Street artist Hogre faces up to 2 years in prison under 1930 Italian blasphemy law

Roman street artist Hogre risks up to two years in prison or a fine of up to €5,000 under Article 404 of the Italian penal code, a 1930 law stemming from the Lateran Pacts between Mussolini and the Holy See. The charges stem from a satirical poster titled 'Ecce Homo Erectus,' which depicts Jesus with an erection and a hand on a child's head, installed on ATAC bus shelters in Rome in June 2017 alongside another poster, 'Immaculata Conceptio IN VITRO,' showing two women dressed as contemporary Madonnas holding a child. The works were claimed by Hogre and fellow street artist DoubleWhy, both Roman, as acts of subvertising—a technique that alters advertisements to critique consumerism and visual pollution. Hogre's poster targets allegations of sexual abuse and pedophilia within the Catholic Church, while DoubleWhy's addresses controversies over gay couples' access to adoption and artificial insemination in Italy. The posters provoked public outrage, requiring police removal. Hogre, who lives in London, is known for previous subvertising campaigns like 'Fintissimi,' which parodied Intimissimi ads featuring Irina Shayk. The case highlights the tension between artistic expression and religious offense laws in Italy.