The Sensation exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 1999 featured controversial works that sparked intense debate. The exhibition included Marcus Harvey's portrait of Myra Hindley made from children's handprints and Chris Ofili's depiction of the Virgin Mary adorned with elephant dung. New York City Mayor Giuliani strongly condemned Ofili's work and threatened to cut funding to the museum if it was not removed. Supporters viewed the works as challenging art while critics saw them as disrespectful of religion. The media coverage intensified the controversy.

1. Uncovering Sensation the controversial exhibition heard around the world By Molly Labell & Richard Lopez

3. The Hype of Sensation Sensation Exhibition was on display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art (BMA) Oct 2 nd 1999- Jan 9 2000 The Artworks in Sensation were from the collection of Charles Saatchi, a leading collector of contemporary art. Norman Rosenthal, the Royal Academy of Arts secretary organized 110 works by 42 artists. Charles Saatchi Chris Ofili The Holy Virgin Mary Center of the controversy in New York City Damien Hirst The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) Marcus Harvey (1995) depiction of the child killer Myra Hindley Center of Controversy in London

6. Censoring Religion in Artwork “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” – First Amendment US Constitution Death of the Virgin Caravaggio (1604) Piss Christ Andres Serrano (1987) Gay Jesus Alfred Hrdlicka (2008)

7. The Media friend and Foe Homo censorious takes a few elements out of context--specific words, titles, part of a design--and treats them as if they embody the entire work of art. Insists on a single interpretation of a work of art Makes interpretations that are concrete and literal Decontextualizes a few elements—specific words, titles, part of a design—and treats them as if they embody the entire work of art Assumes a paternalistic attitude of others Overestimates the effects of exposure to cultural expression and assumes the effects to be immediate and irreversible Wishes to impose his own sense of morality onto the entire public Inadvertently stokes the public’s desire to view precisely what he wishes to prohibit Description of The Holy Virgin Mary “ smeared,” “smattered,” “splattered,” “smattered,” “splotched,” “stained,” with elephant dung…

8. Public Showdown MAYOR RUDOLPH GIULIANI : If I ignored it, then the argument would be on the other side: How can you ignore something as disgusting, horrible and awful as this? And my view is you do what you think is right. I believe opposing this is the right thing. ARNOLD LEHMAN , Director, Brooklyn Museum of Art: This is an important exhibition. I mean, this is a defining exhibition of a decade of the most creative energy that's come out of Great Britain in a very long time. And that's why we did it, these works are challenging, and thought provoking, and some are beautiful, some are very difficult to look at. HILLARY CLINTON : It is not appropriate to penalize and punish an institution such as the Brooklyn museum that has served this community with distinction over many years MUSEUM GOER : I can't believe that this has caused this commotion. I don't know. I don't have an adverse reaction to it. You know, it's someone's view on something.  MUSEM GOER : I'm furious about this. This is a tremendous insult to the mother of my God and to me. I think it's a disgrace that people can bash other people's religion. 