Spirituality and Art
Creating art generally requires that the conscious be suppressed, and that feelings be followed. This process gives you a sense that you are not in control of what you are creating. It almost feels as though a spirit has taken control of your body and is guiding you on a journey. This spiritual feeling results in many artists talk about their creation in religious terms. For example, Henri Matisse likened painting to praying:
“I don't know whether I believe in God or not. I think, really, I'm some sort of Buddhist. But the essential thing is to put oneself in a frame of mind which is close to that of prayer.”
Likewise, Albert Einstein saw the marriage of science and art as an avenue to awake a higher feeling:
"In my view, it is the most important function of art and science to awaken this religious feeling and keep it alive in those who are receptive to it."
Because creation is somewhat of a religious experience, it should not come as a surprise that many artists have used religion as their subject matter. Arguably, no religion has inspired as much art as had Christianity. From Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel to De Vinci's Last Supper to a whole array of crucifix imagery that prevails in modern art, Christianity has indeed proved itself to be a muse, even for atheists that may seek to subvert it.
Other major religions have not proved to be so artistically inspiring. Buddhists have generally focussed on creating Buddhist statues. Muslims are forbidden from depicting god and therefore its artists are pattern orientated. Only Hinduism perhaps comes close to Christianity in the array of depiction of its concepts.
I think Christianity has been inspiring because its story is not certain. It is a story of confused emotions; the damned becoming the righteous and society’s criminal becoming its hero. Furthermore, it is a religion lacking in rules. For example, there are no rules saying that you can’t drink alcohol, that you should not have sex before marriage, or should cover your hair etc. Instead, there are just stories about a man going around doing stuff, and presumably there is some kind of moral in each story, which followers then have to work out. I'd also argue that there are so many denominations of Christianity because so many people get different things out of the bible. The multiple interpretations leave a lot of unanswered questions, which in turn attract the artists who want to explore them.
Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo De Vinci's Last Supper is a good example of the Christian story being open to interpretation through art. De Vinci’s Last Supper portrayed the reaction given by each apostle when Jesus said one of them would betray him. Unlike most other last supper paintings of the era, Judas was not overly singled out.
The differences in content gave Leonardo’s art a very different purpose. The works that singled out Judas tended to divide the world into good and evil, so that those who believed in Christ were on the side of the righteous, and those that did not, were on the side of the damned. Leonardo’s work, however, was a work that asked questions. It asked questions about the character of all the disciples and not Judas alone.
By having a diversity of reactions, the painting transformed the story of the Last Supper from one that is about loyalty and betrayal, to a consideration of the character of each disciple. Because it asked a question, rather than delivered an answer, it engaged the audience to keep looking at it over and over again.
Although I am agnostic, I do find Christianity to be fascinating. To help me consider the issues of Christianity, I put some of the stories into visual forms. The end result was a series of unique images that posed questions for me. Some people have interpreted by paintings as trying to criticise Christianity and subvert the bible. That was not my intention. My intention was to illustrate points of confusion and conflict in order to consider why diverse interpretations have occurred.
Immaculate Conception
The Passion of the Christ
The Crucifixion of Man
Jesus Hanging With Judas
Stone the Devil
The Two Marys
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