2019 Oct 22 Grantleigh Curro School in KZN Demonic Art Display

Remarks: Massive Social Media Backlash to the School when a Parent exposed “satanic artwork” in Richard’s Bay

Richard’s Bay: Parents left horrified by students’ “demonic” artworks ^[1]The South African News Headline

‘The South African’ Reported: Forget Halloween next week: These matric students from Richard’s Bay have enraged their community – and done enough to give us nightmares for weeks.

In the walls of an exclusive Christian school, the influences of evil lurk beneath the surface. Parents in Richard’s Bay have reacted with outrage, following the display of some matric students‘ artwork which has been accused of “invoking satanism”.

A video made by an angry parent of a pupil at Grantleigh School near Richards Bay went viral on social media and caused a massive backlash against the school.

‘The South African’ continued to say:

RICHARD’S BAY: DEMONIC MATRIC WORKS SHOCK PARENTS

A concerned parent who came across the exhibition was left mortified. He filmed what was on display while commenting on some of the anti-religious sentiment expressed by the pupils. A number of drawings depict Jesus as a clown – particularly Ronald McDonald – but that’s the pre-watershed version of it all.

Some of the works go to dark, twisted places. In one frame, the torso of Jesus is cut open, exposing his inner organs. Sketches of the Grim Reaper, piles of skulls and images of the devil all complete the nightmare-inducing pieces. Parents and local community figures have raised their complaints with the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL).

POLITICIANS CALLED INTO DEBATE “Satanic” Submissions

It would also seem the have the backing of Dr Imran Keeka. The DA’s KZN Spokesperson on Education has called upon opposite number – KZN’s Education MEC Khwazi Mshengu – to investigate the matter further. Keeka conceded that the art is protected by the Bill of Rights, but remains unconvinced the sketches are appropriate for display.

ART OR NOT?

If the point of art is to inflame passions and spark debate, then you have to say, these matric students have actually knocked it out of the park. However, the imagery is obscene in some places, and the content of the pieces are completely tone-deaf towards the area and the independent school itself.

The issue of censorship will rumble on in this corner of Richard’s Bay. In fact, there will be few other matric pieces submitted this year that gets the country talking just like this one. But there are limits to what is classed as acceptable or not, even in the world of art. Just ask Ayanda Mabulu.

Outraged Christian Father Exposes Demonic Art Display At Christian School In KZN^[2]Joy News Headline

Joy News Reports: A video has gone viral in South Africa this morning showing an emotional Christian father who is outraged at a demonic art display at the Grantleigh Curro School in KZN. This school claims to be Christian and proudly declares a Christian ethos online, yet is openly displaying an art exhibition by a student that features torn up Bibles, satanic sculptures, perverse depictions of Jesus, and renditions of famous Biblical artworks reworked to depict the Mc Donalds clown.

The work has been described as ‘crucifying Jesus all over again’. When does freedom of speech become abusive?

Grantleigh is situated just north of Richards Bay/Empangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. On their Facebook page, they proudly declare that “The school has a Christian ethos.” On Grantleigh’s website, they state that their mission is “to uphold Christian values and encourage principled, caring and responsible behaviour at all times.” Visit their website here: www.grantleigh.co.za Or email them to respond here: andrew.n@curro.co.za

Former Grantleigh Headboy Writes Open Letter to School. Head Responds to ‘Demonic’ Matric Art Claims^[3]SA People News sapeople.com

SA People News Published: The following Open Letter to Grantleigh from the Headboy, Sinjon Moffett of 2011:

Dear Grantleigh Staff, particularly Mr. Andrew Norris,

I, alongside many South Africans, have recently been witness to the artwork prepared by one of your current Grade 12 learners that formed part of the year-end exhibition. I have also been following the widespread upheaval in reaction to this display.

Furthermore, I have seen the school’s official preliminary response.

I believe it is my responsibility as a past-pupil and a representative of the Christian faith to voice my deep disappointment over this matter.

■ Before I do so, I would like to point out the following:

□ The fact that the artwork formed part of the students ‘IEB Final Submission’ in no way removes the responsibility that Grantleigh bears for the final product. All accolades achieved by learners within Grantleigh are claimed as a result of the excellent education offered by the institution. And rightly so. Learners are truly only as good as the opportunity’s and care they are given. However, this means that Grantleigh assumes full responsibility for this learners artwork, as was established when the learner was rewarded and commended publicly by the school.

□ ‘Freedom of expression’ is unfortunately not a viable justification. You should make no attempt to pretend that Grantleigh allows students to express their unbridled personal opinions and beliefs. This is simply not true, and I say this to your absolute credit. I was witness to a number of students during my time in Grantleigh who expressed racist and homophobic viewpoints, who were instantly shutdown and disciplined by staff. And rightly so. The school and all of its staff are actively involved in moulding the minds of their learners to develop an open and compassionate worldview.

□ The artistic technique used by the student is clearly exceptional. Besides the fact that a number of their pieces carry plagiaristic similarity to other international artist’s works, it is clear to see that they are an extremely talented individual. However, the first lesson of contemporary art is that it is the message, not the method, that carries importance. Any art teacher or enthusiast will attest to this, as this has been the general understanding of art since around the time of Duchamp. This removes the prospect for any explanation that the learner’s art was skilfully executed and therefore respectable.

□ Children are impressionable. I am not referring to the young adults occupying Grades 8 through 12. I am referring to the little children, as young as 5 years old, who have free access to the school hall and therefore these artworks. Disregarding the religious controversy that the artworks present, they are objectively violent and graphic in nature. Surely the public display of these works within a sheltered school environment is deeply irresponsible and a complete oversight on behalf of the staff body. A school should be where dreams are inspired, not nightmares.

I am well aware that the learner who created these artworks is perhaps revelling in the amount of attention their work is currently receiving. I am also aware that you perhaps consider this situation to be a statement on the school’s behalf to disassociate yourselves with the Christian ethos rooted in the school’s history.

■ With all this in mind, I have one question I would like to pose to you:

Why was it deemed appropriate to publicly deface, misrepresent and mock the figure who many within the Grantleigh family, as well as millions of people globally, worship as their God?

The simple truth is that if this was attempted with any other religion, Grantleigh would (hopefully) never have permitted it.

If the learner had made an artwork that encourages racism, Grantleigh would (hopefully) never have permitted it.

If the learner had made an artwork containing bigoted slurs against the LGBTQ community, Grantleigh would (hopefully) never have permitted it.

I say this with such confidence because I know that Grantleigh does not allow their learners to be hateful, disrespectful, or prejudiced toward any group of people, but to rather be respectful and loving of all races, cultures and religions.

This is what Jesus himself preached, what Jesus himself displayed, and what Jesus himself still inspires within people today.

I am deeply disappointed to see that it is Jesus who has been belittled under the flag of the school that claims to embody a Christ-inspired ethos.

Grantleigh, you are responsible for this iniquity against all the people who follow Jesus, and against God himself. I hope that you are humble enough and wise enough to accept this responsibility, ask for forgiveness, and disassociate yourselves with the artworks and the artist.

With love, as a proud Grantleigh alumnus, Sinjon Moffett 22.10.2019

■ Friends of the artist have told their parents that the learner was trying to show how empty life has become since people replaced spirituality with materialism like McDonald’s (represented by the Ronald McDonald clown).

■ In response to this, Moffett told SAPeople:

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