Mexico: Zapata's grandson decries nude painting of national hero in peasants' march

M/S Emiliano Zapata's grandson Jorge Zapata Gonzalez in press conference, Mexico City
C/U Zapata Gonzalez
M/S Peasant associations' rally
C/U Zapata's descendant
W/S Press conference
SOT, Jorge Zapata Gonzalez, Emiliano Zapata's grandson (Spanish): "What the government tried to do, vilifying the image of our general with this trash of a portrait is something we never agreed to."
M/S Press conference *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Jorge Zapata Gonzalez, Emiliano Zapata's grandson (Spanish): "When we pointed out our position as descendants of the general, defending what he gave his life for - part of the family that has always lived from the crumbs that the government gives them - then this gave place to the division of the family. And it was part of that family which came to sign for money from the government, so that they could put a little plaque to display the painting, but on which the family hadn't agree on...what bullshit is that. Either we are or we are not. Since the beginning when we found out about that painting, we took our stance and said we did not agree."
W/S Banner depicting Zapata in march
M/S Zapata's descendants in march
W/S March
M/S March
W/S Banner depicting Zapata in march
M/S Zapata's descendants in march
W/S March
M/S March
M/S Zapata's descendants arriving at Palace of Fine Arts
M/S Protesters as chants are heard
M/S Protesters blocked from entry
M/S Protesters
M/S Protesters putting up manifesto on door
M/S Zapata's descendants in front of placard
M/S Protesters
M/S Zapata's descendant holding picture of Zapata fully-clothed
C/U Picture of Zapata
M/S Picture of Zapata
SOT, Jorge Zapata Gonzalez, Emiliano Zapata's grandson (Spanish): "We're not taking it (the museum) they simply closed it, and I don't know why we didn't come to get anything. We simply came to express our rejection towards the painting they made of our general Zapata."
M/S Protesters *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Jorge Zapata Gonzalez, Emiliano Zapata's grandson (Spanish): "I believe that at this stage there is no point in talking to the authorities. The damage has already been done. We came to dignify the true Zapata."
M/S Protesters *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Jorge Zapata Gonzalez, Emiliano Zapata's grandson (Spanish): "They (the Mexican government) wanted to create a distraction and what better than the figure of the general of whom they have took advantage? And, when last year the current president said that 2020 was going to be the year of General Emiliano Zapata, they ended up with this trash of a portrait. Then we came to dignify the general by bringing the paintings that the people keep with great affection for the general."
M/S Picture on display in street exhibition
W/S Pictures on display
M/S Bust of Zapata on display outside Palace of Fine Arts
C/U Bust
M/S Portrait of Zapata
W/S Palace of Fine Arts
SCRIPT
Protesters hailing from the Mexican peasant associations joined Emiliano Zapata's grandson Jorge Zapata Gonzalez on Saturday to stage a protest condemning a nude painting of the national hero displayed in a Mexico City museum.
Protesters marched on the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) where they were denied entry. Demonstrators subsequently put up a banner stating their protest on the cultural centre’s main entrance.
"What the government tried to do, vilifying the image of our general with this trash of a portrait is something we never agreed to," said Jorge Zapata Gonzalez.
The painting depicts Zapata on a horseback, naked except for a pink sombrero and high heels striking a seductive pose.
The work produced by painter Fabian Chairez is titled 'La Revolucion' and is part of the exhibition 'Emiliano. Zapata Despues Zapata'.
Since its exhibition last December, the painting has garnered protests and counter-protests.