A poster depicting a likeness of Premier Jean Charest, dead, at the feet of left-wing Quebec MNA Amir Khadir was found by police investigators who entered the politician's home. But Khadir's family and supporters pointed out the tongue-in-cheek origins of the picture - it's promotional material for a rock band, modelled on a famous 19th-century revolutionary painting. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
June 12, 2012 - 1:44 PM
MONTREAL - An artistic parody is drawing sharply different responses in Quebec, depending on whom you ask.
Police found a likeness of Premier Jean Charest, dead, on a printed leaflet when they entered the home last week of rival politician Amir Khadir, a Quebec MNA. The premier's body is laid out at Khadir's feet.
It's a parody of an 1830 painting by Eugene Delacroix, "Liberty Guiding The People," which depicted a scene from the French Revolution.
The altered painting is being used as a promotional item by a local rock band. The parody version puts Khadir in the role of a gun-toting revolutionary. It also shows a police officer on his knees, crouching before a man dressed in a banana suit, a real-life costumed protester who was recently arrested.
The wife of the politician, the sole elected member of the left-wing Quebec solidaire party, smiled when asked about the item today. Nima Machouf laughed and told reporters they should go see it online because it would make them smile, too.
But some of Charest's cabinet ministers say it's not funny at all. One called it disgusting. Another said it's the kind of thing that could give a disturbed person some ideas.
Police found the item, covered in glass, on a kitchen table when they entered the Khadir family home last week. They were there to arrest the politician's teenage daughter in connection with a series of illegal acts allegedly committed at recent protests.
Police mentioned the item in court this week during a bail hearing.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012