Advert
Advert
Advert

Hyper realistic sculpture of Jesus with real human features has people disturbed

Poppy Bilderbeck

Published 
| Last updated 

Hyper realistic sculpture of Jesus with real human features has people disturbed

Featured Image Credit: The Mystery Man Exhibition

People have been left divided over a hyper-realistic sculpture of Jesus Christ.

On Thursday, 13 October, curator Álvaro Blanco's exhibition, titled The Mystery Man, was opened in the Cathedral of Salamanca, Spain.

The exhibition features a life-size replica of 'the most accurate recreation to date of what could have been the face and body of Jesus'.

Advert

However, it has caused quite the stir. See the sculpture being unveiled here:

Loading…

The exhibition is made up of six different rooms, documenting the artistic and visual presentation of Jesus throughout history, before in the final room it reveals 'the hyperrealistic representation of the Man in the Holy Shroud'.

"It is the culmination of years of painstaking research and creative activity. The sculpture was made to bring the mystery to life through science and innovation," the exhibition's website explains.

Advert

Blanco told Rome Reports: "Throughout history, painters have detailed the image of Jesus of Nazareth. For the first time ever, we are going to see this body in human form without the mediation of artists."

A hyper-realistic sculpture of Jesus Christ is currently on display in Spain. Credit: Aurelian Images/ Alamy Stock Photo
A hyper-realistic sculpture of Jesus Christ is currently on display in Spain. Credit: Aurelian Images/ Alamy Stock Photo

The sculpture was based on data collected from the Shroud of Turin, which is 'a centuries old linen cloth that bears the image of a crucified man. A man that millions believe to be Jesus of Nazareth'.

Some have argued the Shroud of Turin is a fake or hoax. So subsequently, when Blanco first approached the story, he did so 'looking for a scientific, forensic explanation'.

Advert

However, he got 'caught up in this whirlwind of history' and questioned what the 'explanation' was of the Shroud.

"And there came a moment when I understood that the most wonderful things in this world have no explanation," Blanco reflected.

The sculpture is based on information from the Shroud of Turin. Credit: World History Archive/ Alamy Stock Photo
The sculpture is based on information from the Shroud of Turin. Credit: World History Archive/ Alamy Stock Photo

After 15 years of scientific studies - which confirmed the cloth did, at some stage, shroud a tortured man - the sculpture of the Mystery Man was made.

Advert

The sculpture - which is 5ft 10 and weighs 165.3 lbs - is made out of real human hair alongside silicon and latex.

It also features marks across the body to accurately portray the Flagellation of Christ when Jesus was whipped by Pilate, as well as marks made by Jesus' crucifixion and his crown of thorns.

The sculpture is made out of human hair, silicon and latex. Credit: The Mystery Man Exhibition
The sculpture is made out of human hair, silicon and latex. Credit: The Mystery Man Exhibition

Blanco said: "I was in front of the image, at least that we all have of Jesus of Nazareth, and I believe that you are going to have the opportunity to feel for the first time in history and in the world, the image and the reflection of his work as it has never been done before without any kind of interpretation, only with his reflection. Only with what he tried to do."

Advert

However, not everyone is convinced by this representation of Christ, with some having viewed the sculpture as 'disturbing'.

One said: "This feels so wrong."

"How come Keanu Reeves gets all the best parts?" another joked.

A third commented: "Very very disturbing, this is no reason to do this at all."

A final resolved: "This shameless display is disgusting! Intentions are of no consequence. It is simply scandalous and repulsive!"

The sculpture even has marks to represent where the crown of thorns would have been. Credit: The Mystery Man Exhibition
The sculpture even has marks to represent where the crown of thorns would have been. Credit: The Mystery Man Exhibition

The exhibition is set to travel around the world after its debut in Salamanca is over. It's reported as travelling to all five continents.

However, ArtiSplendore CEO Francisco Moya told Pillar Catholic the exhibition is 'not a traveling exhibition, but a pilgrim exhibition'.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected] 

Topics: News, Science, World News, Art

Poppy Bilderbeck
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

News

'QAnon Shaman' released from prison 14 months early

29 minutes ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Five Guys finally explained why it charges so much for burger and chips

4 hours ago