The absence of Christian art

The crucifixion as the image of God does not make us morbid but connects us with the reality of the human condition, to the truth, that life is fragile and hazard awaits us all. This image of the crucifixion is iconoclastic because it destroys the images that we would erect that tell us that everything is OK. It is after all, not religion that produces the violence of the world but any ideology that erases the facticity of one person’s violent death.

To the left of the crucifixion Bob has painted the descent from the cross. Traditionally this subject involves the actually taking down and involves ladders and ropes and figures straining to take the weight of the corpse. Bob has painted the dead Christ slumped on the ground being supported by two figures, one at his back looking to the sky as if questioning and the other looking into the face of the dead Christ. This is one of the saddest pictures I know. The world has done its evil work and reduced this man to a corpse, a thing. This is the end result of humanity’s grim way, it is the result of that terrible machine of torture and death and our insistence in having our own way.

The right hand picture represents the resurrection. As the descent represents our work in the divine tragedy, this represents God’s work. If you look at how this has been painted in the past you will find Jesus emerging from the tomb or taken to the air. In the latter case it is hard to distinguish resurrection from ascension or indeed transfiguration. One of the problems Bob expressed to me was that he did not want “the same old Jesus back again” but how to do that in paint? His solution is to portray the risen Christ in a glory of golden light that almost hides him and splashes the clothes of the three witnesses. It is absolutely important, theologically, that there be witnesses, for that is the whole point. The figure points to his right with one hand, towards the cross which cannot be separated from the resurrection because, as all the gospel accounts bear witness, it is the crucified one who is raised, complete with wounds in hands, feet and side. His left hand is raised in blessing to the three witnesses, the emergent church.

Whereas the descent and the crucifixion may be placed within our understanding of events in history, the resurrection is a different kind of event that points towards the presence of Christ to the church. It is not an event within the horizon of history. This is why it is very difficult to represent in painting. It is much easier to write the theology of the resurrection than paint a picture of it. The New Testament writers do not attempt to describe it but only write of its fallout. Painting a picture of the resurrection is like painting a picture after a bomb had detonated, we are left with the crater.

Now I know that Bob is a mate of mine, but I think that these three paintings are important in the history of Christian art. They are so original and so beautifully executed that they deserve public display in a church or public institution. What is more important is that they succeed theologically. Meditation on these works will deepen our connection to the Christ they represent. That was the original aim of this kind of art, to deepen our faith.

These three paintings will be introduced to the public by the artist on the 19th February 2010 at 7.00 pm at St Andrew’s Church, 257 Barker Road, Subiaco WA. They will be resident during Lent and then will form part of an exhibition to be shown in Great Britain. Enquires should be directed to boothimages@westnet.com.au.