Overview
- The Syro-Malabar Church and the Kerala Latin Catholic Association argue the artwork misrepresents the Last Supper and hurts religious sentiments.
- The Garden Convention Centre venue displaying the piece was closed temporarily following demonstrations.
- Artist Tom Vattakuzhy rejects claims of distortion, saying he intended no offense and that the work draws on a play and humanistic themes.
- Exhibition curators say the painting depicts Mata Hari before her execution and situate the nudity in a historical and literary narrative.
- The Kochi Biennale Foundation declines to remove the piece on free-expression grounds, as political actors call for legal action and reports recall a 2016 withdrawal of the same image after protests.