A British artist has sparked backlash after debuting his controversial artwork showing a crucified US President Donald Trump in an orange jumpsuit.
Mason Storm’s ‘Saint or Sinner’ piece has been hanging in a pedestrian walkway in Basel, Switzerland, since Saturday.
Storm depicted Trump fastened to a cross-shaped gurney as if he was being crucified like Jesus.
Trump’s hands lay slack and his head is tilted as if he is sleeping.
Owner of Galerie Gleis 4 that organized the exhibit, Konrad Breznik, told AFP: ‘The skin is so realistic, it’s really scary.’
Storm, who wears a mask covering his whole face to conceal his identity, posed proudly beside the artwork.
The controversial artist posted about the piece on Instagram and wrote: ‘Half life-size Donny Trump, probably the most decisive politician of the modern era, or past for that matter.
‘Despised by some, beloved by others, so is he a saint on a cross or a sinner on the lethal injection gurney? You decide.’
Artwork showing President Donald Trump strapped to a cross-shaped gurney in a prison uniform has popped up in Basel, Switzerland
The artist, Mason Storm, created the controversial work. He has left the interpretation up to the viewer to determined if Trump is a sinner or a saint
People took to Twitter to express their disgust over the piece and blasted Storm
Breznik told AFP he believes the US politician would enjoy the artwork, simply because of the foot traffic it has garnered.
‘I do absolutely think that Mr. Trump might see himself very well in the role of a modern Jesus,’ Breznik said.
‘I’m pretty sure he is very much convinced that he is doing the right thing.’
The artwork has been drawing huge crowd – on Monday alone, 3,000 people visited the piece, the gallery behind the exhibit Galerie Gleis 4, revealed on Instagram.
The exhibition was displayed in Vienna, Austria, prior to this and was set to debut in Basel’s central train station in September, but was pushed to the smaller location for fears of backlash.
Many people were appalled by the artwork, with many questioning what was wrong with Storm.
‘Wtf is wrong with people,’ one American wrote.
‘That’s just sick,’ another wrote.
Many were appalled by Storm’s artwork and called it ‘outrageous’ and ‘revolting’
One man branded Storm’s work ‘leftist art’ and said the artist was a ‘masked man without balls.’
One X user simply branded it ‘disgusting’ while tagging the State Department.
A few other people also tagged the government agency.
Another person said the artwork was ‘absolutely revolting’ and called the sculpture ‘outrageous.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Storm and the White House for comment.
