Motivation to paint
Introduction
Explaining the unexplainable
Existence
I think therefore I am
Impressionalism
Visualise the feeling
Self-portraits
Who am I?
Art that I like
Australia
Beauty in the wasteland
Europe
The underbelly
Iconography
Picture writing
Chinese Art
Traditional and modern
Religion and Art
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The Last Supper by Leonardo De Vinci
Creating art generally requires that the conscious be suppressed, and that feelings be followed. This process gives the artist a sense that they are not in control of what you they are creating. Consequently, many artists talk about their creation in religious terms. 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, 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."
As creation is a somewhat of a religious experience, it should not come as a surprise that many artists have used religion as their subject matter. Arguably the most famous religious painting is the Last Supper by Leonardo De Vinci. Ironically, although De Vinci probably had some sort of spirituality, in all liklihood he was not Christian in the 16th century sense of the word. As Lenoardo was not a Christian, he produced a work that was very different from all other depictions of his time. Da 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 Last Supper from one that is about loyalty and betrayal, to a consideration of the character of each disciple. As it asked a question, rather than delivered an answer, it engaged the audience to keep looking at it over and over again.
Like Leonardo, I am not one to subordinate myself to the dogma of the church, yet I am intrigued with Christianity. For me, the Christian story is just so fascinating, and has so much potential to open the mind. 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 respect your parents, that you should not have sex before marriage, 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.
Perhaps Jesus’ failure to leave a book was a sign that he preferred that his followers to interpret his actions for themselves, rather than simply listen and learn. If considered in terms of teaching philosophies, perhaps Jesus believed that there was no point giving an exam that students already knew the answers to. Instead, the exam tested their ability to interpret, and think for themselves.
To help me consider some of 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.
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Immaculate Conception (Gouache on paper)
In the Immaculate Conception, I wondered about the meaning of Mary, the mother of Jesus, becoming pregnant without ever having sex.
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The Crucifixion of Man (Gouache on paper)
In the Crucifixion of Man, I considered the meaning of Jesus taking all the sins of humanity upon himself, and being crucified for them.
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The Passion of the Christ (Gouache on paper)
In the Passion of the Christ, I wondered about the meaning of Jesus being a man. If he was a man, did he have the temptations of man? Did he have the vices of man? Did he get an erection after looking at a beautiful woman? Did he enjoy drinking? Did he lie? If not, could he ever empathise with humanity?
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Jesus Hanging with Judas (Gouache on paper)
In Jesus Hanging with Judas, I considered the role of Judas in Christianity. As Christianity is a religion of forgiveness, I wondered what Jesus would say to Judas on the other side.
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Stone the Devil(Gouache on paper)
In Stone the Devil, I considered the book of revelations. In Christianity, it has not always been clear whether Christianity is in need of a cross, or the bearer of it.
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The Two Marys (Gouache on paper)
In The Two Marys, I was interested in why two very different women were given the same name. I considered the contrast between the Virgin Mary, (the mother of Jesus) and the prostitute Mary (a woman Jesus saved from a public stoning.)
Judging Art