Oooh, I get it - based on the artist’s interesting theological explanation, he wasn’t attempting to paint the Christ of Christianity! It’s a gnostic Christ? Or Docetist? I‘m sure there is someone who can identify the right heresy to match.
Maybe someone listened to you: When I just read it, the 2023 and 2020 posters were included in the story. There's also a link in the 5th graf to a collection of the posters.
Reading this article at work. Scrolling down on the article my first instinct upon encountering the image was to close the article lest it appear that I was viewing a not-safe-for-work site. There is something clearly wrong about this poster that I felt shame and disgust for it popping into my sight rather than appreciation for Christ's incarnation and subsequent crucifixion and resurrection. This is not a feeling that I typically encounter when viewing sacred imagery.
I understand how art can be used to elicit emotion and introspection. Art can be a powerful tool. I don't think this brought me reflect on the crucified (or resurrected) Christ in any way. Much like Fr. Rupnik's art, this just feels...off.
which is on display in a church in a small village in the centre of Italy. I personally I find it marvellous and whenever I am there I go to see it as I find it very moving. The models were two locals.
I read that on the occasion of the settimana santa there will be the unveiling of a new work by the same artist, a crucifixion. It will be interesting to see how it compares with the one in Seville.
Despite its immense scholastic and intellectual tradition, there's a great long-standing practice in the Catholic mindset of "don't overthink it, go with your gut"
When I look at that painting, my gut simply tells me "this man looks like a Balenciaga ad" even if I can't precisely define in words why that is.
Maybe it's the "super-model dissociative stare" idk
The great maxim of Justice Potter Stewart: "I know it when I see it"
Great work by Felipe capturing the paradoxes of Semana Santa in Sevilla, an ultra display of public religion in a country that has mostly abandoned said religion. I studied in Sevilla for a semester in undergrad and Semana Santa to this day is one of the most fascinating cultural phenomena I’ve ever seen. I would highly recommend it to anyone to go see once in their life.
Agreed. And I also see with you that, while more people are returning to nationalism in Spain (and other Med European countries), they aren't returning to the Catholic Faith.
Maybe it's like Shintoism and Japan during the missionary age: the foreign influences (i.e. Christianity) weren't being opposed because people wanted to defend the Shinto Faith, but rather they were defending "Japanese Culture" and Shinto was just something that was wrapped up in said culture. Even if Spain has largely fallen away from practicing the Faith with devotion and piety, people still gravitate to Santa Semana because, well... it's Spanish.
But does this cultural phenomenon increase faith, does it raise the heart and mind to God? Or is it (as I fear) simply a historical and cultural thing devoid of any real faith and piety?
For a faithful Catholic, it absolutely raises the heart and mind to God. It is a beautiful event and brings the faith into the public square which I fully support. It is up to the individual to understand it in its proper essence. Of course, the Church plays a roll in educating the laity on this.
For whatever Semana Santa lacks though, it definitely does not lack piety. Many members of these brotherhoods march their floats in bare feet as a form of penance. People cry in the streets as beautiful pieces of religious art are slowly walked by.
It is very different from the two poster examples you include. I can understand why some organizations don't like it; it doesn't have the gothic intensity of the others.
At the end of the day, I don't see how this is my business. This sounds like a very localized, very particular community with strong traditions. I'm not comfortable judging this artist and his intentions. In charity, I believe he painted from his heart.
Oh, that's not fair to compare an abuser to a man who may have mistakenly painted something controversial. Arguments over this painting are absolutely legitimate. There's no need to drag in a monster, though.
That’s fair. Absolutely. To be honest though I didn’t try to compare him to that monster; I was just trying to say that “from the heart” is an even worse barometer than “he had good intentions.”
Rupnik clearly used his dick not his heart. Sorry to be crass but sincerity does give the benefit of the doubt to the artist. He can’t control how people receive his work and he does not appear to have committed grievous sins in this artistic production. He also, technically, a MUCH better artist than Rupnik. This Christ’s eyes are haunting for the right kind of reasons, for example.
There are the three upper wounds there. Go look again. They are not Caravaggio's great whacking welts, but they are there on his hands and he is pointing at the wound in his side.
Nothing like calling negative opinions of your work as being due to “lack of culture and ignorance” while being ignorant of the tradition and religion you claim to be faithful to. Does not really inspire confidence.
Generally, when it comes to post-post-modern art, that is a good heuristic. Most 'Contemporary Art' are devoid of any craft or serious technical prowess and vacuous with meaning. My now-husband took me on a date to see a contemporary art exhibit, and well... I had plenty of people giggling and feeling relived that the were allowed to dislike some 'art' because it really wasn't. He was a little mortified and hasn't taken me to another art exhibit since!
Contemporary religious art is a mixed bag. Sometimes those elites can spot something we are missing if we spend too much time in with of sappy kitschy devotional images. Other times they are dismissive of real quality for the wrong reasons, or just don't know what to make of something that seems so foreign to western art traditions like eastern Iconography.
