View Full Version : "offensive?"


borj_meneses
11-26-2006, 03:09 PM
i put into visual what got into mind one time
one said it's offensive without asking me what i have in mind
then his companion asked, what's on ur mind?
i didn't answer back... what for? :)

http://www.photo.net.ph/albums/userpics/10836/normal_GM2-play2.jpg


comments and death threats are welcome. :)

cris_servillas
11-26-2006, 03:13 PM
nice concept...its what on your mind. nobody can tell whats on your mind. its offensive to some advocate, but its nice.

borj_meneses
11-26-2006, 03:25 PM
nice concept...its what on your mind. nobody can tell whats on your mind. its offensive to some advocate, but its nice.


tnx sir...
yeah, maybe offensive for them.
if ur goin to take the image as it is.
sometimes we just have to view beyond the image or... think beyond the visuals
thanks for appreciating sir.

mabuhay ang malaya at malawak kaisipan!!! :)

ReD Ognita
11-26-2006, 03:27 PM
i put into visual what got into my mind one time
one said it's offensive without asking me what i have in mind
then his companion asked, what's on ur mind?
i didn't answer back... what for? <image snipped>

"Never explain--your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway."
-Elbert Hubbard 1856 - 1915

Very well made. Very well said borj.

Jeff Vergara
11-26-2006, 04:12 PM
it's just like a picture of a thousand words... people will react differently.
but i like the concept as well... artistically done. :)

Teejay Joson
11-26-2006, 04:32 PM
for conservative people, yes, it is offensive.

for me, its a good one borg.

steven_aquilino
11-26-2006, 04:33 PM
nice shot and very artistic
pero maraming maooffend and magrereact dito.

Earl Gonzalez
11-26-2006, 05:03 PM
Simply put... It has Borj Meneses written all over it... Let people think what they want to... Hold your ground Bro.! :)

Marton_Benitez
11-26-2006, 07:28 PM
Wait, why is this offensive?

raymund_madronero
11-26-2006, 08:06 PM
@Borj

just curious... care to explain the concept?

Thanks.

Pia Sison
11-26-2006, 08:13 PM
Hi Borj!

You might find it reassuring to know that aside from being a woman, I teach Theology--and I am not offended one bit. I like your work. It's a profound, powerful image....radical and feminist in substance. Congratulations!

Earl Gonzalez
11-26-2006, 08:26 PM
Hi Borj!

You might find it reassuring to know that aside from being a woman, I teach Theology--and I am not offended one bit. I like your work. It's a profound, powerful image....radical and feminist in substance. Congratulations!

Right on dear Pia! :) I concur! :Grin:

Darryl Ong
11-27-2006, 06:07 AM
it's really easy to say that something is offensive... some even use the word immoral or blasphemous,, narrow minded persons.... i think the image is good,,,, thought provoking ( but not offensive ) :)

raul ruiz
11-27-2006, 07:43 AM
an artist is free to express his idea the way he wants it - its his freedom.
a viewer is free to express his opinion of an art - its his freedom.
an artist or a viewer is free to feel offended.

im not an artist nor am i a devoted christian. here's my take about art and religion.
unless the concept has something to do about religion, i dont subscribe to using god to enhance one's art.
madonna is a great artist at pop songs, but when she wears religious items to enhance her fashion and music - it does not make sense to me anymore because her songs are not really about religion.

in this particular case, i think its easy to see that there's some connection between the rossary and the lady.

just my opinion

raymund_madronero
11-27-2006, 08:19 AM
Hi Borj!

You might find it reassuring to know that aside from being a woman, I teach Theology--and I am not offended one bit. I like your work. It's a profound, powerful image....radical and feminist in substance. Congratulations!
It is reassuring indeed that we have a theology professor and a woman at that around to share her thoughts about the concept. I too have studied and finished bachelor in sacred theology under the tutelage of one of the most conservative congregation (remember the inquisition) and am not offended by Borj image. Ei, the Sistine Chapel is full of nude images, right.

The reason I asked Borj to explain is for us to have a look at the image in the eyes of the photographer. Bear in mind that we have different conception of every image we see and for us to understand, it would be "best" to see it in the eyes of the one who made the image.

And perhaps as a by word, we cannot "condemn" others for being conservative... there are many factors involved in each one's decision to embrace an ideology and many at times we cannot fully grasp them because we are also different.

