Tidal art gallery deemed 'offensive to Islam' destroyed by police in Maldives

Art is one of the things which come under attack every time intolerance towards different ideas grows in a society. Many artefacts or artists have been attacked for something deemed offensive to certain groups of people in the past few years.

Now the world’s first tidal gallery has been taken apart by police armed with pickaxes at a holiday resort in the Maldives. The attack on the work of art built in July comes as many consider it ‘offensive to Islam.

The installation featured semi-submerged exhibits that vanished and appeared again as water levels changed due to the tide. The demolition was ordered by outgoing president Abdulla Yameen because of the depiction of idols which also caused criticism by clerics.

Meanwhile the artwork by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor named Coralarium didn’t contain any religious references. The gallery was also intended to offer sanctuary to ocean life by acting as a sheltered space.