Contemporary Art and Spirit - Coursework Example

Name Institution of Affiliation Date Contemporary Art and Spirit Introduction Hypothetically speaking, it may seem that contemporary art does not explore spirituality as compared to past eras when spirituality in art was conspicuous. Spirituality is a system of belief that is private, subjective, largely or entirely incommunicable, often wordless, and sometimes even unidentified (Perlmutter & Koppman, 1999). Artists have the ability to create art from a deeper source. They are in the journey to establish meaningful content in their praxis as well as utilize their art to nurture inner growth and purpose. In this text, some recent art works have been selected from the Blake Prize Exhibition with the aim of exploring spiritual themes from Religious (Christian) and Secular Traditions as depicted by the artists. The Blake Prize facilitates a fascinating dialogue between art and spirituality in all its manifestation in Australia. The works featured are those of artists who convey spiritual themes or messages. Artists Representing the Christian Spiritual Tradition Michael Francis Brien: A Trilogy and a Trinity (2009) Brien is an emerging artist from Australia with a focus on arts that represent spirituality in the Christian sense. Brien’s was among the finalists in the Blake Prize Gallery with his work A Trilogy and a Trinity (2009). A Trilogy and a Trinity is created on oil on canvas medium and fits the dimension 101 by 224 cm. A Trilogy refers to a set of three connected works whereas Trinity is the Christian concept of God as three persons. Brien clearly illustrates these concepts by creating three works that manifest the concept of a triad. A cross, a Church, and what seems like a ball of fire (or a wrath of God as he names it) descending from the sky and splitting into three arms. As an emerging artist, Brien makes a lasting impression of being able to use a painting to create the triad connection in the Christian spirituality. Ben Elisha: Babel (2009) Though born in Jerusalem in 1945, Ben migrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne in 1945. In this magnificent piece on a medium of acrylic on canvas, Ben (2009) depicts the confusion and disorganization experienced by the people on the tower of Babel when they played God. The Babel story features in the Old Testament of the Christian tradition. The 122 by 92cm dimension gives a longer length relative to the width giving the impression of a tower, and in it, images of people seeming to reach out to one another in vain. This piece saw Ben receive accolade as a finalist in the Blake Prize Galleries in 2009. Hedy Ritterman: Alter-Vision (2009) Ritterman is an artist from Melbourne selected as a finalist in the Blaze Prize Gallery with his spiritual art work Altar-Vision. Ritterman received Honours in Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Monash University Exhibition and Awards. Alter-Vision appears in Print medium on dimension 89 by 110cm. The art is well articulated in the print medium. The audience is able to look at built altar as if it is a printed pre-folded paper in 3-dimension. An image of eyes protrudes at the centre, signifying the vision and legs seemed to attach to a pair of legs, and beautifully engulfed in a hollow presence, the place of the sacrifice. Altars and animal sacrifices are common in the old Christian tradition; hence this art represents this spirituality. Ritterman is an experienced visual artist and spirituality concept vividly expressed in this work. Glenn Slogget: Angel’s Leg (2009) Glenn Slogget is famous for images that prompt amusement and concern at the same time. Glenn makes it to the finalist list of Blake Prize Galleries by depicting a derelict form of Angel’s broken leg in a C type photograph medium fitted in 128 by 102cm. The concept of angels visible to humanity is a present in the Christian spiritual tradition. Slogget manages to convince the audience that it is an angel’s leg through its white colour and the fact that it looks a little bit bizarre for a human leg. Nevertheless, the piece is fascinating in regards to how Slogget expresses spiritual mysticism in his work. Franz Kempf AM: In the Beginning was the Word (2010) Franz is an Australian veteran artist whose work possesses a striking continuity throughout a career over many decades. In the Beginning was the Word is created in oil on Belgian linen medium and fits a dimension of 108 by 128cm. A cross and some words are surrounded by a circle, probably to depict that the world emerged from the Holy word. This is a common Christian concept that explains