Jean Ipoustéguy’s Death of the Father
NGV International
Ground Level
24 Oct – 20 Nov 72
In October 1972, the NGV acquired one of its most controversial sculptures, Jean Ipoustéguy’s Death of the Father (La Mort du père), which was exhibited alone under dramatic lighting in a dedicated temporary exhibition space. The artist first conceived it as ‘Death of the Pope’, but later inserted the features of his own father, who died in 1967. It’s arrival in Melbourne and subsequent moral outrage at the erotic nature of the work and the papal hats worn by some of the figures coincided with Australia hosting the 40th International Eucharistic Congress in 1973.