An undisputed classic is set to become this year’s most controversial work of art.
Michelangelo David sparked another nudity scandal, this time in Glasgow rather than Tallahassee— following a restaurant’s attempts to feature the artwork, phallus and all, in its latest subway spot. Global, the company that oversees public transport advertising in Glasgow, rejected the original design. Now family restaurant group DRG is running a censored version and footing the bill for the reprint.
DRG began conceptualizing its latest advertisement for Glasgow’s Italian restaurant Barolo in early January. Previous adverts featured the Mona Lisa eating spaghetti and God, as depicted in The Creation of Adam (c. 1508–12), handing out a slice of pizza.
“Indeed, we saw the story in Florida and truly, it didn’t even happen that we could have a similar situation in Glasgow,” Nadine Carmichael, head of sales and marketing at DRG, told ArtnetNews. “The Florida saga was completely mind-blowing.”
The original design. Courtesy of DRG
Their original ad featured David eating a bare slice, framed with taupe ribbon and text that read, “It doesn’t get more Italian.”
Global, who declined to comment, first proposed that DRG alter the original print ads by affixing Italian flag stickers where the good lord parted David. Unfortunately, when printed, these stickers turned out to be too small. In the end, DRG and Global compromised on an updated design where the protagonist is cropped above his waist.
Modified and approved design. Courtesy of DRG
“The composition just isn’t the same for beginners,” Carmichael said, “and it feels odd to have cut half of an iconic figure, so it deviates slightly from our perspective.” Others are concerned on the growing notoriety of sculpture.
“It’s a silly distraction,” remarked Martyn Reed, who oversees the annual Nuart festival in nearby Aberdeen. “I don’t know what’s worse: [the sculpture] being used to sell pizza, or the mock outrage being exploited for column inches.
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