Critics discuss the place of religion in contemporary art
TORONTO, ON—A recent lecture hosted by Imago, a Toronto-based arts initiative that advocates for Christians in the arts, sought to explore the intersection of contemporary art and religion, and whether the two are necessarily opposed to one another.
Held in late May at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the evening event featured lectures by distinguished art historian and critic James Elkins, who believes that serious art and devout faith are mutually exclusive, and Imago executive director John Franklin.
"At the heart of it, we are trying to get at the compatibility between good art and having religious faith," Franklin explains. "Are these two things comparable or not? I argue they are, but you can come at it a number of ways. You can say that all art is religious—it has that sort of spiritual dimension. Many people make that case, but others find that very problematic."
Both Elkins and Franklin agree that religion and art have a very clear historical connection. However, the renaissance brought a shift from focusing on artistic content towards the autonomy of the artist.
"I think there is some truth in what [Elkins says], but I'm not convinced it's universal truth," says Franklin. "One way religion and art wreck each other is that often our religious feelings [produce] entirely sentimental art. Great art can be very dark, with a sense of pain and suffering. The Christian community often doesn't want that art because it's uncomfortable."
Franklin also says religious art can become so wrapped up in fulfilling a religious message that it abandons innovation and creativity or becomes "preachy."
"Art by nature is indirect, that's why I say it shouldn't be preachy," he says. "Preaching tends to be direct. Art should have a certain amount of ambiguity. That's why you can go back to a great painting again and again and still it nurtures you."
While he acknowledges the shortcomings of some religious art, Franklin adamantly believes serious art and devout faith can be perfectly married. He believes Christians need to engage in open dialogue to explore these ideas and better understand the diverse views in art circles.
"Too often what we do is motivated out of fear," says Franklin. "I want to be motivated by the [knowledge] that truth can give deeper understanding, knowing of course that all truth ultimately is God's truth.
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