Vandalism in St. Mary's Cathedral: Artwork of Mary giving birth brutally destroyed!

Vandalism in St. Mary's Cathedral: Artwork of Mary giving birth brutally destroyed!

A shocking act of vandalism occurred in the heart of Linz, sending the art scene and the public into turmoil. A modern statue of Mary giving birth, created by artist Esther Strauss, was brutally attacked. The head of the statue, which had recently been on display in the tower chapel of Linz's Mariendom, was severed. This shocking act, which attacks not only art but also social values, was immediately reported to the police by the Diocese of Linz. According to the artist, this incident shows that women's right to their own bodies continues to be questioned and she calls for decisive action against such attacks, as stated in a report by kath.ch is to be read.

Acts of vandalism and their meaning

This attack is not the first of its kind in Linz's Mariendom. Loud krone.at This was the third incident in a series of art destruction that has shocked the city. The destroyed statue was part of the “DonnaStage” project, which deals with topics such as women's roles and gender equality and was intended to encourage open dialogue. The brutal destruction of the sculpture not only sparked discussions about art and its place in society, but also drew attention to the ongoing struggles for women's rights. Johann Hintermaier, the episcopal vicar for education, art and culture, expressed his dismay and explained that the intention of this installation was to provoke discussion, but that the violent act of destruction was unforgivable.

The targets of these attacks appear to be women's artwork, showing a worrying trend. While Esther Strauss' sculpture can no longer be exhibited, another destruction in St. Mary's Cathedral is mentioned: a screen sculpture by Bernadette Huber, which depicted family portraits from art history, was also damaged. Such incidents raise questions about the safety of art and the growing tensions in society, as documented in art history. The debate surrounding the fate of Maria in labor continues, and there are efforts to bring the figure back into public view to raise awareness of these invaluable issues.