Thursday, March 9, 2017

Religion in Contemporary Art

"At one time," writes Daniel Grant, in Commonweal, "art infused with religious subjects and imagery was the main work of fine artists in the Western world, in large measure because their patrons were officials of the Catholic Church. Nowadays, religion in art is a curiosity, perhaps permissible as a 'postmodernist strategy' . . . . ”

If you are like me, when you think of religion and contemporary art, the names that come to mind are of artists who caused outrage and controversy, such as Andres Serrano and Chris Ofili. While I think they were both badly misinterpreted, in my admittedly very limited experience, Daniel Grant is largely correct about the absence or invisibility of overtly religious work in contemporary art. I do find myself wondering, though, what it would look like.




15 comments:

  1. Thanks for setting this up for us, David.

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  2. Hi, David! Thank you! The Monroe Street Church in Grand Rapids is a host for submissions to ArtPrize, a big deal here in Michigan. Most of the works they host are religious or spiritual. You can see some here. http://www.artprize.org/monroe-community-church

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  3. Nice to see the blog format return after the long, confusing queues of emails. Looks like we're in business again. Yay.

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  4. Just checking to see if it works for me.

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  5. Perhaps identifiable religious symbols in modern art seem too limiting and literal, that is, addressed only to the adherents of a faith. And faiths have been known to oppose each other.

    But some great modern artists are noted for their “spirituality.” Mark Rothko is a good example. Of course his work is entirely abstract--glowing fields of color. But people often find transcendence in his works. And his works are often assembled in “Rothko Chapels”--notably at the Menil in Houston and in a similar arrangement at the Phillips in DC—where visitors are invited to sit quietly and meditate. So a religious response is there, if it can be tapped.

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  6. The St. John's Bible project also uses modern art. My students in mass communication always found this interesting: http://www.saintjohnsbible.org

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    1. We saw the St. John's Bible project when it was on exhibit at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. It is beautiful.

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  7. I guess they'd have to throw out Marc Chagall, too. Actually, religion/spirituality itself is supposed to challenge the status quo. Art, like good literature, allows me to see things I might otherwise miss because of my meager powers of observation, and improve my powers of observation. I can piggyback on a good artists better powers of soight. Reminds me of imaging devices that enable one to see in regions of the electomagnetic spectrum beyond the visible.

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  8. Pinterest has put me in touch with a number of excellent religious artists recently. One is Arcabas (not sure of his first name), whose biblical depictions are remarkably fresh, original and insightful. Worth a Google search. Another is a German, Sieger Koder. And, of course, the wonderful Japanese printmaker, Sadao Watanabe. Seeing some of his insightful biblical depictions thoroughly refreshes me and incites new ways of approaching the familiar scriptural stories. (NCR has sometimes printed one of his Nativity scenes at Christmas time.) The wonder of the human spirit joined with faith, imagination and artistic talent: what a gift.

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  9. I appreciate what Bob Gg says about Rothko's spirituality. In video clips on YouTube, Sister Wendy, the British art critic and contemplative nun, waxes eloquent on Rothko and also Matisse, whose work is featured in a chapel in France. Wendy's museum commentaries and many interviews, such as with Bill Moyers (in the '90's) are well worth watching. Even when not able to visit the museums, Wendy obtained postcards and books with the artworks and contemplated them in her hermitage. Last year, she passed into eternity, but her observations are still accessible and worth researching. She brings a pure eye and a pure heart and a keen mind to the works of our time (including Serano) and former times, and what she gleans is elevating and precious.

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    1. I'm sorry to hear about Sister Wendy, may she rest in peace. I always enjoyed reading her commentary.

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    2. Oh, no! I knew Sister Wendy was sick, but I am so sorry to hear she died. Her interview with Teri Gross was very good. I thought Bill Moyer, usually good, just couldn't seem to get pas the habit and shaved head questions. I sensed she was getting testy with him.

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    3. I happened upon a youtube of her memorial service in Quidenham, I think. An ordinary service in a prosaic looking church, with some words spoken by her younger sister, whom Sr Wendy regretted having teased. I agree that Moyers seemed far from "getting her", but, I found her deft in explaining her world to him, which was such a far cry from his. In all the interviews I've seen, she seems remarkably charitable, not to mention humble, with all the interviewers and does a pretty good job of making a case for her atypical way of life. In one of the clips, as she proceeds to her tiny house, she erupts in an exclamation of joy, thanking God for "this indescribable happiness!" Of being in God's presence in silence. What a beautiful footprint she left. (I don't know why the word "delete" appears after my comments...advice appreciated.)

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  10. Jean, thanks for sharing Monroe Community Church Art Prize info. Exciting to see such originality and beauty -- in contemporary contexts, by contemporary minds.

    Although, he is mid-20th century, Georges Rouault is a favorite in a sober season, such as Lent. His Miserere series... His Ecce Homo paintings, crucifixion lithographs, as well as Resurrection themes. He is one of a kind, but so are we all.

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  11. No, Christian art is still being created. How often it is noticed, praised, or considered is another matter. Certain curators and high profile critics may not promote it, or do not allow it to exist in their visual field. Timothy Schmalz has cast Homeless Jesus on a bench, and where it has appeared it has caused interest. Here in Cleveland during Lent 2012, Rev. Thomas Faulkner's Stations of the Cross came to the Anglican cathedral: http://rustbeltvoice.blogspot.com/2012/03/anglican-stations.html
    There are other artists of the twentieth century that have been written about, i see a comment above about Sadao Watanabe, i am very enthusiastic about his work: http://rustbeltvoice.blogspot.com/2011/02/sadao-watanabe.html
    —Stanislav

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