The recent exhibition by George Gavriel once again confronts us with the question: Are there limits in art?
It is difficult to give a definitive answer, since art is precisely defined by its constant testing of boundaries. There are, of course, different kinds of limits, some internal and others external.
Art has its own limits of quality, coherence and intention. Not in the sense of censorship but of judgement. A critic sees a work and likes it or does not. The same applies to non-specialists. In short, time, audience and criticism act as filters. These limits are not imposed. On the contrary, they are either earned or rejected.
The problem arises when some attempt to impose moral limits. Can art offend, shock, or hurt? Yes, historically it often has, and through this stance society has progressed. However, when art instrumentalises violence, abuse, or the humiliation of real people without necessity or reflection, then a serious moral question arises. It is not about whether it is "allowed" but whether it is justified. Is this the kind of art Gavriel is producing? We do not believe so.
There are, of course, societies that impose legal limits on art, for example hate speech, child abuse, or incitement to violence. These are not aesthetic but institutional limits, reflecting society's fear of the consequences of freedom. The problem begins when law is confused with morality or aesthetics and becomes a form of preventive silencing.
In free and democratic societies, each work meets the personal limits of its audience. This does not invalidate the work but defines our relationship to it. That we "cannot bear" something does not mean it should not exist. It means it is not for us.
In conclusion, art, as an act of freedom, cannot withstand external limits without cost. Yet, if it is completely detached from responsibility, it risks becoming an empty provocation. At this point, we believe Gavriil should reflect. Perhaps the most honest limit is not the one imposed on art but the one art itself chooses to exceed, fully aware of the consequences.