A reinterpretation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper”, produced by an artist from Pernambuco, was prohibited from being exhibited in the exhibition “What makes you look at the sky?”, on display at the Correios Cultural Center in Rio de Janeiro until August 31.
The work of Elvira Freitas Lira, originally from Arcoverde, in the Sertão of Pernambuco, portrays the apostles as women and black people. In the center of the painting, instead of the traditional image of Jesus Christ, there is a female figure with dark skin, long hair and wounds on her hands.
The artist expressed her frustration with the decision to exclude her work from the exhibition to which she was invited, claiming that the justification was to “preserve the image of the institution”.
“I think [the canvas was vetoed] because it was a woman or a gender not defined there in the center. […] I wonder why it is a painting with so many reproductions of this scene. This work is an intervention in a painting print of the Holy Supper where the men are very white,” said Elvira, in an interview with g1.
Instead of the painting, the Centro Cultural dos Correios do Rio de Janeiro is exhibiting an empty frame, keeping the credits of the original work.
Elvira Lira suggested that the Cultural Center’s decision to remove the painting from the exhibition may be related to the discomfort generated by the depiction of Jesus as a female figure. She noted that other interpretations of religious works often diverge from the pattern set by Da Vinci.
Despite being disappointed with the situation, Elvira Lira revealed to g1 that she chose to accept the decision and only expressed her frustration on social media after receiving support from friends and family. The artist explained that her painting was inspired by the various religious works she met during her childhood in Arcoverde and that she did not intend to create controversy.
“I think that my painting does not have an exactly political pretension. […] For me, my paintings are paintings of love. I had a solo exhibition in São Paulo, an entire floor; This was the work I chose to do my only performance in my life. […] That is why I was also sad; because it’s a work that I intended to show more, you know?”, reported Elvira.
What do Correios say?
In a statement, the institution said that the work was not in the catalog presented during the initial analysis and approval of the exhibition project.
“Correios reaffirms its commitment to maintaining plural cultural units open to the artistic community, in favor of the construction of an eclectic, democratic, attractive and inclusive program for the whole society,” said the public company in a statement.
The sending of the canvas to the exhibition was not requested, according to Elvira Freitas Lira, who denies that the Post Office has contacted her. According to the artist, the company also did not mention that the work would have been refused due to problems in the catalog.
Rodrigo Franco, the curator, informed g1 that Correios contacted him to communicate that Elvira Freitas Lira’s painting would be reevaluated and that her exhibition in the exhibition, which is on display in Rio de Janeiro until August 31, would only take place after the institution published its position on Ancelmo Gois’ blog, where the case was first publicized.
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