The artist Tooji, including has represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest and been a presenter for MGPjr NRK, today launched a new music video.
A video with intimate and stripped scenes before the altar Frogner Church in Oslo.
Not exactly what Frogner church had envisioned when they agreed to rent the church for the filming of a music video.
– Our intention was to contribute to the important debate about gays with religious backgrounds and beliefs, said parish leader Tellef Raustøl NRK.
– They have not kept the agreement
– When we rent out church a fiduciary, and what they have done is a violation of trust, says Tellef Raustøl in Frogner parish Photo: Private
Raustøl say they were invited to an art project with two naked men in an embrace.
– The scene would be poetic and symbolic. We would see a first draft and the final result so that we should not offend anyone.
– But that did not happen?
– No that did not happen. In the video there is a lovemaking scene that is far beyond what is described in the project Parish Council had submitted to it.
In retrospect, they prayed that scene entirely removed, which is not done.
– What do you think about that?
– They have not kept their agreement. We believe that what is happening now could provoke many, and we are afraid that this challenge could be damaging to the case we stand together, that gay and lesbian love are blessed by the church.
Rejects breach of contract
– When the church partially operated of the state, with state employees and public property, it is necessary that the state requires that no person shall be discriminated against, said Tooji. Photo: Håvard Lior / NRK
Tooji denies that they have violated any agreement, and believes that the church has since gotten cold feet.
– We have been open to dialogue with the church of our expression and the message we want to convey. The recordings of all the scenes have been open for inspection, and the whole thing has been done in a church room with surveillance cameras, printer artist to NRK.
He believes this is an artistic expression that is necessary to point out the problem of discrimination because of sexual orientation.
Bishop reacts
– For me it is a very large violations of what the church is for. We had intentions to show nudity in a symbolic and creative way, but not as it is now presented, says Raustøl.
Oslo diocesan council is sharply critical of what has been happening in the church.
“nave should never be used as a visual backdrop for sexual scenes in a commercial production. A similar scene between man and woman would be equally unacceptable “writes Oslo Bishop Ole Christian Kvarme in a press statement.
Frogner Church Oslo was used to record the music video for the song The Father Project with artist Tooji. Photo: Åserud, Lise / SCANPIX
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