Overview
- The removed work, Tom Vattakuzhy’s Supper at a Nunnery, reimagines The Last Supper with Mata Hari seated nude at the center and nuns in the disciples’ places.
- Christian groups in Kerala petitioned for its removal, calling the image offensive to their faith in a state with a significant Christian population.
- The Kochi Biennale Foundation temporarily closed the EDAM venue on 30 December citing security and public order concerns before reopening without the painting on 5 January.
- Organizers initially defended keeping the piece on view, then said the artist and curator chose to withdraw it in the interest of the common good after meeting the Sub Collector of Ernakulam.
- The artist denied any intent to offend and described feeling dispirited, while coverage noted a similar outcry over the image in 2016 and pointed to recent cultural programming disputes in Kerala.