Liberator unleashes diplomatic row

SANTIAGO (Reuter) - A painting by a Chilean artist of the 19th-century South American independence hero Simon Bolivar has ignited a diplomatic row between Chile and three of the countries where the 'Liberator' fought his campaigns against the Spanish colonial regime.

Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador have all protested to the Chilean government over the painting, which Chilean officials said was shown at the Hayward Gallery in London from March to May this year as part of an exhibition of modern Chilean artists, funded by the Chilean Education Ministry.

Two of the countries' ambassadors asked Chile yesterday why it was financing what the Colombian ambassador called 'gutter art'. Jorge Mario Eastman said: 'This painting is blasphemous from a historical point of view and pornographic as art.'

In a protest note to the Chilean Foreign Ministry the Venezuelan embassy said: 'This is an affront to the national dignity of the people of Venezuela and their democratic institutions, who are deeply hurt by this denigration of the figure of the Liberator.'

The artist, Juan Davila, has exhibited in Chile, Europe and Australia. The work is entitled The Liberator Simon Bolivar 1994. Apart from the title, only the figure's male face and colonial-era dress might identify him as Bolivar.

The outcry seems to have been provoked by postcards of the painting that were on sale at the Hayward Gallery. The Venezuelan ambassador, Cesar Moreno, said: 'This is not a protest against the artist but against those postcards that have been circulating and against the painting itself, which has been financed by the Chilean state.'

The Chilean Foreign Minister said he sympathised with the protests because the depiction was 'disrespectful'. He has asked the Education Ministry for an explanation.

(Photograph omitted)