Post by entropy on Apr 30, 2009 12:47:49 GMT -8
The subject in Sylvia Ji's glorious Santa Muerte painting was in the news last week. Kind of scary. Fans of Sylvia's work might find this fascinating.
Mexico City, April 2009
Defending 'Saint Death': Two hundred worshippers of the Mexican folk goddess Santa Muerte -- Saint Death -- staged a protest this week after the army bulldozed 35 shrines to her as part of the government's war on drugs. Santa Muerte, a skeletal figure also known wryly as La Flaca (the Skinny One) is considered the patron saint of criminals because she is said to honor evil requests as well as good ones. The protesters said most believers are ordinary, law-abiding people, but narcotraffickers often build altars to Santa Muerte in their safe houses and sport tattoos of her visage. The elaborate concrete shrines destroyed this month near the Texas border only served to glorify drug culture, said Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos. "Should we permit these spaces," he said, "where hired assassins who kill children, families, and police seek protection?"
Sylvia Ji "Santa Muerte" acrylic & mixed media on panel - 20" x 30"
Mexico City, April 2009
Defending 'Saint Death': Two hundred worshippers of the Mexican folk goddess Santa Muerte -- Saint Death -- staged a protest this week after the army bulldozed 35 shrines to her as part of the government's war on drugs. Santa Muerte, a skeletal figure also known wryly as La Flaca (the Skinny One) is considered the patron saint of criminals because she is said to honor evil requests as well as good ones. The protesters said most believers are ordinary, law-abiding people, but narcotraffickers often build altars to Santa Muerte in their safe houses and sport tattoos of her visage. The elaborate concrete shrines destroyed this month near the Texas border only served to glorify drug culture, said Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos. "Should we permit these spaces," he said, "where hired assassins who kill children, families, and police seek protection?"
Sylvia Ji "Santa Muerte" acrylic & mixed media on panel - 20" x 30"