the origin of life through the Word. Franz is known to develop an ethical stance and has prospered as both a humanist and spiritual and religious artist. Katheryn Leopoldseder: Fearfully and Wonderfully made/Psalm 139 (2010) Leopoldseder (2010) is a contemporary jewellery artist that has handcrafted a wide variety of materials. Her work is extensively exhibited throughout Australia and can be availed for viewing on appointment. In this piece, she has used a medium of cigarette filters, sterling silver and copper and fresh water pearls to produce the beautiful image depicting Fearfully and Wonderfully made. The image is a 3-dimenison fit into 45 by 22.5 by 2 cm and represents the respiratory system comprising of the beautiful body’s internal organs trachea, bronchi, and alveoli as the water pearls. The concept of jewellery has been as it is a connotation of beauty, value, and preciousness. In a clever way, the use of cigarette filters alludes to the ironic ways that people treat their body, although the jewellery maintains that there is a sense of value beneath every individual. The impression of beautifully and wonderfully made is indicated in the Christian’s Holy book Psalms 139. Leopoldseder got an accolade as a finalist in the Blake Prize of 2010 with this piece. Megan McDonald: 23rd Psalm (2010) Another piece of work that depicts a scripture from the Christian bible is 23rd Psalm by the talented Australian artist and graphic designer, Megan McDonald (2010). McDonald achieved finalist status in the Blake Prize competition for this piece that fits on a 12 by 8 cm dimension. The medium used is acrylic and ink on canvas. The medium gives the perception of rock, splashed by water and a yellow light that illuminates a pit. Wordings of “the Lord is my Shepherd” have been achieved by ink, throughout the canvas. The art articulates magnificently with the spiritual message. Terry Barrett: And Jesus Wept (2010) Terry Barrett is an artist as well as author and educator with a modernist perspective. Barret uses mezzotint medium to portray the shortest verse in the Christian bible “And Jesus Wept”. Barret (2010) was recognized as a finalist for this piece in the Blake Prize competition in 2010. It fits in a dimension of 58 by 50. The shaded surface and effects of light and shadow in the medium conveys both the loneliness experienced by the Jesus in human form and the hope he sheds to the believers as a son of God. Andrew Kaminski: Bleed (2010) Andrew Kaminski is a mural artist well known for depicting spiritual themes in his paintings. Bleed is his work that earned him recognition as a finalist in the 2010 Blake Prize competition. Bleed is created on gold leaf, gesso, and paint on wood medium that occupies a dimension of 202 by 50cm. The thin surface area of gold leaf and the holding capacity of the gesso enable the impression of red paint flowing as blood. Blood is a treasured component in the Christian religion as the believers equate its shedding to their forgiven sins. As a mural artist, Kaminski enables the viewers to visualize blood flowing from a 3-dimension surface in a magnificent way. Simon McGrath: The Body and the Blood (2011) McGrath was named finalist in the 60th Blake Prize Awards. McGrath (2011) illustrates the Body and the Blood in a digital print as opposed to mural. Most of his works are either painterly representational painting, or conceptual, where he uses influences from advertising to share an idea about religion, politics or environment. The latter vein depicts the concept of the sacrament from seemingly bread and juice advertisements in which Christians use the symbols of the body and the blood to signify the presence of Jesus within. The medium fits in a 50 by 75cm dimension depicting a package of bread and bottle of juice a distance apart. This is a magnificent work that explores how the human faith has a tendency to get disconnected from its origins and adopt a cheaper and less-real state. Charles Butcher: The Penalty is Death (2011) Charles Butcher is a glass artist from NSW Australia who creates works of simplicity that are void of imagery and objective representation. Butcher uses his works to expose a response or feeling on an emotional level. In the piece the Penalty is Death, Butcher (2011) conveys the Christian warning for sinners who don’t repent. To illustrate the weight of this catastrophe, Butcher uses a mixed media, and steel shaped from explosive to illustrate an irregularly shaped void on a damaged piece of support. The art piece won Butcher a finalist position in the Blake Prize Award. Aaron Moore: Crucifixion IV (2011) Aaron Moore’s