Emiliano Zapata: Controversy Over His Femininity Portrait

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A painting that portrays the Mexican revolutionary leader riding a naked horse, with heels and a pink hat, has unleashed a huge controversy in Mexico among those who describe it as an offense to the memory of a national hero and those who consider it an artistic expression in favor of freedom and modernity.

Even President Manuel Andrés López Obrador was asked about the controversy caused by the work of the artist Fabián Cháirez included in the exhibition Emiliano Zapata after Zapata at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the death of the leader and 140 years since his birth.

"The artists are completely free and there can be no censorship," said the president, who condemned the beating received by activists from the LGTBQ community by alleged defenders of the memory of the revolutionary leader. "What is it about entering Fine Arts and hitting? That is totally reprehensible. [You have to] look for an agreement.”

Jorge Zapata, grandson of the so-called Caudillo del Sur, charged those responsible for Fine Arts for including the painting by Cháirez, whom he accused of trying to gain fame by drawing “our gay general”.

"Zapata is the prototype of a well-made man, not a gay figure," thundered Jorge Zapata, who at first threatened to sue if they did not withdraw the work, but who later with the rest of his relatives accepted the option of including a note next to the chart setting out your objections.

Numerous voices have joined in recent days to the controversy, such as that of actress Regina Blandón, who disliked that the Zapata considered a portrait demeaning for looking gay. "Long live homophobia and machsimo," he said in a tweet.

A completely opposite position to that of the legendary singer and songwriter Armando Manzanero, who considered the painting "the most unfortunate thing there can be" and called it unfair.

"Instead of heels I would have put the eggs very large," he added, in statements collected by the Reform Agency.

In his defense, Cháirez explained that the painting called The Revolution that he painted in 2014 represents his right to freedom of expression and seeks to capture the social struggles that the country has had throughout its history.

The artist originally from Chiapas called his followers to support them in a peaceful demonstration this Friday, after the altercation the other day.

The controversy also spread to networks, in which in recent days opinions, memes and even insults were exchanged.

"It is very simple, that painting is a self-portrait and has nothing to do with Emiliano Zapata or the Revolution, therefore it should not be in that exhibition," said a Twitter user.

On the other side of the argument, artistic freedom and the need to accept that the world has evolved were appealed. "They are a weak and resentful generation, you can no longer joke about anything because they are offended, fragile," said another user on Instagram.

The exhibition consists of more than 140 paintings and is expected to be open to the public until February 16, 2020.