A Matter of Heart
Artists for Human Rights in Latin America

 

John Emery

"Madonna Doloroso"

 


"This work deals not with healing, but with the act of harm and torture.  Before we can start the healing, we must first recognize the wound.  A cut from a razor blade can be both silent and often imperceptible.  Razor cuts are real nonetheless, even when they wound only spirit and soul of the victim.  I hope the idea of slicing a Madonna will make the viewer squeamish and maybe even feel the pain that comes from allowing such an act to continue.  We must cry 'stop!'  We cannot continue to supply the tools that make the torture possible."