Crucifixion IV piece was a finalist in the 2011Blake Prize Award. Moore studied in the National Art School in Sydney, and majored in painting and drawing, after which he completed a diploma in Ministry and Theological studies. His artistic and theological knowledge are therefore articulated in his work Crucifixion IV which is made from a medium of oil, charcoal, and acrylic on canvas, fitted on 121 by 153cm dimension. Artists Representing Secular Spirituality Contrary to religious aspects of spirituality which connotes spiritual understanding to beliefs and norms in the Christian tradition, artists are still able to convey visual messages that connect to a deeper touch or feeling of their audience. Secular spirituality fosters humanistic ideas on attributes if love, forgivingness, contentment, responsibility, patience, compassion, responsibility, and concern for others among other attributes (Perlmutter & Koppman, 1999). These are aspects of life and human experiences beyond a purely materialistic perspective of the world, and can be achieved even without accepting belief in a supernatural or divine being. Thus, the following works depict the tradition of secularism or secular spirituality. Abdul Abdullah: Them and Us (2011) Them and Us is a 2011 Blake Prize Winner by Abdullah, presented in a digital print medium in a dimension of 120 by 80cm. It is an image of two people gazing at different directions. Abdul illustrates that the image does not refer to a specific ‘them’ or ‘us’ but rather explores the mentality that promotes division universally informs cultural and political understanding. Hayden Fowler: The Long Forgetting (2011) The Long Forgetting received High Recommendation in the Blake Prize Awards. It is in a digital medium video of 19 minutes in length. Fowler taps into a deeper and historical spirituality around the Western humanities and uses the art as an indicator of the integrated spiritual relationship with the natural and ritual world. Mary Costello: Mary (2011) The piece Mary is the depiction of herself in the context of the Renaissance nude. Costello presents her image in a photographic medium dimension 170 by 113cm. Costello, asserts that it is a gaze that confronts the audience because she is awakened after realizing her own spirituality and inner-strength despite being faced by realities like death. Carla Hananiah: Refuge (2011) The Refuge is a finalist in the Blake Award of 2011 and Carla captures beautiful serene landscape scenery emphasizing on drama of colour and movement in an ever-changing sky. In his interpretation, being in the land at dusk and dawn is a spiritual experience, hence the concept of refuge. The medium used to achieve this is oil on board in a dimension of 91.5 by 122cm. The audience is sure to get a feel of a calming peace and sensuality. Dianne Coulter: Cousin of Elizabeth NT (2009) In conveying spirituality through a secular theme of human justice, Dianne is an achiever through the piece Cousin of Elizabeth NT. The image of a distraught woman carrying a loaf of bread has been created on a ceramic, polyurethane, cloth and steel armature medium. It fits in a 3-dimension 167 by 50 by 50cm. The piece made Dianne a winner in the Blake Prize of 2009. Paul Borg: Moving Home (2011) In the piece Moving Home, Borg (2011) shows his understanding of his father’s response on why he relocated from Europe to Australia. The oil on linen medium brings out the essence of boat –like houses floating and drifting on water. The movement and hope to find home in a foreign place is well illustrated. Fitted in an 84by114cm dimension, Moving Home saw Borg among the finalist in the 2011 Blake prize. Fang Min Wu; Not in her Mother’s Footsteps, New China Doll (2011) On an acrylic on canvas medium dimension 90 by 172cm, Fang Min Wu brings out the concept of changing times in which there is a difference between the young and the old generation. She does this in a clever way by creating images of legs in old school China shoes and the modern foot wear. The audience can agree by observing the reality in the society. Caroline Cass: Visible/Invisible (2011) Reaching out to children who are disabled is an inner calling to provide compassion. This spiritual theme is well presented by Cass (2011) in her work Visible Invisible. Oil on canvas has been applied to achieve images of faces of children with an effect of clear recognition. Caroline was mentioned as a finalist in the 2011 Blake Prize for this 30 by 90cm piece. Stephen Caldis; What Drives You? (2011) What Drives You is oil on MDF painting that is created to explore life temporal moments of past and future