(2 Mar 2018) A group of Bolivians has staged a pilgrimage to protest against an artist's rendition of their patron saint wearing red underwear and black stockings.
Artist Rilda Paco has faced criticism and death threats over her painting of the Virgin of Socavon in the mostly Roman Catholic country.
The residents were given the day off by regional Governor, Victor Hugo Vasquez, to protest against the depiction.   
Monsenor Cristobal Bialasik, who addressed those who attended said the reason for the pilgrimage was to "indemnify the Virgin Mary" for what he perceived were "blasphemous offenses" against her.
The painting in question depicts the Virgin wearing her crown. Below her waist, her skirt is hiked up revealing a tanga and thigh high pantyhose. Three costumed carnival attendees dance before her holding up bottles of alcohol.
Paco told the Associated Press in Bolivia there is closemindedness and a lack of appreciation for art.
However - she added - while some protested against her work, others praised it for showing a "reality that society does not want to see."
Paco said "during the majority of these festivals that Bolivia has there are always rapes, harassment, femicide, and children stolen, theft. All this because of the excess of alcohol."
The uproar began after she posted her painting on her Facebook page.

Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ] ​​
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]


You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть