COLOMBIA: Craftsman's Christ

To the practical eye of Jesus Antonio Molina Vega, an architect and contractor, Colombian religious art seemed decadent. He thought he could do better. Three years ago, in his native city of Neiva (pop. 35,000), he started work on a statue of Christ.

For the sake of variety, European-trained Jesus Molina decided on a supine position. With a contractor's thoroughness, Molina consulted with scores of doctors on bone structure and rigor mortis, attended all the town's autopsies. The result, a massive, 6 ft. 2 in. figure of stone, was stark and realistic (see cut).

To inspire respect rather than pity, Molina...

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