The ex prime minister of Israel is now a work of art. The sculpture of his momified body in a hospital bed has unleashed a wave of controversy in its country of origin.

With his eyes staring into space, his skin pale and swollen and his breast elevated and retracted by a simulator, deviced to recreate human breathing, the artist Noam Braslavsky pays tribute to the Israelian politician. Of course not everybody has appreciated it as such. Yoel Hasson, a member of the Israelian parliment, has described the sculpture as being "in very bad taste". and thinks it is the product of "disgusting vogeurism". Braslavsky has acknowledged that the work is provocative but says his intention was to create a figure to honour the leader. 

On view at the Kishon gallery at Tel-Aviv since last Thursday. The visitors are obligated to follow hospital rules and enter the display in small groups and in silence upon contemplating the cadaver of the ex prime minister.

Ariel Sharon has been in a coma since 2006 when he suffered a massive cardiac arrest. His friends and colleagues have stood up to voice their repulsion of the work. Raanan Gissin, ex-collaborator and advisor to Sharon stated: "I think that Sharon would say, I prefer not to be remebered at all than to be remembered this way".