cathedral in the future to ensure that the content is better checked.

art in the context of religion

The controversy raises many questions about the role of art in religious spaces. Art and religion have been closely intertwined for centuries and often have a profound spiritual meaning. Works of art serve as an expression of faith and spirituality and are often used to present the divine or to convey spiritual insights, which also becomes clear in the considerations of art and religion in modern times. This perspective is dealt with on the platform Art as science

The productions in religious places are not only creative performances, but also means of contemplation and reflection that can enrich the services and spiritual space. However, the conflict in the Paderborn Cathedral shows that not all art actions are perceived as appropriate or respectful in a church framework, which leads to a deep crack between expectations of the place and the artistic forms of expression.

Overall, the discussion about performance in the Paderborn cathedral is an impressive example of how cultural forms of expression and religious values ​​can collide. Those responsible are now facing the challenge of promoting a respectful dialogue between art and faith in the future, as it seems to show the complex relationship in art history.