It's the sort of thing St. Charles Borromeo rightly fought to have suppressed in sacred art. And, yes, Spain does have a strong tradition of excessively sensuous art, often conjoined with dubious devotional practices. This is something to correct, not celebrate.
I'm not picking on any one group, and I'm not generically opposed to private devotions. I do think the onus is always on them to demonstrate their orthodoxy and orthopraxy & manifestly flee licentiousness. Lot of Rupniks hide in the cracks of "passion" and "art."
Read any standard history of sacred art & mysticism & you'll catch the twang of Rupnik types hiding out in a lot of it. Just for a start: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alumbrados
At the very least, it is in very bad taste. At worst, it's just wrong.
As a side note, what if they created for Labour Day posters of a dressed up Che Guevara in a business suit, with a MAGA hat? The designer of the poster could use his/her son as the model as well. Artistic expression? "Hasta La Victoria Siempre?" The communists would be fuming.
I'm afraid much popular culture today is in bad taste. I suspect that good taste is seen by many as decadent. This bit of bad taste seems to have got some very favorable reviews.
Oooh, I get it - based on the artist’s interesting theological explanation, he wasn’t attempting to paint the Christ of Christianity! It’s a gnostic Christ? Or Docetist? I‘m sure there is someone who can identify the right heresy to match.
Approximately Eutychianism (I have consulted Wikipedia).
It might be useful to add a picture from a previous year so one could compare this picture with something more traditional.
Maybe someone listened to you: When I just read it, the 2023 and 2020 posters were included in the story. There's also a link in the 5th graf to a collection of the posters.
Thank you for letting me know ow so I could go back and look.
Reading this article at work. Scrolling down on the article my first instinct upon encountering the image was to close the article lest it appear that I was viewing a not-safe-for-work site. There is something clearly wrong about this poster that I felt shame and disgust for it popping into my sight rather than appreciation for Christ's incarnation and subsequent crucifixion and resurrection. This is not a feeling that I typically encounter when viewing sacred imagery.
I understand how art can be used to elicit emotion and introspection. Art can be a powerful tool. I don't think this brought me reflect on the crucified (or resurrected) Christ in any way. Much like Fr. Rupnik's art, this just feels...off.
"Off" is a great statement most of the works of both artists mentioned.
Talking about iperrealism, I want to share this pietà, if I may.
https://images.app.goo.gl/DqvESTwa8cDrHQvt6
which is on display in a church in a small village in the centre of Italy. I personally I find it marvellous and whenever I am there I go to see it as I find it very moving. The models were two locals.
I read that on the occasion of the settimana santa there will be the unveiling of a new work by the same artist, a crucifixion. It will be interesting to see how it compares with the one in Seville.
A beautiful piece.
Despite its immense scholastic and intellectual tradition, there's a great long-standing practice in the Catholic mindset of "don't overthink it, go with your gut"
When I look at that painting, my gut simply tells me "this man looks like a Balenciaga ad" even if I can't precisely define in words why that is.
Maybe it's the "super-model dissociative stare" idk
The great maxim of Justice Potter Stewart: "I know it when I see it"
Great work by Felipe capturing the paradoxes of Semana Santa in Sevilla, an ultra display of public religion in a country that has mostly abandoned said religion. I studied in Sevilla for a semester in undergrad and Semana Santa to this day is one of the most fascinating cultural phenomena I’ve ever seen. I would highly recommend it to anyone to go see once in their life.
Agreed. And I also see with you that, while more people are returning to nationalism in Spain (and other Med European countries), they aren't returning to the Catholic Faith.
Maybe it's like Shintoism and Japan during the missionary age: the foreign influences (i.e. Christianity) weren't being opposed because people wanted to defend the Shinto Faith, but rather they were defending "Japanese Culture" and Shinto was just something that was wrapped up in said culture. Even if Spain has largely fallen away from practicing the Faith with devotion and piety, people still gravitate to Santa Semana because, well... it's Spanish.
But does this cultural phenomenon increase faith, does it raise the heart and mind to God? Or is it (as I fear) simply a historical and cultural thing devoid of any real faith and piety?
For a faithful Catholic, it absolutely raises the heart and mind to God. It is a beautiful event and brings the faith into the public square which I fully support. It is up to the individual to understand it in its proper essence. Of course, the Church plays a roll in educating the laity on this.
For whatever Semana Santa lacks though, it definitely does not lack piety. Many members of these brotherhoods march their floats in bare feet as a form of penance. People cry in the streets as beautiful pieces of religious art are slowly walked by.
And no one knows what is in the heart.
My main point was related to Matthew’s comment that I was responding to.
It is very different from the two poster examples you include. I can understand why some organizations don't like it; it doesn't have the gothic intensity of the others.
At the end of the day, I don't see how this is my business. This sounds like a very localized, very particular community with strong traditions. I'm not comfortable judging this artist and his intentions. In charity, I believe he painted from his heart.
Does one individual “painting from the heart” actually provide immunity here? Didn’t Rupnik use his (twisted) heart in the creation of his works?
