MADRID (AP) 鈥 A poster in the southern Spanish city of Seville that depicts a young, handsome Jesus wearing only a loincloth has unleashed a storm on social media, with some calling it an affront to the figure of Christ and others posting lewd remarks and memes poking fun at the image.
The poster by internationally recognized Seville artist Salustiano Garc铆a Cruz shows a fresh-faced Jesus without a crown of thorns, no suffering face and minuscule wounds on the hands and ribcage. It was commissioned and approved by the General Council of Brotherhoods, which organizes the renowned and immensely popular ahead of Easter in Seville.
As soon as it was unveiled last week criticism of it went viral on social media and a debate erupted over how a resurrected Christ should be depicted. Many called it a disgrace, inappropriate, too pretty, modernist and out of line with Seville's Easter tradition.
Spain is predominantly Catholic and church traditions such as marriage, baptisms and religious parades are immensely popular both among believers and nonbelievers. A campaign on to have the poster of Jesus withdrawn was signed by some 14,000 people from around the country.
The artist, Garc铆a, defended the work and dismissed the poster鈥檚 critics as old fashioned.
鈥淭here is nothing revolutionary in the painting, 鈥 Garc铆a told Atlas news agency. 鈥淭here is contemporaneity, but all the elements that I have used are elements that have been used in the last seven centuries in sacred art.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see at what point, at what element, people who don鈥檛 like it don鈥檛 like it,鈥 he said.
In another interview published by El Mundo daily, Garcia responded to criticism from conservative groups that the depiction of Jesus was 鈥渆ffeminate鈥 or 鈥渉omoerotic.鈥
鈥淎 gay Christ because he looks sweet and is handsome, come on! We are in the 21st century,鈥 Garc铆a said.
The artist said he used his son, Horacio, as the model for the poster.
鈥淚t caught us a little more by surprise because everything was done with respect,鈥 Horacio Garcia told Atlas.
鈥淎 lot of controversy comes from the fact that the model is too good, the Christ too handsome, too attractive,鈥 he said. But it hasn't been all bad: Horacio Garcia said he also has received many compliments and good wishes from people.
The General Council of Brotherhoods has so far ignored calls to replace the poster before Holy Week at the end of March. In past years, some posters for different Catholic celebrations were withdrawn following criticism.
Seville Mayor Jos茅 Luis Sanz labeled the controversy 鈥渁rtificial.鈥
鈥淚 like the poster,鈥 he said, adding that not all Holy Week posters can be the same each year. 鈥淪ome posters are riskier, some more classical, some are more daring.鈥
