Artlyst - Art In Churches 2018: Spiritual Combinations Explored

In my review of 2018 for Artlyst I highlight the opportunities that the past year provided to explore:

• the contemplative element within art through the frame of Bill Viola’s video works;
• one of the most innovative examples in the twentieth century of creating work out of the dialogue between art and spirituality in 'Corita Kent – Get With The Action’ at Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft;
• the fractious element to the Church’s embrace of art in Art Below's 'Stations of the Cross' at St Stephen Walbrook; and
• opportunities for creativity concerning interfaith dialogues in 'Faith' by Russell Haines and 'Journey' by commission4mission, both at All Hallows by the Tower, plus 'Encounters' by Nicola Green at St Martin-in-the-Fields.

My other Artlyst articles and interviews are:

• Sister Wendy Beckett – A Reminiscence
• Marleen Hengelaar-Rookmaaker On The Legacy Of ArtWay
• Guido Guidi: Per Strada Flowers Gallery London
• Peter Howson Artlyst Interview
• Peter Howson: The play is over – Flowers Gallery
• Camille Henrot: Scientific History And Creation Story Mash Up
• Nicola Green Explores Recent And Contemporary Religious Leaders – St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Art And The Consequences Of War Explored In Two Exhibitions
• Helaine Blumenfeld Translating Her Vision
• Alastair Gordon A Testament To His Faith
• Sacred Noise: Explores Religion, Faith And Divinity
• Bill Viola: Quiet Contemplative Video Installation St Cuthbert’s Church Edinburgh
• The ground-breaking work of Sister Corita Kent
• Katrina Moss Chaiya Art Awards Interview: Where is God in our 21st century world?
• Picasso To Souza: The Crucifixion Imagery Rarely Exhibited
• Apocalypse Now: Michael Takeo Magruder Interviewed
• Jonathan Anderson: Religious Inspirations Behind Modernism
• Michael Takeo Magruder: De / coding the Apocalypse – Panacea Museum
• Giorgio Griffa: The Golden Ratio And Inexplicable Knowledge
• Arabella Dorman Unveils New Installation At St James Church Piccadilly
• Can Art Transform Society?
• Art Awakening Humanity Conference Report
• Central St Martins in the Fields Design Then And Now
• The Sacramental And Liturgical Nature Of Conceptual Art
• Caravan – An Interview With Rev Paul Gordon Chandler On Arts Peacebuilding
• Art Awakening Humanity Alexander de Cadenet Interviewed
• Polish Art In Britain Centenary Marked At London’s Ben Uri Gallery
• Michael Pendry New Installation Lights Up St Martin In The Fields;
• Mark Dean Projects Stations of the Cross Videos On Henry Moore Altar;
• Refugee Artists Learning from The Lives Of Others;
• The Religious Impulses Of Robert Rauschenberg;
• The Christian Science Connection Within The British Modern Art Movement;
• Artists Rebranding The Christmas Tree Tradition;
• Art Impacted - A Radical Response To Radicalisation;
• The Art of St Martin-in-the-Fields; and
• Was Caravaggio A Good Christian?

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Bob Dylan - The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar.

'Faith: An Exhibition' by Russell Haines

 

Photographs by Philip Dawson & myself

Faith is an exhibition which explores different faiths, religions and belief systems, promoting tolerance and understanding in this unstable world. Huge, expressive portraits show the diverse nature of belief, and allow the subjects to explain their story in their own words. It features people of faith - and no faith … Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, pagans, Rastafarians, atheists and a Zoroastrian. The artist, Russell Haines, notes that, in painting the series, he came to know his subjects “as people first and foremost.”

First shown at Gloucester Cathedral, this show is currently at All Hallows by the Tower in the City of London before moving on to various venues in Cambridge during July. Wherever shown, this is an exhibition that seeks to begin a conversation among people of faith and none by exploring both the diversity of faith, and the commonalities we all possess.

