Controversial Jesus Depiction Sparks Backlash

The artistic portrayal has received intense criticism. 

In Spain, a Catholic group has expressed deep concern over the portrayal of Jesus Christ in an Easter week promotional artwork in Seville. The controversial depiction, crafted by Seville artist Salustiano Garcia, features a slender, semi-nude Jesus against a vibrant red backdrop with strategically placed grave linens, alluding to His resurrection.

The Council of Brotherhoods and Guilds, responsible for organizing Holy Week events in Seville, lauded the depiction as showcasing “the radiant side of Holy Week” in the distinct style of the esteemed painter, as reported by The Daily Mail. However, the Institute of Social Policy (IPSE), a conservative Catholic group, vehemently disagreed, labeling the artwork as a “sexualized” and “effeminate” misrepresentation of Jesus.

Expressing their discontent in a post, IPSE deemed the poster a grave offense, asserting that it completely distorts the authentic significance of Holy Week. Their demand for the immediate removal of the artwork was accompanied by strong language, employing the term “aberración,” translated into English as “outrage” or “abomination.”

Conservative voices in Spain, including Javier Navarro from the Vox Party, criticized the portrayal, suggesting that it aimed to provoke rather than encourage devout participation in Holy Week. Garcia defended his creation, describing it as a “gentle, elegant, and beautiful” representation of Christ, inspired by his own son and executed with great respect. He refuted claims of sexual connotations, emphasizing that his depiction aligned with longstanding artistic traditions of portraying Jesus.

The controversy echoes a similar incident from the previous year when Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson displayed an artwork in the European Parliament depicting Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount alongside homosexual men in BDSM attire. Italian, Spanish, and Polish MEPs condemned the display as disrespectful and blasphemous, accusing the European Parliament of providing a platform for the “LGTBIQ+ lobby” with the complicity of leftist parties.

In this ongoing debate, voices from both ends of the spectrum in Spain continue to clash over the boundaries between artistic expression and religious sensitivity, further illustrating the complex interplay between tradition, modernity, and diverse perspectives within society.