definition glimpsed through the rear vision mirror and front windscreen. Caldis’ (2011) art enables the audience to question their motivation as to whether it is built from past or future events. The 143.5 by 85 cm dimension work deserves the finalist position it won on the Blake Prize. Toni Walker: Where Nature Touches (2011) According to Walker (2011) the image of Where Nature Touches depicts the sky and the horizon and their ability to take humans out of their physical state, into an observing spirit. The human condition is well explored using the element of primitive iconography. The image fits a 131by 74 cm dimension and created from oil and liquin canvas. It appeared among the finalists in the 2011 Blake Prize. Richard Morecraft; What You Need (2011) Human cultures are diverse but there exits certain universals that provide the foundation for human development and stability at individual level. This is what Morecraft depicts in the Blake Prize 2011 finalist What You Need. Despite the form it takes, humans need a system of beliefs that should sit alongside basics if childhood nurture, social interaction, and physical sustenance. The work is created on a medium of pigment ink on photographic paper fitting a 98 by 130cm dimension. Di West: Tsunami Sadness (2011) As the name speaks for itself and so does the image. West (2011) uses oil on recycled card of 27 by 21 cm to depict the sadness, misery, and disorganization that occur after a Tsunami. People crying at the wrath of nature and the destruction caused in their community are well brought out by the medium. The piece deserves the finalist position it gained on the 2011 Blake Prize Awards. Conclusion Contrary to popular belief, spiritual themes are widely manifested in contemporary art as seen from the recent pieces of art in the Blake Galleries, illustrated above. Spiritual themes exist in both secular and religious traditions. Both religious and secular have illustrated the ability for visual dialogue conveyed by the artist to the audience. However, whereas Christian’s themes are oriented towards a Supernatural being and miraculous events like resurrection and ascension, secular themes orient towards acts of love, compassionate, and concern for others at humanity level. The themes in the catalogue essay were chosen because the artists convey a reputation for spiritual context and their work’s content, as well as an audience that affirms that content. List of Works Depicting Christian Spiritual Tradition Michael Francis Brien: A Trilogy and a Trinity (2009); Oil on Canvas; 101 by 224 Ben Elisha: Babel (2009); Acrylic on canvas; 122 by 92 Hedy Ritterman: Altar-Vision (2009); Print; 89 by 110cm Glenn Slogget: Angel’s Leg (2009); C-type photograph; 128 by 102cm Franz Kempf AM: In the Beginning was the Word (2010); Oil on Belgian linen; 108 by 128 Katheryn Leopoldseder: Fearfully and Wonderfully made/Psalm 139 (2010); cigarette filters, sterling silver and copper and fresh water pearls; 45 by 22.5 by 2 cm Megan McDonald: 23rd Psalm (2010); acrylic and ink on canvas; 12 by 8cm. Terry Barrett: And Jesus Wept (2010); Mezzotint, 58 by50cm Andrew Kaminski: Bleed (2010); Gold leaf, gesso, paint on wood; 202by50cm Simon McGrath: The Body and the Blood (2011); digital print, 50 by75cm Charles Butcher: The Penalty is Death (2011); Mixed media, steel shaped from explosives; 100by100by35cm Aaron Moore: Crucifixion IV (2011); Oil, Charcoal, Acrylic on Canvas; 121 by 153cm List of Works Depicting Secular Spiritual Tradition Abdul Abdullah: Them and Us, (2011); Digital print; 120 by80cm Hayden Fowler: The Long Forgetting (2011); Digital video; 19 mins Mary Costello: Mary (2011); Photograph; 170 by 113cm Carla Hananiah: Refuge (2011); Oil on board; 91.5 by 122cm Dianne Coulter: Cousin of Elizabeth NT (2009); Ceramic, polyurethane, cloth, steel armature, 167by50by50 Paul Borg: Moving Home (2011); oil on linen; 84by114cm Fang Min Wu; Not in her Mother’s Footsteps, New China Doll (2011); Acrylic on Canvas; 90 by 172cm Caroline Cass: Visible/Invisible (2011); oil on canvas; 30by90cm Stephen Caldis; What Drives You? (2011); oil on MDF board; 143.5 by 85cm Toni Walker: Where Nature Touches (2011); Oil and Liquin on canvas; 131 by 74cm Richard Morecraft; What You Need (2011); Pigment ink on photographic paper; 98 by 130cm Di West: Tsunami Sadness (2011); oil on recycled card; 27 by 21 cm References: Blake Prize Online Gallery. Accessed from http://www.blakeprize.com.au/galleries/blake- prize?yr=2009 Perlmutter, D., & Koppman, D. (1999). Reclaiming the spiritual un art: Contemporary cross- cultural perspectives. New York: SUNY Press Read More