As one of my favorite author writes - If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away
- Henry David Throeau

rhea_ongyiu
11-27-2006, 09:34 AM
Taking into account the endless discussions I had with borj over the past few months, I think he is speaking to us as an artist here. Some conservatives may consider this blasphemous, but if you look deep into it, you will see BORJ all over this image. Borj is an artist waiting to come out but his concepts are radical, and in a way, he feels that society and religion might not be too receptive. The way the rosary kind of falls around the body is like telling me how borj is struggling to liberate himself from what society is telling us. The cemented body is like him telling me "my ideas are frozen/dead if I let what other people think limit me from showing it". That is how I see and understand Borj as an artist. I agree with earl, this is an artwork with Borj Meneses written all over it!

raymund_madronero
11-27-2006, 10:00 AM
Taking into account the endless discussions I had with borj over the past few months, I think he is speaking to us as an artist here. Some conservatives may consider this blasphemous, but if you look deep into it, you will see BORJ all over this image. Borj is an artist waiting to come out but his concepts are radical, and in a way, he feels that society and religion might not be too receptive. The way the rosary kind of falls around the body is like telling me how borj is struggling to liberate himself from what society is telling us. The cemented body is like him telling me "my ideas are frozen/dead if I let what other people think limit me from showing it". That is how I see and understand Borj as an artist. I agree with earl, this is an artwork with Borj Meneses written all over it!

Thank you for voicing out what Borj may find difficult to express... this is a kind of understanding/interpretation which can come only from a person who has journeyed with the artist.

Understandably, not many of us here will be able to comprehend what's in Borj's mind.

Ahhh... society... ahh other people... many at times, it makes me wish I live all alone in an island... but on second thought, the struggle with living makes life more beautiful... :)

Rolando Avecilla
11-27-2006, 10:28 AM
Borj,

This is rude! Very rude indeed!

What the f... what haven't you taken me in these kind of shoot? You said you will but you don't.. that's rude!

Hehehe

I love the work. I see it as a Virgin Mary..

borj_meneses
11-27-2006, 10:53 AM
hi guys, think i blew up something here :)
thanks for appreciating my work as a newbie.

it's always hard to explain artworks, oftentimes i don't. it's kinda limiting the work itself into my own interpretation. but nonetheless, let me share to you what's going thru my mind when i put this concept into visual.

nothing really deep or profound... it's more of symbolism.
it represents SEX and RELIGION. two major topic in which all of us differs.
we all differs in terms on how we view sex in this country. from my understanding, most pinoy view sex as dirty, rotten, should not be discuss and shown in public... what better way to represent it than a naked body of a woman, most viewed it as something immoral yet it's something solid as concrete... we all enjoyed it for crying out loud!enough of the hyporacy.
rosary represents religion(being in a christian country), something clean, sacred, yet it's one major factor of debate, misunderstanding, WAR! dating daan vs iglesia ni cristo, hinduism against budism, christians agoaints muslims. what's happening?

i got a 4 months old daugther, how am i goin to explain to her when she's goin to ask me what's goin on? well i think i got the answer to her place in our wall. SEX and RELIGION, it's where we all differs.

just my two cents about the work
not trying to be self rightoues here :)

thanks for viewing

Rolando Avecilla
11-27-2006, 11:02 AM
Sex, violence and Religion?

willy_palacios
11-27-2006, 11:08 AM
actually I find this "scary" something like from the movie "SAW" , anyways the mind of an artist is like a strand of colorful threads - which ever he will wove nobody knows...

I wunder how the original looks like?

MikeDougan
11-27-2006, 11:14 AM
Sex, violence and Religion?

You forgot about drugs!

Now pass me the needle!

@Borj,

Interesting work, I'd never be too concerned about offending people. I take the more European attitude that if you don't like it then don't read the thread.

Mike

borj_meneses
11-27-2006, 11:19 AM
actually I find this "scary" something like from the movie "SAW" , anyways the mind of an artist is like a strand of colorful threads - which ever he will wove nobody knows...