Oh, that's not fair to compare an abuser to a man who may have mistakenly painted something controversial. Arguments over this painting are absolutely legitimate. There's no need to drag in a monster, though.
That’s fair. Absolutely. To be honest though I didn’t try to compare him to that monster; I was just trying to say that “from the heart” is an even worse barometer than “he had good intentions.”
Rupnik clearly used his dick not his heart. Sorry to be crass but sincerity does give the benefit of the doubt to the artist. He can’t control how people receive his work and he does not appear to have committed grievous sins in this artistic production. He also, technically, a MUCH better artist than Rupnik. This Christ’s eyes are haunting for the right kind of reasons, for example.
His mother would NOT have let him go out of the house dressed like that (signed: a mother of teenagers)
I believe it is evoking the Resurrection, not Him dressed for street preaching.
hm.
I guess it would explain why no one recognized him at first glance (a facetious hypothesis to compete with "he had shaved his beard").
There are no marks of the crucifixion, so it is no wonder they didn’t think that.
There are the three upper wounds there. Go look again. They are not Caravaggio's great whacking welts, but they are there on his hands and he is pointing at the wound in his side.
I see them now, they are like little scratches. You really need to squint to see them though.
Nothing like calling negative opinions of your work as being due to “lack of culture and ignorance” while being ignorant of the tradition and religion you claim to be faithful to. Does not really inspire confidence.
Notice though the artist doesn't say he presently practices the Faith.
“But feedback has been very good amongst the elites, and art specialists, who understand the meaning of the piece better.”
Ah the common masses can’t understand beautiful art. Because the elites and specialists who push modern “””art””” know so much better.
"Positive feedback amongst the elites" is the literally the EASIEST way to get me to not like something.
Generally, when it comes to post-post-modern art, that is a good heuristic. Most 'Contemporary Art' are devoid of any craft or serious technical prowess and vacuous with meaning. My now-husband took me on a date to see a contemporary art exhibit, and well... I had plenty of people giggling and feeling relived that the were allowed to dislike some 'art' because it really wasn't. He was a little mortified and hasn't taken me to another art exhibit since!
Contemporary religious art is a mixed bag. Sometimes those elites can spot something we are missing if we spend too much time in with of sappy kitschy devotional images. Other times they are dismissive of real quality for the wrong reasons, or just don't know what to make of something that seems so foreign to western art traditions like eastern Iconography.
It's the sort of thing St. Charles Borromeo rightly fought to have suppressed in sacred art. And, yes, Spain does have a strong tradition of excessively sensuous art, often conjoined with dubious devotional practices. This is something to correct, not celebrate.
Agreed, what the "Penitentes" of old meant by their practices (often heterodox) does not translate well today.
Christ suffer once for all. Our sacrifices are united to His in a spiritual way, not in beating oneself.
I'm not picking on any one group, and I'm not generically opposed to private devotions. I do think the onus is always on them to demonstrate their orthodoxy and orthopraxy & manifestly flee licentiousness. Lot of Rupniks hide in the cracks of "passion" and "art."
I’m not sure what you mean by “dubious devotional practices”? Please elaborate
Read any standard history of sacred art & mysticism & you'll catch the twang of Rupnik types hiding out in a lot of it. Just for a start: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alumbrados
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199766581/obo-9780199766581-0275.xml
Thanks. Illuminating, so to speak. Natural, I suppose. Orthodoxies practically invite heterodoxies.
https://sevilla.abc.es/pasionensevilla/fotos-semana-santa-sevilla/carteles-semana-santa-sevilla-1984-autores-20240129154837-gas.html
On the other hand:
https://noticiesreus.com/el-sorprenent-cartell-de-la-setmana-santa-de-sevilla-que-capgira-lesperit-amb-un-crist-revolucionari/
// feedback has been very good amongst the elites, and art specialists, who understand the meaning of the piece better //
// Salustiano added, putting negative opinions of his work down to “lack of culture and ignorance.” //
The experts strike again. What are we, poor peons, compared to them?
At the very least, it is in very bad taste. At worst, it's just wrong.
As a side note, what if they created for Labour Day posters of a dressed up Che Guevara in a business suit, with a MAGA hat? The designer of the poster could use his/her son as the model as well. Artistic expression? "Hasta La Victoria Siempre?" The communists would be fuming.
// At the very least, it is in very bad taste. //
I'm afraid much popular culture today is in bad taste. I suspect that good taste is seen by many as decadent. This bit of bad taste seems to have got some very favorable reviews.
“A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, ‘You are mad; you are not like us.’”
-St. Anthony the Great, The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection
Someone needs to get Dall-E to mock that up... I think that would be amazing! I'd wear that on a shirt to confuse the heck out of people...
Imagine being that guy's son having your country embroiled in a fierce debate because everyone thinks your body is too effeminate.
Hopefully, the poor guy knows his Dad took some "artistic license."
I suppose there *are* worse things even than being Christopher Robin.