Enh. The world is full of sappy-eyed Jesus paintings. Now it’s a comment on human fallibility and good intentions. The title is more appropriate than ever. Now - it’s art.
Oh man, I almost died when I looked at that link. WARNING: SWALLOW YOUR BAGEL FIRST!!
She was making an artistic statement. Silly people, worshipping these portrayals of Jesus as if they ARE Jesus! By desecrating the image, she’s telling us to stop focusing on the superficial. Paint and plaster are ephemeral and thus inconsequential. Only when you realize this can you become free.
That’s true, but not actually my point. I don’t think she deliberately desecrated the painting. In fact, I wouldn’t use the word “desecrated” because the painting was not a sacred object (as opposed to having a sacred subject). I don’t think the current state of the work is making a religious statement, ala, Piss Christ (which, honestly, I find rather jejune.)
But I do think she made an artistic statement - just not the one she was trying for. It’s her attempt to reach well beyond her grasp that intrigues me. Her statement, in context, is more interesting (and maybe even more honest) than the original work, imo, despite the obvious technical superiority of the original.
Well, that pretty much puts the last nail in Christianity, if Jesus was a Sloth.
I see the woman responsible now has been named, Cecilia Giménez. Personally, I don’t think she was making some sort of political statement, but that she is a massive fan of the TV series Monkey.
One does so much hope that the church authorities take her up on this and insist that she now ‘finish’ it. The result would surely be just as hilarious! And, as she’s clearly already smothered it all in a thick layer of paint, it’s not as if she would be doing any more damage to the original painting.
In a fantastic twist to this story the restorer, Cecilia Giménez, is now demanding royalties.
I’m pretty certain an unknown Roman soldier put the last nail in Christianity. Probably in the left wrist.
Yeah, I heard about that. “I ruined a 100-year-old painting, that you’re going to have to pay to fix. NOW PAY ME FOR IT!!!”
(And who cares if it was a painting of Jesus or not? She ruined a painting that wasn’t her’s to ruin, and now she wants to be paid for it? WTF?)
She’s saying that since the painting has become such a big draw with people coming from all over to see it, she should get some money for making it happen. She claims she would give the money to charity.
I think a fresco that “… resembles a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic …” is much better for a church than just another Jesus pic.
“Our sloth, who art in heaven, hairy be thy mane.”
In breaking news, Cecilia Giménez is off to Hollywood. Mel Gibson has asked her to work as art director on his sequel Return to the Planet of the Passion of the Apes. She’s agreed, on the condition that someone helps her do the feet, which she’s always had trouble with.
It would explain why the Second Coming is taking so long.
Actually, I think Jesus looks more like a Slow Loris. Compare to painting.
StG
It seems that Ms. Gimenez has reaped financial success from her outing into the world of amateur fresco-painting:
It’s famous not for being good, but for being famous.
Kinda like the Kardashians.
It’s as close to a miracle as anything else I’ve heard of.
