Artist Manuel Palacio may find himself in court for publicly displaying his painting "Body and Soul", according to a Police statement issued yesterday.

But, ironically, the artist told The Royal Gazette, he painted the work with the intention of specifically challenging perceptions of the black male as a threatening individual.

"I wanted to depict the big, scary, black male image," said Mr. Palacio last night. "But, I wanted to challenge that perception of the black male by putting him in loving embrace and showing him giving himself over completely to love."

Mr. Palacio said challenging negative perceptions of the black male was particularly important to him because he is raising two young daughters.

"Media tends to portray black males as big, physically aggressive human beings. But - having young, black daughters - I wanted to show the black male as a tender, loving human; being by depicting him in a tender moment."

Mr. Palacio's painting was confiscated by Police on Wednesday from his Harbour Nights' booth for the second week in a row. And this time Police also took away two other framed prints of his work.

According to the Police statement a file has been prepared and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether Mr. Palacio has committed an offence against "public morality".

Yesterday Police spokesman Coleman Easton said a complaint from a member of the public once again lead to the seizure of Mr. Palacio's art. But when asked whether the person who complained Wednesday was the same individual who went to Police last week, Mr. Easton declined to answer.

"I will not confirm that," he said.

While last week, the painting was returned to Mr. Palacio by the Chamber of Commerce the day following the seizure, this week, Police are hanging onto the artwork.

"These prints were seized from a stall following an investigation into alleged offences under the Summary Offences Act and will be returned in due course" reads the Police statement.

Mr. Easton said exhibiting the painting in a public place is considered an offence under Title 8, Section 11 of the Summary Offences Act 1926 which stipulates stipulates that "to openly exhibit any obscene print, picture or other indecent exhibit is an offence" against public morality.

"The Bermuda Police Service fully recognises that involvement in `public morality' cases can be emotive and are, by their very nature, likely to attract significant community interest.

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