Coetzee is doing what artists are supposed to do: deliver meaningful comments on social injustice, whether current or past issues. I am fascinated by the Curator’s comments when she stated: “As a gallery, that’s not the message we want to portray. She’s very negative to the old Afrikaner, Christian patriarchal system. She was trying to be the vulnerable woman suffering under the system. But women are not under that system anymore.” I am curious to know where this story will go, what the critical conversations will be. Here we sit with a sensitive issue of an artist delivering her comment, possibly driven by her own experiences, and a curator that decided to silence her voice, reinforcing how women (and artists) are often silenced. Is this issue really something of the past? As one example, read the marriage sacrament of the Reformed Church and you will see that it is not . In my opinion and from my own experiences as a woman in a ‘new’ South Africa, gender inequality, whether governed by religion, politics or policies still live in most of our environments; our professional, educational, political and personal and domestic spaces and that it is not limited to Afrikaner communities. We should have more artists like Coetzee that has the courage to expose herself as she did (literally and metaphorically), it takes guts to do what she did, and I congratulate her for raising her artist’s voice! I am disgraced at the people that commented on her breasts or nudity, you are obviously not engaging in this in any intellectual or reflective level. Celeste, take your show to a gallery that embraces contemporary art, let this not stop you! Thank you Michelle for writing this article and making the public aware of it.

Please read the article & take all the facts into account ... she was not "silenced" because of her bare breasts or subject matter. The gallery took her in, knowing fully well what that was, but "inconsistencies" in Coetzee's behaviour broke the trust.

I think the gallery reacted the way they did out of pure lack of knowledge regarding contemporary art. In fact, performativity in art has been around the block ever since the 60s and it is quite shocking to come across people calling themselves 'art curators' when they do not even know that performance art is dependable on the public's reaction and will fluctuate as the public's opinions changes and grows. Shame on Bekker for calling herself a 'curator' if she doesn't even know what contemporary art is. Bekker's reaction is a manifestation of Celeste's point. Maybe Bekker should study contemporary art before she invites University students to exhibit at her gallery!

I would like to add my voice to the many who are shocked at Carina Bekker's decision to silence Celeste Coetzee's statement. I salute Coetzee's bravery and forthrightness in the face of the blatantly discriminatory practices and preachings of Angus Puchan. I ask Carina Bekker to reinstate Coetzee's work. Celeste is exactly the kind of artist this country needs. Carina Bekker had the opportunity to be part of something brave and real and desperately needed in this country – a woman who speaks her mind. Bekker, along with all the other women who complained, have silenced her. Shame, shame, shame, on you. FYI, patriarchal thinking is equally perpetrated by the very gender it disempowers.

Excellent marketing. The less you cover the more coverage you get.

The girl sounds af if she might be mentaly unstable?

I think her idea would be better applied if it was levelled at the "legalise prostition" fraternity, especially if she wanted to portray the vulnerability of women -just a thought- use it, dont use it.

The fact that her artwork was removed is testimony to how brainwashed the curator is. Or was she helping the artist make a point. Removing the artwork magnified the verkrampte society that we are living in. Well done to the artist and curator.

First a ban on the media now a ban on art - what next? Soon there will be no more outlets for us to express our views or ourselves.

I see it is because she tore pages out of the bible? It is just a book and people still get offended? These holy molies must have their heads examined.

Of course nobody wants to see raggedy tits

Interesting how so many people happily latch onto the first part of the Biblical text "wives submit to your husbands" and get so worked up. If you read on, you will notice that it then says "Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the Church". How did Christ love the Church? He DIED for it. How many husbands are prepared to die for their wives? (and no I am not referring to 'le petit mors'). Oh, and by the way, apart from dying, loving your wife "as Christ loved the Church" has massive implications for how men are supposed to treat their wives, and there are no fists, booze or anything else like that involved.

@ps: agree. I think I've seen this somewhere else before. Pure sensationalism. No depth.

It seems that some people cannopt cope with other peoples art. I think the Celeste has absolutely nailed her subject. Bible = ideas... nothing more than that. Ideas need to be challenged and ridiculed and help up for inspection and spat at when found false. (would it be wrong to ask her to exhibit at my lace)

i think the gallery caved for commercial reasons. as a statement, i think what the artist was doing was brilliant and i cannot agree with the gallery that 'women are no longer under that system'. if the closed-mindedness of the past was indeed in the past, there should have been no problem with the way in which she chose to convey her message.

her melons are too bad,

How incredibly narrow minded ! The attitude of the curator is exactly what this artist was trying to expose. Women in certain societies ARE most certainly still under the old " Afrikaner Christian patriarchal system and to shut ones eyes to it and pretend it no longer exists simply contributes to the perpetuation of the suppression of many women and the emotional and mental abuse that goes hand in hand with it. What a disgrace that Art is not allowed to make a statement as soon as it "offends." People giving negative feedback should take a long deep look at themselves why this exhibit makes them feel so uncomfortable !

I think people were offended by her droopy breasts...

It might have been interesting if it wasn't such a cliche.

i for one applaud Celeste Coetzee, art is not about censorship and staying within the norms of society. it is a personal journey of self reflection and expression. Bekker should understand that art isn't just pretty pictures and bubble gum philosophies "scary" is what lies inside all of us and Celeste Coetzee was just expressing it.