A SEXUALLY explicit art work depicting a Burkha-clad woman sparked outrage today after it went on on display at a London gallery.The image shows a woman in a full-length burkha – but instead of having a cut-out for the eyes, the cut-out exposes one of her nipples.The artwork has already been condemned by the Union of Muslim Organisations of the UK and Ireland (UMO) as "blasphemous, cheap porn".A spokesman said: "At a time when tensions are already heightened, gallery owners shouldn't be exhibiting artwork like this - it's offensive, inflammatory. and degrading to Muslim women."Photographer Yeon Lee, defended her image, titled Seeing is Believing, claiming it "highlights the ways women are categorised in male-dominated societies".But the UMO said the image could spark similar angry scenes to those in Denmark in September 2005 when a newspaper printed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed portraying him as a terrorist.He said: "People will protest. It's blasphemous – the artist just wants to make some money – and it's not helpful in this current climate."Gallery owner James Freeman, who is exhibiting the image as part of a wider collection, called Five Years, from emerging international artists in North London", agreed the image had "shock value". But he denied it was blasphemous.He said: "It's not ridiculing, or ironic, or degrading or perjorative. I don't think you could perceive any blasphemy in this."On the one hand the image conveys the idea of religious conservatism, but on the other hand, it expresses the idea of Western sexuality."A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan police said they had not yet received any complaints.
