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Spanish city protests against 'too friendly' devil sculpture | Spanish city protests against 'too friendly' devil sculpture |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A planned sculpture of Satan in the Spanish city of Segovia has been criticised for being too jolly. | A planned sculpture of Satan in the Spanish city of Segovia has been criticised for being too jolly. |
The bronze statue was created as a tribute to a local legend, which says that the devil was tricked into building the city's famous aqueduct. | The bronze statue was created as a tribute to a local legend, which says that the devil was tricked into building the city's famous aqueduct. |
But residents say that the devil - who is smiling and taking a selfie with a smartphone - looks too friendly. | But residents say that the devil - who is smiling and taking a selfie with a smartphone - looks too friendly. |
The artist told BBC News he was surprised by the level of criticism directed at his artwork. | |
A judge has now ordered the artwork to be put on hold while he looks into whether it is offensive to Christians. | A judge has now ordered the artwork to be put on hold while he looks into whether it is offensive to Christians. |
More than 5,400 people - just over 10% of the city's population - have signed a petition calling for the sculpture to be cancelled. | More than 5,400 people - just over 10% of the city's population - have signed a petition calling for the sculpture to be cancelled. |
The petition says that because the devil is shown in a "jovial" way, with a phone in his hand, it "exalts evil" and is therefore "offensive to Catholics". | The petition says that because the devil is shown in a "jovial" way, with a phone in his hand, it "exalts evil" and is therefore "offensive to Catholics". |
It adds that Satan is supposed to be "repulsive and despicable - not kind and seductive, like that of the 'good-natured devil' without malice" that has been proposed. | It adds that Satan is supposed to be "repulsive and despicable - not kind and seductive, like that of the 'good-natured devil' without malice" that has been proposed. |
But the row has taken the artist, José Antonio Abella, by surprise. | |
"It seems to me incredible that people would be so fiercely against the sculpture of a devil to commemorate a popular legend, taught to Segovian kids at school," Mr Abella, a former doctor who has taken up art in his retirement, told BBC News. | |
"I love Segovia. I have lived here for three decades and I was hoping for this sculpture to be a form of demonstration of how thankful I am to Segovia for being my adopted town. | |
"I haven't received any money whatsoever for this sculpture... I haven't done this for the money but as a personal tribute to the city I call mine. You can imagine how I feel." | |
City Councillor Claudia de Santos has also called the campaign "unfair and disheartening". | City Councillor Claudia de Santos has also called the campaign "unfair and disheartening". |
She told El Pais newspaper that she would try to ensure that the sculpture goes ahead as planned. |
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