Stabbed in the neck by an unknown person who wore a mask on his mouth and a toupee on his head in the church of Sant'Ignazio, home of the diocesan museum of Carpi, in the province of Modena, to damage the painting 'Inri-San Longino', part of the 'Gratia Plena' exhibition. Andrea Saltini, an internationally renowned artist from Carpi and author of the paintings that compose it, was released from hospital after a few hours with some stitches, he will be fine. He has filed a complaint against unknown persons and "is in a clear state of shock", explains the lawyer who assists him, Giuseppe Chierici, adding that the artist "asks the entire community of Carpi to reflect on the limits of dissent, of the right to criticize , of the right to express one's thoughts and on the content of the countless posts that have been disseminated and shared on social media in recent weeks, causing him profound disturbance".
Only a few days ago, commenting on an escalation of reactions that had followed the inauguration of an event organized together by the diocese, he spoke of a "Middle Ages" climate. Now the police are on the trail of what at the moment appears to be a Catholic extremist, who disappeared after the incident: equipped with a spray can and a knife, he entered the place of worship, damaged the canvas with the blade and the paint and when the artist, who was present, tried to stop him, he hit him. The dynamics suggest that the man was only there for vandalism, but the investigations will clarify. For almost a month now, Saltini's 'Gratia Plena' exhibition has come under fire from criticism from the most traditionalist circles of the Catholic world. The first were the journalists of 'The new daily compass'; last March 4, in an article entitled 'A blasphemous exhibition in the bishop's church. And they call it art in the text, the canvas 'Inri-San Longino' was criticized because it suggests a sexual act. An interpretation that the painter immediately rejected.
This was followed by a petition, which reached over 20 thousand signatures, then the celebration of a purification rosary in front of the church and also an 'exorcism' by the self-styled 'exorcist deacon Father David', born Davide Fabbri. The exhibition also came to the attention of the Public Prosecutor's Office: it was brought to us by the Forlì lawyer Francesco Minutillo, on behalf of "many faithful". The file opened by the magistrates for offending a religious confession, which included not only Saltini but also Archbishop Erio Castellucci, is moving towards being archived. The lawyer Minutillo, who has already announced that he will oppose the request for dismissal, today did not comment on the news story, and then added: "What is certain is that, after the thousands of protest signatures and after the numerous complaints filed and the opening a file at the Public Prosecutor's Office, a spirit of healthy Christian prudence would have suggested removing at least that painting from the exhibition". The artist's injury sparked numerous reactions. Above all those of the mayor Alberto Bellelli, who speaks of "madness": "An act of extreme violence which cannot find any justification. I would like to express my most sincere closeness to Andrea and his family, also on behalf of the city. Lower the Toni is everyone's responsibility." The Diocese expresses "closeness and full solidarity" with Saltini "for the unprecedented act of violence of which he was the victim". In the meantime, police investigations are underway, while there is no news regarding possible suspensions of the 'Gratia Plena' exhibition, whose conclusion is set for June 2nd.
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