Our Lady of Regla 2019

Editor: So, this is "Our Lady of Regla" by Harmonia Rosales, created in 2019 using oils and acrylic on canvas. It's immediately striking how she’s re-envisioning a classic Madonna and Child, isn’t it? There's a softness in the gaze, a clear tenderness. What's your read on the cultural significance here? Curator: It truly whispers to the soul, doesn't it? For me, Harmonia paints a reclaiming, a re-centering. Traditionally, we’re accustomed to seeing this iconic image rendered with very specific European features. What happens when we invite, nay, *insist* on seeing divinity reflected through Black womanhood? Suddenly, the old narrative shimmers with new light, and previously invisible faces are now beautifully illuminated. Do you find your perception of the piece shifts with this new representation? Editor: Definitely. It pushes back against that singular, Eurocentric idea of holiness. I'm curious about the choice of Regla, too. Curator: Yes! Our Lady of Regla is, of course, deeply revered in Afro-Cuban culture, often syncretized with the Yoruba deity Yemaya, the orisha of the ocean. So, we're navigating these gorgeous layers of cultural inheritance and spiritual blending. It's not just about representation; it's about celebrating a vibrant, living faith tradition. It asks us: who gets to tell these sacred stories and, more importantly, whose faces get to be at the center of them? Editor: It reframes the whole story. I hadn’t known about the connection to Yemaya either – thank you. It really shows how one image can hold so many meanings. Curator: Absolutely! It makes me ponder about seeing beyond conventional standards, about looking at images from different angles, or maybe from a new, refreshed view.