HeartEdge: Bill Viola and the art of contemplation

The latest HeartEdge event was hosted by the Parish Church of St Cuthbert in Edinburgh and sought to support churches in their cultural programming, particularly as it relates to visual art, by exploring approaches to curating exhibitions in churches, Bill Viola's church-located installations, and art as contemplative or meditative practice.

At HeartEdge, we have been inspired by the example of St Cuthbert’s in their installation of Bill Viola's 'Three Women'. This had been a particularly successful installation as a contribution to the Edinburgh Festival, in the connections it has forged with the Arts community and the local community, and in the positive press coverage received. All this has been with an understanding of the way in which the installation connects with the spirituality of St Cuthbert's.

HeartEdge seeks to share good practice and ideas with our members, so it made good sense to hold an event here exploring ways in which the mission of the church can be enhanced through art and the Christian narrative re-imaged and re-imagined.

Laura Moffatt, Director of Art & Christianity, reviewed Bill Viola's various installations in churches considering how and why they connect with our sacred buildings. Matthew Askey shared his experiences of curating significant exhibitions at Southwell Minster in recent years, considering ways of bringing exciting and varied work into churches by utilising sacred space well and connecting sympathetically with the spirituality of our churches.

I spoke about the contemplative nature of the experience of viewing art and made connections with approaches to and understanding of prayer. Finally, Alexander de Cadenet spoke as an artist for whom meditation has become of increasing significance, to the extent that he has begun seeking out other artist's with similar experience with whom he work together in a new organisation called Awakened Artists.

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James MacMillan - A New Song.