Censorship is alive and well in the art world. Artistic expression is as vulnerable in democracies as it is in authoritarian regimes when it comes to sex, religion and the limits of tolerance. From international shows in the Gulf and the Far East to leading museums and galleries in the US and London, contemporary artists fall foul of local laws and sensibilities. Index on Censorship examines some of the most recent cases, talks to celebrated sculptor Anish Kapoor about taking a political stand and travels from Iran to China to see how artists are subverting the constraints on creative freedom. Index on Censorship is an award-winning magazine, devoted to protecting and promoting free expression. International in outlook, outspoken in comment, Index on Censorship reports on free expression violations around the world, publishes banned writing and shines a light on vital free expression issues through original, challenging and intelligent commentary and analysis, publishing some of the world's finest writers. Winner 2008 Amnesty International Consumer Magazine of the Year
Jo Glanville is Director of English PEN and joined the organization in September 2012 from Index on Censorship, where she served as an award-winning Editor since 2006.
Editorial - Jo Glanville Speaking Out for Freedom: Art, Solidarity and Political Pressure - Anish Kapoor China's New Deal: Ai Weiwei's Arrest Marks a Sea Change for Artists in China - Simon Kirby Picture This: 'Lollipope' by Parastou Forouhar - Malu Halasa Return of the Culture Wars: Censorship in the US Has Set Back the Debate - Philip Kennicott Battle Grounds: Reflections on a Funding Fallout - John Frohnmayer Relics of Freedom: The Growth of the Art Market Pits Free Expression against Religion - Matthew Bown Picture This: 'Piss Christ' By Andres Serrano - Eugenio Merino Art or Vandalism?: Street Art is Now a Symbol of Freedom in Cairo - Yasmine El Rashidi Russia's Robin Hood: Performance Art that Cocks a Snook to the Establishment - Nick Sturdee Timeline Indecent Exposure: Images that Shocked the Establishment 000 Picture This: 'The House of Osama Bin Laden' - Langlands & Bell Spaces of Freedom: Rozita Sharafjahan: A Pioneer on Iran's Art Scene - Shaheen Merali Stripsearch - Martin Rowson Fool for Art: In Defence of the Right to Artistic Expression - Jude Kelly Sketches of Dissent: Challenging the Status Quo in Turkey - Kaya Genc Picture This: 'To Be Inserted' - Peter Kennard Kingdom of the Blind: Trouble in Sharjah: The Play That Caused Offence at The Biennial - Mustapha Benfodil Index Index: A Round-Up of Art Censorship Stories
