Botero Transforms Abu Ghraib Prisoners Into Art

Oct. 27, 2006 — -- As the world reacted in horror to photographs depicting torture at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in 2003, one artist reacted by turning to his canvas to create a collection that is so controversial it has been rejected by American museums.

Watch Dan Harris' full report on the "World News" webcast at ABCNews.com.

Colombian-born Fernando Botero, known for his chubby sculptures and paintings of people, told ABC News that when he saw the images of U.S. military personnel posing with nude Iraqi prisoners, he was "shocked like the rest of the world."

"I was really upset and angry because I thought it was not expected of the United States, which had been a model of compassion and a defender of human liberties and human rights," he said.

There have been three arrests in the case, with Army Cpl. Charles Graner receiving 10 years in prison for his involvement.

As the case unfolded, Botero was driven to use his artistic skills in response.

"One day I was on a plane and was still reading about this, and I took a paper and a pencil and started to do some sketching … and then paintings and for 14 months I was doing this," he said. "It was kind of like an obsession. … The more you read about it, the most terrible it sounds."

"Prisoners were dressed like a woman. For a Muslim to be seen with things of the woman, like a brassiere, is a tremendous humiliation," Botero said. "In this religion, you never see the men nude. This was part of the humiliation that was part of the torture."

Botero ended up with a collection of 80 paintings of nude Iraqi prisoners who are clearly suffering.

A portion of the works is now on display at a gallery in Manhattan in New York City, after no American museum would show the paintings.

"I think the reason these are not being shown is because it is a hot subject," he said.

Botero, 74, has been exhibiting work in solo exhibitions since 1951. He said he first chose to bring violence into his art while depicting the violence in his homeland.

With the Abu Ghraib paintings, he is offering a testimony to what happened while not trying to change anything politically.

He hopes his art will help commemorate the atrocities so they are not forgotten.