I wunder how the original looks like?


the original? same photo lang sir. without the concrete effect lang.
try to post the original later. :)

willy_palacios
11-27-2006, 11:26 AM
the original? same photo lang sir. without the concrete effect lang.
try to post the original later. :)

tse, tigilan mo nga kaka sir, SiS ang gusto ko anoh :D

will be abangers the original then, i hope no cut off body parts, it scars me :Grin:

hochi_abaya
11-27-2006, 11:29 AM
Interesting work, I'd never be too concerned about offending people. I take the more European attitude that if you don't like it then don't read the thread.


i would have to agree with mike.
if you were too concerned about offending people then you may end up not producing anything at all since something is bound to offend someone at sometime...so kudos to you

Princess Jarlyn Young
11-27-2006, 11:42 AM
Hi Borj!

You might find it reassuring to know that aside from being a woman, I teach Theology--and I am not offended one bit. I like your work. It's a profound, powerful image....radical and feminist in substance. Congratulations!

Hi Pia,
you have a very good point. =)

hi borj,
every artist has his/ her own vision in art.. you are very gutsy with this art but you indeed delivered it well. your imagination really shoots off the chart! looking forward to more pictures you have there~

Parc_Cruz
11-27-2006, 12:14 PM
As usual, your ideas are amazing. Good concept bro! Idol!

PARC

Derick_Gamboa
11-27-2006, 12:31 PM
...nothing thrown, nothing taken.........

I guess the offensive part will always be the interpretation.

Pia Sison
11-27-2006, 10:28 PM
Thanks Princess :)

Hi Pia,
you have a very good point. =)

hi borj,
every artist has his/ her own vision in art.. you are very gutsy with this art but you indeed delivered it well. your imagination really shoots off the chart! looking forward to more pictures you have there~

Pia Sison
11-27-2006, 10:29 PM
Thanks Earl :Grin:

Right on dear Pia! :) I concur! :Grin:

Pia Sison
11-27-2006, 10:31 PM
Thanks Raymund :)


It is reassuring indeed that we have a theology professor and a woman at that around to share her thoughts about the concept. I too have studied and finished bachelor in sacred theology under the tutelage of one of the most conservative congregation (remember the inquisition) and am not offended by Borj image. Ei, the Sistine Chapel is full of nude images, right.

The reason I asked Borj to explain is for us to have a look at the image in the eyes of the photographer. Bear in mind that we have different conception of every image we see and for us to understand, it would be "best" to see it in the eyes of the one who made the image.

And perhaps as a by word, we cannot "condemn" others for being conservative... there are many factors involved in each one's decision to embrace an ideology and many at times we cannot fully grasp them because we are also different.

As one of my favorite author writes - If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away
- Henry David Throeau

Glenn Francisco
11-28-2006, 01:11 AM
Borj,


I love the work. I see it as a Virgin Mary..

exactly what i had in mind when i saw the photo.

borj, i've been a silent fan of your art for sometime now, and this one struck me really good. i hope to see more of your works in the future.

chewychua
11-28-2006, 02:40 AM
honestly, without the hype here, i wouldn't give it a second look.

but thanks to what's happening here, i got curious and read through the posts, it actually stood for something pala.

be bold as to announce what you want to say, and not start off with an apology. shoot first and ask questions later. hahaha.

excellent work, borj!

sandro_mendoza
11-28-2006, 03:25 AM
For me Borj's style is weird...as in unusual...not ordinary and this is what make his photos "thought-provocating". I think that is what this is all about, for the viewer to interpret or think what the artist want to impart through his photos alone, no need for words, let the work of art speak for itself.

Eric Dino
11-28-2006, 04:05 AM
@ Pia,

Glad to know that there is a professor of Theology here in this forum. Care to share some of your knowledge? The image is quite interesting but I have some reservations. Kindly shed some light regarding the theological, historical, liturgical and pastoral dimension of said symbollism?

@ Borj,

I respect you as an artist and photographer. I also respect other people especially the conservatives who might find the image quite controversial. Regarding Art and Symbollism, what is the Title of this Image?

