Harmonia Rosales, an Afro-Cuban artist living in Chicago, took on at the classic Michelangelo painting “The Creation of Adam,” in one of her most recent works. Her image of God and Adam caused quite a stir when she released the painting last month. People on social media accused Rosales of “cultural appropriation” for depicting God as a black woman and Adam as a black man.
“I wanted to take a significant painting, a widely recognized painting that subconsciously or consciously conditions us to see white male figures as powerful and authoritative and flip the script, establish a counter narrative,” Rosales told BuzzFeed News, on why she decided to reimagine the well-known Michelangelo piece. “White figures are a staple in classic art featured in major museums. They are the ‘masters” of the masterpieces. Why should that continue?”
Her license with this classic work has been widely celebrated. But there are still some who find her painting, which she calls “The Creation of God,” disturbing and a disgrace.
Most of the issues people have are not with the art itself, but with the audacity that Rosales displayed in showing God as black.
We decided to do a little research and in 3 Things You Should Know About Adam and Eden, we set the record straight on the race and ethnicity of God and Adam.
What do you think?
