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Panel 7: Based on graffiti on a section of the old Berlin Wall. Berlin, Germany.

Acrylic, oil, pastel and graphite on wood panel. 60cms x 60cms x 5cms. November 2012


 

Although the panel is based on one of the thousands of images found all along sections of the old Berlin Wall, it was an image so unusual, for me at least (even in the 'unusual world' of graffiti images), that I was drawn into a bit of research.

A little internet wandering revealed the 'original' graffiti to be a surprisingly accurate version of the 'Alexamenos Graffiti', albeit with various 'additions' from subsequent visitors.

Discovered in 1857 during excavations around the Palatine Hill in Rome, the graffiti is thought to date from around 200 A.D. , making it the earliest known depiction of Christ on the cross.

However it also has another claim to fame, being also one of the earliest known examples of anti Christian mockery or 'blasphemy'.

As a footnote, one of the subsequent visitors to the wall seemed to have added a small 'Ned Kelly' reference to the worshiping figure on the left; an addition that I decided to include in my own version of the piece.


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