October 31, 2008 - By Lee Hancock

An exhibition by an Islamic conceptual artist has been plagued by violence and threatening phone calls and emails.

Sarah Maple has been exhibiting her work at the SaLon Gallery in Notting Hill where a number of the pieces feature her take on being a Muslim in western society. One painting depicts a Muslim woman cradling a pig while another is of a burka clad woman wearing a badge saying “I Love Orgasms.”

Maple, who has been dubbed the new Tracy Emin, has previously featured Islamic themes in her art. At an exhibition at Ronnie Wood’s Scream gallery, a number of the paintings featured Muslim women in suggestive poses. In one painting a Muslim woman is suggestively sucking on a banana while another picture is entitled “Self portrait with my mother’s headscarf and the breast of Kate Moss.”

Samir Ceric, the director of the west London gallery, has said that it has been subjected to a campaign of violence and threats, including having its windows smashed. He said: “This criminal behaviour is a manifestation of cowardice and lack of openness to engage in a dialogue.

“It is also an attempt to impede the freedom of expression to which all citizens of the UK are entitled.”

The gallery has also had numerous threatening telephone calls and emails. Earlier in the week a woman wearing a burka went into the gallery and began threatening staff. Because of the violence, the gallery now has 24-hour police protection.

Talking about the paintings that had caused such a reaction, Sarah Maple said:

“The Islamic-themed pieces I’ve done were about integrating eastern and western cultures and questioning whether we can successfully combine the two, or whether we need a bit more understanding.”

Mokhtar Badri, vice president of the Muslim Association of Britain, condemned the paintings and said that his organisation will visit the gallery and demand that the offending pictures are removed. He commented: “She clearly wants to provoke a strong reaction from Muslims and that is what she will get.”