Haines, who originally only took up painting six years ago for medical reasons following a stroke, wants his art to help communities and deliver social impact: “I hope in a small way my art can help the viewer to see past the label and see instead the person contained within the portrait. Each of them is unique and yet also very alike, trying to live their lives in the best way they can. The only difference is how each of them expresses their view of the world. Is that such a big difference?” Russell Haines January 2017

To create this show, Haines painted portraits of over thirty people in Gloucester, where he lives, who represent the diverse faith communities in that city. Personal statements of what faith means to the individual depicted were recorded in the paintings, in writing and on film. Four documentaries made in collaboration with the University of Gloucestershire’s film school complement the portraits, along with other multi-media installations. In addition, a book has been published with the written statements alongside each portrait.

The paintings - like the subject they set out to address – are huge. Philip Dawson has suggested that “even the impressive scale of these canvasses can’t contain the portraits,” as these “images fizz with high-voltage energy.” Dawson writes that they utilise a “graffiti-style collage of controlled chaos over-painted with multi-coloured, multi-layered strokes” which create “a halo around most of the portraits; incorporating just-visible family photographs, religious symbols, newspaper cuttings, facts and figures and verses from scripture as well as secular texts.”

In this way, the lives of the faithful are exhibited on these canvases, “with all their doubts, contradictions and complexities exposed.” “The style and technique provide a glimpse of what’s going on ‘inside’ the heads of these people, as well as what’s on the surface.” Haines has said that: “Painting each of the participants has meant being in serious conversation with them about their lives and their personal beliefs, how they came to believe and why they believe. Hearing their stories and immersing themselves in their lives, as I painted them, means I have come to know them as people first and foremost.” One of the subjects, Zerbanoo Gifford, a Zoroastrian, explains in the exhibition guide, “I believe that my whole DNA is imbued with my heritage.” This exhibition invites us “to paddle in that stream of consciousness; to share in and continue the conversation in our own imaginations.”

The exhibition includes the first portrait of the Bishop of Gloucester, The Right Reverend Rachel Treweek, the first female Bishop to sit in the House of Lords. The Bishop, the artist, and Reverend Mark Paulson, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Interfaith Advisor, all contributed to the exhibition’s Private View. In her speech, Bishop Rachel explained that we can’t re-write previous chapters of the story of humanity - but we can all help to write a new one.

She said that she knows she is a ‘broken’ person and so does not seek to judge others if she doesn’t agree with them – and is therefore not offended by those who hold views that are different to her own. In concluding her remarks, she said: “God has called me by name - my prayer is that you will all become the person god has created you to be.”

‘Faith – An Exhibition’ by Russell Haines is at All Hallows by the Tower until 15 June. Monday – Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm, Sundays 1.00 – 4.00pm.

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Violent Femmes - Faith.

Faith - An Exhibition

Contemporary art exhibition by Russell Haines of striking portraits and films exploring faith through the eyes of those who have it and those who do not. Celebrating modern society and the synergy between us no matter our faith or belief system. This exhibition will tell the story of 33 individuals from different backgrounds to bring people together.

Monday– Saturday 10am - 4pm, Sundays 1pm - 4pm, All Hallows by the Tower Church, Byward Street, London, EC3R 5BJ - 19th May - June 15th 2018.

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The Call - I Still Believe.

Faith - Russell Haines

Faith is a fine art exhibition by portrait artist Russell Haines. His vision is to create an art event that explores people who have faith and those who have none by focusing on their personal beliefs and stories. Essentially aiming to bring all cultures and faiths together to dispel myth, breakdown barriers and create unity. 

"Even as a person with no faith I find it fascinating to discover and explore the beliefs of others" Russell Haines 

This interfaith art exhibition and project consists of 35 large oil portraits, filmed personal interviews and film recordings of group discussions between people of many different faiths and none. The exhibition features portraits of people from the many diverse faiths that coexist in the communities that make up the City of Gloucester. It includes Christians from different denominations (Anglican and Catholic), Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikh, Rasta, Pagan, Buddhist, Wicca, Druids, Bahá'í and Atheists. The discussion events hosted to form part of the exhibition have already created a large amount of interest with people of all faiths and none. 

The exhibition is being shown in Gloucester Cathedral from 14 January - 26 February 2017 before moving on to other venues. The University of Gloucestershire’s Senior Lecturer in Film Production, Mike Parker, is putting together a television documentary about the project. After it’s time at Gloucester Cathedral the exhibition will move on to be a key part of The Christian Arts Festival based in Cheltenham and Gloucester in April, before moving again to the Gloucestershire College for one month.

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Violent Femmes - Faith.