AN attempt to use Britart to foster relations with Morocco has backfired after locals branded the exhibits offensive to their religious beliefs.

Two of the works, notably an anatomical statement by Tracey Emin, have been withdrawn, while three others by artists including the Chapman brothers have caused offence because of their sexual nature.

The collection was put together and curated by Vanessa Branson, sister of the businessman Sir Richard. Opened earlier this month in Marrakesh’s main museum, it is a key element of a festival, Arts in Marrakesh, to build cultural links between Britain and the north African country.

It appears to have had the opposite effect. “I had no real time to see what Vanessa was bringing here before it arrived,” said Naima Benjelloun, director of the museum, which is in the most holy part of Marrakesh. “Morocco is a free country but we don’t want to cause trouble and upset our people.”

The Emin work shows the artist stuffing £5 and £10 notes into her private parts. Though the print remains in the catalogue, it was withdrawn from the exhibition just before the official opening of the festival, which has the backing of King Mohammed VI.

Also withdrawn was a picture of President George W Bush deliberately shown upside down. The print is by the American artist Jonathan Horowitz. “We took it out because this is not the time for political provocation,” said Benjelloun.

A pot by Grayson Perry, a Turner prize winner, shows the artist as a teenager, a young girl and a naked woman. The vase has deliberately been placed so that the naked woman is not shown at the front. Nonetheless there have been objections.

A small model by Jake and Dinos Chapman depicts a typically sexually ambiguous man-woman, whose nose is turned into a penis. This, too, has led to some complaints, as has a photo by Sarah Lucas, which shows a man’s genitals.

Benjelloun has indicated that she would have preferred these three works not to be in the exhibition, particularly now during Ramadan, the most religious time of year for Muslims.

“We’re not in Morocco deliberately to upset people,” said Branson. “Yes, of course I’m conscious that this exhibition goes a step beyond what’s usual. But we did want to expand people’s visual understanding.”

“British art is very, very different from Moroccan and is very stimulating,” said Fabrizio Bizzani, who runs a gallery in Marrakesh. “But some is gratuitously provocative and does not take into account local feeling.”

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