Artist Manuel Palacio often courts controversy with his work, but an exhibit in the Bermuda National Library crossed the line according to a woman who contacted The Royal Gazette.

“I felt very offended by it — anything like that should not be up,” the woman said, of two pieces incorporating signs that read “I hate white people” and “We serve white’s [sic] only”.

“Especially at a time of depression and crisis in Bermuda, we don’t need to see things like that — in a library, where people are going to gain knowledge. It’s sending a negative message. People are crazy enough as it is — who needs to be looking at something like that? Even if the man is an artist, you just can’t do stuff like that.”

The pieces on display have been up since March 17, and are inspired by another creation that itself caused an international furore.

Antiguan author Jamaica Kincaid pulled no punches with her 1988 book A Small Place, which was intensely critical of her home government. Some readers took offence at the ways in which the book linked Antigua’s colonial past with the modern culture of tourism to the island.

The notice accompanying Mr Palacio’s exhibit notes a parallel between that book and Bermuda’s own condition.

“The art pieces’ intent is to initiate a conversation,” said Mr Palacio, who created the exhibit in conjunction with his presentation on A Small Place before the library’s book club.

“They are referring to our racial history. ‘I hate white people’ is a common axiom I hear frequently from ‘progressive’ black folks, who don’t categorise themselves as racists; nonetheless, they make judgments based on skin colour, as if all white people are the same.

“I made ‘I hate white people’ to highlight their grievances, the injustices, and the reason why they hold on to the past.

“I wanted to point out that those signs are in Bermuda’s past and are relevant if you make it so — that racism, although true, is not a cause to hold anyone back. The only power it has is the power you give it.”

The second piece expressed the exploitation of racism for political and financial gain, he said. Mr Palacio added that he felt grateful that the offended member of the public had spoken out and started a dialogue.

“I hope they point out the reason why it is offensive; it’s probably a personal matter that this sign is triggering, something that has offended them so much,” he said. “It will be good if they can share their view.

“I’m sure we as humans can find compassionate common ground.”