Lars Vilks, of Sweden, is an academically trained art theorist having earned a PhD in art history from Lund University in 1987. In 1988 he moved to Norway and worked at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts until 1993. From 1997 to 2003, he was a professor in art theory at the Bergen National Academy of the Arts. A self-taught artist and mostly an outsider in the Swedish art scene, he creates various types of art ranging from sculptures and paintings to drawings. When his work is discussed by media and art world insiders, it is seen as deliberately provocative.
He has described himself as an equal opportunity critic of religion having criticized all religions in one way or another in his work but in 2007, he crossed the rubicon when he produced a series of drawings depicting the prophet Mohammad as a roundabout dog.
He’ll be speaking in Philadelphia, Ottawa, Toronto, and Boston Sept.30 – Oct.4. Details at the International Free Press Society website.
Oh Allah! I suppose now we’re in for a round of “keep him out of Canada” demonstrations,sit-ins and veiled threats from the enlightened Muslims of Canada and the progressive agitators who live to bitch.
Where will the first demo happen,U.of Ottawa,U.of Toronto, we’ll find out soon enough.
I guess we can expect all our political Leaders to apologize in advance for anything Vilks has said or will say or do.
I like the “Mohammed in a Traffic Circle ” drawing, but don’t understand the message.
Was Vilks trying to point out how ancient and backward this religion is,and that Mohammed is as out of place in modern society as a dog is a traffic circle?
ah!..cartoons is it…such an old form of commentary isn’t it ?
during the ‘golden age’ of muslim control in Spain the jews and christians HAD to wear a piece of cloth with either a pig or an ape depicted thereupon…
this was so the muslims could tell if they were dealing with a jew or christian kuffar…
Well well. Mr. Vilks is a professional manure pile stirer who made a living by making a stink in the hope that somebody would pay him to stop. Ran into an audience that shoots sh1te disturbers instead of paying them off. Poor baby.
I predict many expressions of outrage and upset by the Professional Left that this guy is allowed to speak. What makes it hilarious is this guy is one of them.
May they all contract boils.
I think you’ve nailed it with your last sentence dmorris. The cartoon isn’t even provocative, it’s simply a dog where a dog ought not to be with a face depicting someone that some believe is above all others.
A quick survey of cartoons drawn by some muslims of non-muslims / especially jewish people with the giant noses picking apart bodies with their talons.. if one was to republish these “cartoons” with obvious muslim faces, I can hear the outrage now, the cries from our betters of how this is simple too much.
Those that would protest Lars Vilks in north america… remember freedom?
Google is my friend, like having to go to the Urban Dictionary for threads at Ace’s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout_dog
dmorris – funny re your first statement – I’m sure you know that the Spanish word “ojalá” is derived from that – a vestigial Moorish exclamation.
After reading his qualifications that you listed my first thought was “Now there is a good reason not to send your kids to college or university.
Is Mr. Vilks one of those avant-garde Euro-critics who press buttons because they can or did he just walk into something and can’t get out of it?
No doubt the U. of Ottawa will forward correspondence to Mr. Vilks in advance explaining our hate law portions of the criminal code. In fact, they might even have a letter on file they could use….
Bob Devine – I understand your comment – but the guy at least deserves propz for not just doing a GWB dog roundabout . . . .
Phantom @12:55 – Theo Van Gogh was much the same type.
Mamba, absolutely. Its I a type I don’t much care for, frankly. All they do is spread dislike and discontent in society, for a living. It isn’t “art”, its just gratuitously spitting in people’s eye.
Well didn’t they just spit in the wrong eye, finally eh?
The one thing I give this guy and Theo Van Gogh and the other Danish cartoon guy props for is not backing off and running away. That “Everybody Draw Mohamed Day” chickie, she ran like a deer. Gutless leftie.
Vilks is 100% right. He -does- have the right to draw offensive cartoons about Islam, and he’s daring the jihadini to come make him stop. I’d prefer to back a guy who’s less of a jerk, but I’ll back this guy anyway because he’s got the stones to stick to his moral stand.
Unlike the entire cohort of his former fellow travelers who can’t trash him fast enough.
My secret revenge is that I just know this guy -hates- conservatives, just hates ’em, and it drives him freaking crazy that conservatives are the only ones who will stick by him these days.
BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!! I am so evil, I am almost ashamed of myself. Almost… BWAHAHAAAA!!!! ~:D
Phantom – politics, bedfellows, all that. Heck, you may even wake up one morning next to Lizzie May, who knows? (I apologize profusely and suggest you immediately drink half a bottle of scotch, bathtub scotch; perhaps the image will not implant.)
Geez thanks Black Mamba, scotch sales in Conservative blog reading areas of Canada will spike tonight.
Phantom, glad you clarified. Seriously, artistic boundaries should be pushed by mocking the leftish intellectual elite, and the Islamic misogynistic theocracies – make it literal and figurative cutting edge.
Sadly though, most artists will prefer to target GWB, oh my, how creative, risky and daring. Yawn.
He looks like such a happy chap. The eurotrash version of islamic rage boy.
Lizzie May would explode in a puff of noxious gas if she got within ten feet of the illustrious me. 🙂
Likely she will do so in any event, eventually; but keep ready to cock your handgun, just in case.
Contrary to the information here, I just placed an order for a copy. Cheers
You might be interested in these stories:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2010/0512/Cartoonist-Lars-Vilks-attacked-for-showing-Prophet-Mohammed-in-gay-film
http://www.thelocal.se/27806/20100715/
In Sweden, when Vilks is being attacked, physically, for criticizing/provoking Islam, his attackers are being captured and sentenced.
In the USA, it is not allowed to criticize/provoke Islam.