There’s a lot of art that pushes boundaries, but this one goes beyond a standard push, it stares directly back.
On May 17, a life-size chocolate sculpture of trans model Rain Batingana will slowly melt over the course of three hours in a global livestream. The piece, Passion of the Christ, is the latest work from artist Cosimo Cavallaro, known for his controversial chocolate sculptures. This time, the body at the center isn’t symbolic in the abstract. It’s specific. It’s intentional. And according to Rain, it’s entirely on her terms.
“Nobody took my body,” she tells me. “I offered it, for a reason. The difference is consent, collaboration, and purpose.”
That distinction matters. A lot.
Why She Said Yes
Rain didn’t hesitate when the opportunity came her way. Visibility, especially for trans women, remains limited, and often distorted.
“As a transgender woman, I pay attention to anything that allows us to be seen, heard, and understood, because we rarely are,” she explains. “I said yes because this is an eye opener to those who condemn our existence.”
The process itself was intense. She held a crucifixion pose for over an hour while her body was cast, an experience that blurred the line between performance and endurance.
But for Rain, the physical challenge wasn’t the point. The message was.
Reclaiming Religious Imagery
Religious iconography carries weight, and Rain is fully aware of that. Her interpretation of Jesus isn’t about shock value, it’s about reframing who gets to be seen as sacred.
“The imagery of Jesus represents sacrifice, suffering, and sanctity,” she says. “I was bearing witness to what his image has meant for people like me: that you can be crucified by public opinion and still be sacred.”
That idea runs through every layer of the project. Not just the sculpture, but the act of watching it dissolve.
The Controversy Is the Point
Let’s be real: a melting chocolate Jesus modeled after a trans woman was never going to fly under the radar.
Rain knows that.
“My goal isn’t to disrespect Jesus, it’s about trans bodies taking up space,” she says. “What’s controversial is that trans lives are still a topic of debate. That’s what I’m here to change.”
The performance lands at a time when trans rights remain under scrutiny, adding another layer to how audiences may interpret the work. Still, Rain isn’t interested in softening the edges.
More Than Representation
Rain is clear that she’s not speaking for every trans person, and she doesn’t want to.
“I didn’t create this to represent every trans person. I can only represent myself,” she says. “But I’ve been moved by messages from people who said they finally felt seen.”
That reaction speaks to something deeper than visibility. It’s about inclusion in spaces that have historically excluded trans bodies, especially within religious narratives.
“The trans community is targeted,” she adds. “This work says we belong in the story, too.”
Art, Identity, and Activism Collide
For Rain, separating art from identity isn’t possible.
“I don’t see art, identity, and activism as separate lanes,” she tells me. “I see them as overlapping circles. I’m a trans woman. That’s not a costume I put on for a project, it’s my life.”
That perspective shapes how she approaches every opportunity, including this one. The performance isn’t just a visual spectacle; it’s a statement about existence.
Watching It Melt
If the creation of the sculpture is about presence, the melting is about something harder to sit with.
“I’m excited to see the chocolate sculpture melting and transforming,” Rain says. “That’s the part I’m really looking forward to, watching the whole process unfold.”
There’s beauty in that transformation, but also discomfort. The slow disappearance mirrors a reality many trans people already face.
Still, Rain hopes audiences leave with something more than shock.
“I can only hope people reflect on the experience and re-evaluate their views and opinions about trans people,” she says.
What Remains
The sculpture will be temporary. That’s the design.
But the conversation it sparks? That’s harder to dissolve.
Rain puts it simply: “The sculpture of my body will be dissolved. Chocolate Jesus will melt. But our existence shouldn’t.”
And that’s the part that lingers.