Frans Smeets this weekend said he had nothing against Bono but the U2 front man was not above being criticised.

"When you take a strong position on social and political issues you can expect some criticism. I don't see why a pop star should be an exception to this, " he told the Sunday Tribune.

The sculpture, entitled 'Jesus Loves You Too', is currently on display in Smeets' gallery in Friesland in the Netherlands.

It shows Bono dressed as Jesus, wearing a long white robe and with his arms outstretched. The gown has a Nike logo on it and Bono wears his trademark wraparound sunglasses, while an African child lies in distress at his feet.

"I was inspired by the growing number of extremely rich people who do one or two acts of charity and tell us how good they are, " said Smeets.

"Encouraging us to do things like eat a hamburger to raise money for a McDonald's house or buy Emporio Armani sunglasses for 170 to help save an African child [as part of the RED campaign], which may serve a good purpose, in a certain way just sucks.

"It's a big contradiction.

The idea behind the sculpture is that a lot of charity is born out of selfish and narcissistic tendencies.

Charity is never simple."

Smeets, according to his website, is a "historian, philosopher and artist, [who] makes art in which history, philosophy, skills, globalisation and the controversy between man and nature are important".

"I have nothing against Bono, " he said. "I just think that he himself is only a product; a brand with a wellchosen image."

However, fans of the U2 lead singer have defended him.

"Bono has raised millions for the poor. Yes, he is trying to be like Jesus, but that's because that's what Christians are supposed to do, " said one fan on an internet message board.

It has been suggested Smeets' work was inspired by Daniel Edwards, whose sculptures also address celebrity and popular culture in controversial ways.

Edwards' work includes a lifesized statue of Britney Spears giving birth and a naked and dead Paris Hilton laid out on an autopsy table.

While Bono was out of the country this weekend and could not be reached for comment, Smeets said he believed the singer was aware of the sculpture.

There are currently no plans to exhibit the statue in Ireland.