Jilma Madera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lilia Jilma Madera Valiente
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| Born | September 18, 1915 La Victoria, Pinar del Río, Cuba
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| Died | February 21, 2000 (aged 84) Havana, Cuba
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Jilma Madera (born September 18, 1915 – died February 21, 2000) was a famous Cuban sculptor. She is best known for two very important artworks: the Christ of Havana statue and a special statue (called a bust) of José Martí located at Pico Turquino.
Contents
Early Life and Artistic Journey
Jilma Madera was born in La Victoria, a place in Pinar del Río, Cuba. From a young age, she showed a talent for art. She went to study painting and sculpture at a famous art school called the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes "San Alejandro". There, she learned from a great teacher, Juan José Sicre, who was also a well-known sculptor. He created the José Martí Memorial.
Creating the Christ of Havana
One of Jilma Madera's most famous works is the huge statue of the Christ of Havana. She won a competition in 1953 to create this important piece. This happened during the time when Fulgencio Batista was the leader of Cuba.
The statue is made from beautiful Carrara marble. It is very tall, about 60 feet high, and weighs a massive 320 tons! The statue was not made in one piece. It is actually made up of 67 different parts. These parts were brought all the way from Italy. Jilma Madera herself carved the statue in Italy. Before it came to Cuba, it was even blessed by Pope Pius XII. The Christ of Havana statue was officially revealed on December 24, 1958. This was just a couple of weeks before the Batista government ended.
There's a story that the statue was created because Batista's wife prayed for her husband's safety during a time of unrest. She supposedly commissioned the statue to show her thanks for her prayers being answered. However, this might just be a popular story that people tell, known as an urban legend.
Other Important Works and Exhibitions
Besides the Christ of Havana, Jilma Madera created other significant artworks. She made a special statue (a bust) of José Martí in 1953. This bust was placed at Pico Turquino in 1963. This happened during the celebrations for 100 years since Martí's birth. Celia Sanchez, a famous Cuban revolutionary, helped place it there.
Jilma Madera also shared her art with the world through exhibitions. She worked and showed some of her sculptures at the Sculpture Center in New York, USA. She also had exhibitions in Cuba, including at the City of Havana Local Council (Ayuntamiento de la Habana) and the Lyceum and Lawn Tennis Club. Her works were also part of national painting and sculpture exhibitions in Cuba.
See also
In Spanish: Jilma Madera para niños
