Interview: Chocolate Jesus Artist, Cosimo Cavallaro
April 6th, 2007 by Menachem Wecker
Here are Cosimo Cavallaro’s answers to questions from Iconia on his chocolate Jesus sculpture, “My Sweet Lord.”
MW: Granted that chocolate is sweet and generally a well admired, or even canonized, desert, why do you think this piece is so controversial rather than paraded and admired?
CC: Controversial because the genitals are eatable therefore making Jesus a man. He becomes alive. The rapture is real. That must upset the CCL.
MW: What does it mean for Jesus to made of a material that is meant to be consumed and is so easily gift wrapped?
CC: Or made of plastic to look like bronze and sold all over the world as opposed in chocolate? I don’t know what he would think. But he does say eat my body and drink my blood.
MW: Do you see the piece as religious, or is Jesus intended to be more of a cultural icon?
CC: Jesus belongs to all who are in need of him.