Two Danish artists create media hype using politics, religion and poverty.

"In The Name of God" represents victims of the Catholic Church's official policy on condoms as a means of AIDS prevention. This image stirred up controversy of its own, along with cries of blasphemy.

Artists Jens Galschiøt and Kristian von Hornsleth use challenging art to address social and political issues and to create a better world. Both aim to raise living standards in Africa and to target forces that hinder their efforts: Galschioet targets Christian fundamentalism, while Hornsleth raises issues about liberty, fair trade and exploitation. The proclaimed objectives of their artwork is unproblematic: most people would probably agree that the fight against fundamentalism and exploitation is a just cause.

Galschiøt’s latest bronze-sculpture, entitled In the Name of God, depicts a life-size pregnant teenager crucified on a large cross. The work is, according to the artist, a frontal attack on the Bush Administration and fundamentalist Catholicism in Africa. Galschiøt says that the piece is supposed to bring attention to the victims of poor sexual education and of the ban on condoms in Africa. This is largely the result of Christian morality, and the title points ironically at the monstrous human sacrifices being made ‘in the name of God’. So far the sculpture has been erected in Copenhagen and Nairobi; it is scheduled to be put up both in the Vatican and in Dallas.