Santiago and the Path of Seven Crosses

In our travels we’ve often seen artists take a common sculpture and put their own unique spin on it—often as part of a fundraiser. In Seattle artists decorated pigs made in the image of the bronze “Rachel” piggy bank at the Pike Place market to raise money for the market foundation, in Chicago and Zurich they used cows, and in Santorini, Greece, donkeys.

In Santiago, we saw a powerful display by artists, in this case using seven different crosses. On Cerro San Cristobal, the second highest hill in the city, seven artists were assigned one of seven “Sayings of Jesus on the cross,” the last words of Christ during his passion.

Each artist took a very different approach. Each cross evoked emotion. This is one post where the pictures are the real story.

The english translation of each of the seven sayings is followed by one or more pictures of the cross illustrating the verse. The plaque with the verse in Spanish and the name of the artists follows each cross. 

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Luke 23:34

 

Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43

 

Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. John 19:26–27

 

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34

 

I thirst. John 19:28

 

It is finished. John 19:30

 

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23:46