The media focus on the issue between Christians and Muslims, in relation to the two pictures showing a holographic image that combines Osama bin Laden and Jesus Christ and another depicting a statue of the Virgin Mary wearing a Muslim burqa, was disappointing, said Peter Stokes.
Mr. Stokes, the Executive Officer from a Christian-based political advocacy group known as Salt Shakers, said the media attention was designed to 'stir the pot' between the two religious communities rather then reporting on the 'right' issue that was giving publicity to the winner.
"…The other thing that disappoints me is the winner of the show received no publicity and nobody saw her picture in the paper," he said.
"(Instead) we just saw these other two (art pieces) so the media decided to stir up the strife rather then concentrate on the right issue which was who won the exhibition … I think that they had tried to stir the pot between Muslims and Christians …"
He had also extended his disappointment towards the judges of the religious art competition, saying they showed the same poor judgment as the two controversial artists did when they submitted it in.
"… It is a religious show where people have discernment about what is in or out and people who allowed those pieces to be shown probably showed the poor discernment that the people who produce them …"
The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, earlier said the artwork was 'gratuitously offensive to the religious beliefs of many Australians.'