Artist inserts his own name for that of Jesus

Nov 6 2011 by Sara Nichol, Sunday Sun

A STUDENT who put on a sex show in the name of art has raised eyebrows again, this time with artwork of biblical proportions.

In 2009, Joseph Steele filmed a full-blown porn film in one of Newcastle University’s buildings on the day the uni’s graduates learned their degree results.

Now Joseph, who moved from Fenham, Newcastle, to London, has again raised eyebrows with his latest religious artwork.

The former fine art student was bedridden when he was struck down with a rare form of deadly tuberculosis last March.

The 25-year-old then spent months in bed copying out 178,000 words from the New Testament , replacing every reference to Jesus or Jesus Christ with his own name “Joseph Steele”.

This was the result of two years’ research for Joseph, who joined Alpha Christianity courses and says the work comments on society’s obsession with celebrity culture.

Once finished, the 6m long BIBLE made its first private appearance within Abney Cemetery, in London.

Joseph said: “I wasn’t really trying to be controversial.

“This is a very personal piece for me and that’s partly why I organised the private show – because I knew it could be misinterpreted. I think overall people were inspired by what I had managed to do.

“BIBLE is about the consequences of the Cheryl Cole Generation. It explores the idea that in the 21st century there is no God but Cheryl Cole. . . or any other celebrity.”

Joseph hit the headlines in November 2009 after the Sunday Sun revealed his pornographic exhibition.

It featured two of his friends having sex, in graphic detail, and had been filmed in a Newcastle University building on the same night Joseph learned he had achieved a first class degree.

Last year, Joseph created a project using three kilogrammes of explosives, 35 litres of paint and 80 condoms in his back garden to make six pieces of art.