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Spanish conservatives denounce artist’s Christ poster as ‘effeminate’ and ‘camp’

  • The poster shows Christ after his resurrection, standing semi-naked in front of a blood-red background, with the lower part of his body covered by a white cloth
  • Many social media users called the poster ‘sexualised’, with one ultra conservative group demanding a public apology from the artist

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The poster created for Sevilla’s Holy Week celebrations, which has sparked the anger of ultra-conservatives, who say it is “offensive” to Catholics. Photo: AFP
Agence France-Presse

A poster of Christ to promote Easter week in Seville has drawn a sharp backlash from Spanish ultraconservatives, who denounced it as “effeminate” and “offensive” to Roman Catholics.

Designed by Seville artist Salustiano Garcia, the poster shows Christ after his resurrection from the dead, stood semi-naked in front of a blood-red background, with the lower part of his body covered by a white cloth.

It shows “the radiant side of Holy Week” in the “purest style of this prestigious painter”, said the Council of Brotherhoods and Guilds that organises the main Easter week events in the southern city.

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In a social media backlash, however, many people denounced the poster as “sexualised”.

Spanish artist Salustiano Garcia (right) poses with his son Horacio for a photograph next to the Christ he painted. Photo: AFP
Spanish artist Salustiano Garcia (right) poses with his son Horacio for a photograph next to the Christ he painted. Photo: AFP

“It’s absolutely shameful and an aberration,” wrote the ultraconservative Catholic IPSE, which says it fosters “respect for Christian symbols” and is active in opposing abortion.

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The image portrayed Christ as “effeminate” and “camp”, it said, demanding a public apology from the artist for a poster that was not in the spirit of Holy Week.

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