Birth of Eve 2018

Harmonia Rosales, born in 1984, created this compelling image entitled "Birth of Eve," and in it, traditional iconography is re-envisioned. Here, the Madonna and Child motif, ubiquitous in Western art, is boldly reimagined. We see a Black mother and child set against a backdrop teeming with cherubic figures, all encircled by a vibrant wreath of flowers. However, look closely, and you'll notice a serpent, a skull, and a subversion of racial expectations that challenge our collective memory. Consider the snake: throughout art history, the serpent is a symbol of temptation and the fall of humankind. But in other contexts, it represents wisdom and healing. This duality reflects the cyclical nature of symbols, constantly resurfacing and evolving through time. The emotional power of this image lies in its disruption of entrenched narratives, prompting us to confront the subconscious biases embedded within our cultural psyche. Rosales invites us to reconsider who we venerate and why, revealing the potent ways in which symbols can be reimagined to reflect a more inclusive vision.