The Bible, Religion, Art.
For having outlived monarchies, empires, tyrannies & despots the Bible is worthy of respect. Although largely secular, there is a resurgence of church attendance in Europe. Though I take religions seriously, I know none are perfect. They represent spiritual & social values which can be questioned & can change, I prefer religions which allow you to leave & return when you choose.
I question religion that doesn't allow human beings to be included in its art. Even if you don't understand religious art, you can be attracted to it's beauty & skill. I believe historical religious art wasn't just created as political propaganda for whoever the overlords of society were at the time.
An Ongoing Observation
For many decades I've seen an outpouring of art, often called amateur art, not by professionals but by people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities - In adult education, in groups & communities, workshops, courses, online etc etc.
I see it as not just a hobby, but more as a need for a personal connection to the spark of creativity, which I see as connected to the Divine - a thing almost impossible to define. Is it an unconscious response to keep alive the spirit of personal creation in an age where many see ugliness prevailing in so many ways.
The two images - one a pastel of a Hovering Angel, & a detail of a drawing of a jewelled medieval cross.
CONTROVERSY & HARMONY
When you really think about it, in essence, religion is invisible, yet it can cause both deep conflict & spiritual awareness. It can cause profound arguments, affect our mood, thoughts & emotions. Whether or not you're a believer it's a challenging issue.
From high art to adverts, pictures affect our state of mind & conscious awareness. Some qualified opinion says the image came before the written word. If so, we should place more importance on all things visual.
The video below is of a drawing circa 2022, inspired by Italian Renaissance art.
New Paragraph
The picture above is of .......
