Christ of Havana, the larget statue in the world made by a female sculptor.
I began this story of the Christ of Havana with the Bible passage above because Jesus is present in Cuba and in all Cubans.
But the Christ described here isn’t exclusive to Cuba. Throughout time, man has sought to represent his gods, creating images of great beauty. The monument the Christ of Havana, more than 20 meters tall, was erected to reflect the religious faith of the Cuban people, and as a sign of their national roots.
The project was financed by both the government and the Archdiocese of Havana in 1956, after a contest that was won by the sculptor Gilma Madera, who presented a sketch of the figure of Christ, conceived as a “man and leader of his time”.
The Christ of Havana is located strategically by the Fortress of San Carlos of the Cabana and the coastal village of Casablanca, and this Christmas it turned 51 years old.
It is the largest statue in the world made by a female sculptor, and it’s made of White Carrara marble and 67 different pieces, with a total weight of 320 tons.
The Christ of Havana breaks with many similar statues; it doesn’t compete with Christ the King of Cali, Colombia, which, at 41 meters high, is considered the biggest representation of Jesus Christ in the world. The Christ of Havana doesn’t have his arms outstretched, like the famous Christ the Redeemer, on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, built 709 meters above sea level, or the Cristo-Rei de Almada in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Christ of Havana
The sculptor also did not use a model, or any existing images of Christ. Her inspiration is considered to be the typical mixed-race Cuban man; that is, full lips and big, strong hands. What’s more, she left the eye sockets empty, which gives the impression of Christ watching all those who look at him.
The Christ of Havana is not mythical, but rather an earthly figure, since according to Gilma Madera it was conceived “…as a reminder, not to be worshipped: it is marble.” The Jesus of Nazareth in Havana stands before us; his face is defiant, but serene, full of vigor and strength. One of his hands almost rests on his chest and the other is raised, which gives the appearance that he is blessing the city along the horizon.
Those who visit the Christ of Havana can enjoy contemplating such an imposing and allegorical work, and they also get a view of the city, ancient and colonial from close up, current and modern further away. Jesus watches over the city and the destiny of men from his perch, caring for the citizens of Havana and those that visit the city.
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