Ruel Tafalla
11-28-2006, 06:53 AM
nicely done...I guess offensive depends on how you look at the picture..:)


ruel

Princess Jarlyn Young
11-28-2006, 07:56 AM
For me Borj's style is weird...as in unusual...not ordinary and this is what make his photos "thought-provocating". I think that is what this is all about, for the viewer to interpret or think what the artist want to impart through his photos alone, no need for words, let the work of art speak for itself.

hi borj~ i think that is what is nice about being an artist.. be it a photographer, painter, craftmen.. each and everyone of those artist has their own style.. and even way of thinking.. don't be afraid to express or just even show your talent.. you have it believe me~ you came up with this style.. and i know, that deep down in you.. you have more concepts in mind~ =)

Mon Corpuz
11-28-2006, 08:10 AM
it's always hard to explain artworks, oftentimes i don't. it's kinda limiting the work itself into my own interpretation. but nonetheless, let me share to you what's going thru my mind when i put this concept into visual.

I don't know of if Ross said it once, a good art needs no explanation.

borj_meneses
11-28-2006, 08:43 AM
thank you all for appreciating guys
maybe some got offended by it
some people may view it beyond the visual, some may take it as it is.:)

@ Eric Dino
---- the title? Sex & Religion... it's where we all differ :)

raul_echivarre
11-28-2006, 10:03 AM
i'm a johnny come lately, as usual... i just saw this thread now.

i like the concept borj, even the execution.

i think you intended your photo, or should i say, work, to polarize rather than offend. and by polarize i mean that it's supposed to elicit some strong reaction whether positive or negative.

martin_cp_valeriano
11-28-2006, 05:04 PM
i dunno borj... hmmm... i dunno if i agree with this...

for sure i myself will stay away from anything that might offend religious sensitivities...

borj_meneses
11-28-2006, 05:44 PM
i dunno borj... hmmm... i dunno if i agree with this...

for sure i myself will stay away from anything that might offend religious sensitivities...

it's ok martin :)
we all are entitled to our own opinions.
we're cool right? :)

martin_cp_valeriano
11-28-2006, 07:00 PM
it's ok martin :)
we all are entitled to our own opinions.
we're cool right? :)

We're super cool dude :) we're super tight naks...

that doesn't change the fact na bilib na bilib ako sa iyo...

hey i hope your vip visitor was happy with the visit sa baluarte mo...

hope to visit you one of these days bro

Eric Dino
11-29-2006, 01:42 AM
@ Borg,

A good professor and mentor of mine told me before not to judge a book by its cover and always give the person the benefit of the doubt before passing judgement. I think you have good intentions and your title for the image is quite appropriate. It might not be approved for display at the Sistine Chapel or Citta Vaticano but you can always have it shown in an Art Gallery. The Alcove has monthly themes. I'm sure the people there would appreciate your works. We are all cool. Peace be with you bro. The image might offend some people but it doesn't mean that they are narrow-minded, they just have a different point of view and probably have a different background and set of beliefs. Let us all respect them.

@ Pia,

No need to explain as this will not be used in the Church as part of the Liturgical Arts and Furnishings. The creator of the image has explained well his concept. Pax Romana. Sacrsosanctum Concilium has all the norms and guidelines for your reference.

ben molina
11-29-2006, 04:24 PM
nice work, borj.

lets all move on. when i do personal artworks, i do it to satisfy only myself. if other people like it... good. if others don't... good. minsan, i notice that we post our work just to create a buzz, debates and so on. the more pages, the better... err... parang pinoy showbiz na may box-office mentality. i dunno, but its kinda dragging sometimes. art is art. IMO.

salamat.

borj_meneses
11-29-2006, 08:34 PM
nice work, borj.

lets all move on. when i do personal artworks, i do it to satisfy only myself. if other people like it... good. if others don't... good. minsan, i notice that we post our work just to create a buzz, debates and so on. the more pages, the better... err... parang pinoy showbiz na may box-office mentality. i dunno, but its kinda dragging sometimes. art is art. IMO.

salamat.


let our works speak for us :Grin:

mario_bes
11-29-2006, 11:33 PM
@ borj
your concepts never cease to amaze me..your statements stand out in a crowded world..great job! :)

ben molina
11-30-2006, 11:13 AM
let our works speak for us :Grin:

it should always be that way.

borj_meneses
11-30-2006, 11:30 AM
@ borj
your concepts never cease to amaze me..your statements stand out in a crowded world..great job! :)


tnx for appreciating sir
but ur works are alot better than mine! :)

ben molina
11-30-2006, 11:50 AM
tnx for appreciating sir
but ur works are alot better than mine! :)

hindi naman, sir. you'll find your niche soon. konting maturity lang.