Stoneworks has information about a symposium entitled Why Have There Been No Great Modern Religious Artists? organised by the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art at the Museum of Biblical Art in New York next February which would seem to be discussing issues that are central to my 'Airbrushed from Art History' series of posts.
The Symposium summary states: "Mirroring the complex presence of religion throughout the 20th century, there has been a proliferation of religious expression in the visual arts. Many of the most prominent and celebrated artists of this century have employed Christian themes, iconography, and forms in their work. However, many of these artists and their works have been ignored, dismissed as aberrant, or condemned as an improper union of incompatible traditional and avant-garde values. The diverse and contradictory manifestations of religious expression in the art of this period, from private devotion to liturgical practice to critical commentary to creative expression pose methodological problems for narratives of modernist and post-modernist art history that have tended to omit serious consideration of Christian strains in 20th century and current artistic practice."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Martyn Joseph - All This Time.
2 comments:
After quick consideration I find myself called to refer you to Salvatore Dali. In his later years his subject matter was almost exclusively religious with a very catholic flavor. I think there are more.
In my own small faith I remember Fritz Eichenberg. The Quaker print maker.
I shall continue to think about it and get back to you with more. I am positive there are many more.
Thanks for reminding me of the work of Fritz Eichenberg. My argument in my 'Airbrushed from Art History' series of posts is that there are a number of significant modern artists that engaged with faith but that these artists themselves or this aspect of their work tends to be downplayed in Art History generally. So I'm in agreement with you and would be interested to see which other artists you identify.
However, the symposium I was highlighting is arguing that there are no great modern religious artists. Eichenberg is unlikely to be viewed as one of the great modern artists and, although Dali is viewed as a great modern artist, he is not thought of primarily as a religious artist (despite his use of religious subject matter in his latter years). So, I guess the symposium organisers would argue that the jury is still our on that one.
Will be very interested to see which other artists you come back with details of.
Post a Comment