Abstract art in a church, meditative?
1 October 2008 5 Comments
I’m back from a bit of a whirlwind trip to California. The first three days were a bit on the crazy side especially. Lucky me I’m sick too, which isn’t all that unusual after I come back from busy travel. Unfortunately.
Makoto Fujimura posted some photos to his blog (he posts very rarely) yesterdayish of a new installation of his own in a New Haven church.
The church looks pretty plain other than Mako’s glorious installation. I’m curious to know if readers find this very abstract painting meditative or not. One of my first thoughts in looking at the above photo was how much more spiritually engaging the space is with that large gold and blue nihonga work than without, and even how much more engaging it is than most other common altar items.
Thoughts?
This is the kind of environment in which modern abstract art can function very well. Contrasted with the flat, featureless beige of this interior, Fujimura’s piece looks positively lurid. The organic nature of the work also provides needed relief from the blankness and dull angularity of the modern construction.
I find the pieces that make use of metallics (gold and silver leaf, etc…) to be among Fujimura’s most affective.
abstract art…abstract Church?
I find this image to be meditative–superior to so much “bad” church art. I could look at this for hours and enter into new spiritual territory.
i really like the ladders…
This is so beautiful, I wish it was my church! What a gift Mako gave. I do love the starkness of the chuch compared to the ethereal glow of his piece. The Holy Spirit embodied, if that contrast makes sense? A note on ‘bad’ church art and architecture..most churches rely on donations and volunteers, at some level.. wether it’s bad or good, it’s usually done with a spirit of giving.