Julie Ann Lake-Diaz
"El Jesús de Mi Bisabuelo" ('My Great-Grandfather's Jesus')
Oil on Board
$1150
12" x12" (14" x14")
 
Artist Statement:
 
Over the centuries artists have depicted deity in their own image, envisioning a Savior and a God who they connect to. More often than not, the result of that in the European canon of sacred imagery depicts as a result iconography that looks like the people of that geographic area where the art was created. 
As a result, the tradition of these images have traveled with Christianity to other continents, and consequently to the South American continent. Bringing a very white and European Jesus. Not particularly one that my Chilean ancestors would have seen themselves in. 
The Jesus in this painting is a step in that direction, wearing a traditional wool poncho, and Christ depicted as a man with physical features of those who reside there. It is an image that I think my great grandfather would have seen more of his people in that depiction.