The Palazzo dell’Agraria in Vasanello – Viterbo – Italy Welcomes
A New Heritage for Vasanello.
"This work was created with a clear and precise intent, deeply rooted in the memory of the homosexual victims of Nazism and dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. This historical foundation bestows upon 'The Madonna of the Homosexuals' a unique value and specificity. It is the exclusive heritage of the UNISCO Association - Vasanello (VT), which guarantees its integrity against any other representation or confusion."
"The Madonna of the Gays"
''The Madonna of the Gays/Homosexuals" is a work by the master Raffaele Ciotola and resides in Vasanello, within a community that has embraced the message of the work with genuine openness and respect. This location is the symbol of a great family that recognizes the intrinsic value of every individual, beyond any prejudice.
The Iconography of the Message
The work presents itself as a manifesto of love and memory. At the center, Mary welcomes her Son in a gesture that unites the sacred with the defense of human rights. The hand that clutches the world is the symbol of a tense and contracted strength: it is a pressing invitation, almost an artistic cry, to shake consciences toward a deeper and more inclusive love. In contrast, the other hand holds Jesus with a serenity that speaks of universal maternal protection. The decorative elements are not mere ornaments, but an integral part of the work's theology: the central heraldry with the rainbow colors, the flower bouquets, and the symbols of Alpha and Omega confirm that the Madonna is the beginning and the end of protection for every wounded child.
Memory and Future
The work was created as an act of "Stop Homoph Art" to honor the 50,000 homosexual victims persecuted and killed during the atrocities of the Nazi regime. The "Madonna of the Homosexuals" is not just an image, but a living promise of memory: a monument that, in Vasanello, transforms historical pain into a constant embrace for the LGBTQ+ community, offering refuge, dignity, and unconditional love.
Art as Testimony: The Body of the Maestro
"The image is a historical warning and an indispensable call to action for the present."
- The Living Work: Maestro Raffaele Ciotola, founder of STOP HOMOPH ART, transforms his own image into a powerful manifesto that unites memory and activism.
- The Memory of the Pink Triangle: Through attire that evokes the uniforms of concentration camps, the artist pays tribute to the tens of thousands of homosexual victims persecuted by Nazism.
- From Stigmatization to Pride: The pink triangle, a symbol of oppression placed over the heart, is replicated in the background, transforming into an icon of resistance for the entire LGBTQIA+ community.
This photograph, now an integral part of the project promoted by the UNISCO Association of Vasanello, defines the artist's role as a spokesperson for a silenced history and as a bulwark against modern hatred.
To view ''The Madonna of the Homosexuals," you must book your visit by calling: 3276680190.