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FFWD Article by Hugh Graham

            “Munkaspeni, in his wisdom, cautioned the traveler about false maps and old men whose twisted hearts lie…trust only those who will drink beer with you, for their hearts will be true even though their thoughts may be a little unclear…” from the book of Munkaspeni, by Dr. Cornelius Wedge.
            Thus spake the immortal Munkaspeni the artist, the visionary, and entirely fictional person who in reality is the creation of a local artist known for very bizarre and dangerously uncensored sculptures and paintings carried by Art Central’s QUAB Gallery,  including a wide variety crucified celebrities, squashed fairies and voodoo dolls that look like babies.
            “My Munkaspeni works are unadulterated ideas, sometimes I have an idea for an artistic project that I will do, even when part of me is cringing inside.” says the artist who wishes to be nameless. ”It’s the kind of thoughts that every one has but nobody admits to, it is tougher than you might think.” “You need to have a sense of humour when you approach my works.”
            Munkaspeni’s works includes paintings in a variety of media and sculpture however it is his series of sculptures that are the most provocative. Four weeks ago, one of his Personal Jesus series of objets d’art; a crucified Pee-Wee Herman, was featured on the Breakfast Show on City TV, sparking some very energetic telephone protests from outraged Christian television fans.
            “There is a spark to what I do, there is an edge.” says Munkaspeni, “If it gets too dull, what is the point of it?” ”I’ve done some things that I am almost ashamed to hang up.” “With the Jesus sculptures, people have been known to get very upset.”
The reason Munkaspeni started his Personal Jesus sculpture series was to protest to how Christ has become commodity, a parody of the parody of the Christian Right’s appropriation of the symbol of a crucified martyr worshipped by millions. The sculptures are small, wall hangings of an incredible array of people, things and ideas, crucified on a simple cross. There is Darth Vader Jesus, Spiderman Jesus, Drag Jesus, Cannibal Zombie Jesus….well you get the point. Munkaspeni freely admits to the initial impression this might create, “I have a deviant sense of humour, and a very low one.” “It was about how the symbol of Christ we know as more fiction than reality, so I created one as a joke and the damn thing sold in a day.” Since then, his Personal Jesus collection of crucified figures numbers over 70 and they are very sought after by people who have started to approach Munkaspeni for commissioned works, his latest: the Hooded Fang from Mordecai Richler’s Jacob Too-Too and the Hooded Fang.
            As a way to approach art, Munkaspeni is the alter-ego of an artist who tries to maintain not only a sense of spontaneity in his art, but as a way of life, again, with a tilted sense of humour. In much the same way as the mock Church of Sub-Genius brings serious ideas to the fore with satire and derision, Munkaspeni created a cult headed by the fictional creation: The Way of Munkaspeni, whose derisive quasi-religious pamphlets can be found at QUAB Gallery as well as his more conventional, unconventional art. As a cult figure, Munkaspeni preaches a gospel of self-forgiveness, openness to new and exotic ideas, self-discovery and beer drunk in great quantities. Even if he is an imaginary cult leader, Munkaspeni’s philosophy still finds many enthusiastic adherents at least while the pubs are open.
            “As a way of forcing myself to become a better artist, creating Munkaspeni challenges me to stay away from saying; ‘No.’ or ‘I should not do that.’ says the artist. “It is a great experience.” “I can’t wait to see what he does next.” laughs Munkaspeni.

Hugh Graham,
Visual Arts Correspondent, FFWD Magazine, Calgary (Published December 2006)

www.munkaspeni.com