2-1
,

Contemplation on Jesus's Figure: A Perspective through Spirituality of Aesthetics in the Experience of Vulnerability

Contemplation on Jesus's Figure: A Perspective through Spirituality of Aesthetics in the Experience of Vulnerability

PAN Yi Jung

In the practice of Christian Art, the expression of body was often categorized in the scope of the physical figure. Many authors and Christian artists have tried to integrate faith and art into spiritual practice and formation. Moreover, some Christian scholars used historical research approach to describe the development of visual art in the church history in order to reflect on the dimension of spirituality in artworks. This essay attempts to employ the approach of practical theology to explore Jesus's vulnerable figure from a contemplative perspective. The exercise of contemplation on Jesus's vulnerability not only can be articulated in words but also can be experienced from an aesthetic perspective. It means that the aesthetic perspective is formulated by both the spiritual appreciation of artworks and the exercise of contemplative painting.

In this essay, three famous pieces of artworks on Jesus's vulnerable figure were interpreted from a contemplative perspective: The Virgin of Vladimir, the Christ of Saint John of the Cross, and the Pietà. Then, theological reflection was drawn by my contemplative appreciation on these artworks as well as by my personal resonating with Jesus's life and suffering in the human body.

After introducing the spiritual meaning of each of these famous artworks, there follows a description of a piece of my contemplative paintings. The three pieces of my creative paintings were created after my contemplating on these three famous artworks. However, I gave new titles to my creative works: The Gentle and Compassionate Mother, The Passion, and The Compassion. My contemplation on these artworks was made during the Lent in 2021, with Jesus's passion and compassion as the main themes. By painting, I contemplated on the vulnerability of Jesus's figure and acquired new insight into His passion and compassion. Through the re-interpretation of Jesus's vulnerable figure in my artistic expression, His vulnerability became a window which could draw a practitioner toward God's presence, grace and love.

The essay concludes that contemplative interpretation on the vulnerability of human body from an aesthetic perspective can become a view of the theological reflection on humanity and bring transformative experience of God's mercy and love to the practitioner.

wordpress_admin Dec 28, 2022 No Comments

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.

Related Posts

,

Message from the Editor of Issue 48

Editor's Note: Wu Guojie Since the outbreak of the new coronavirus, the number of people infected worldwide has exceeded 250 million, and the number of deaths has exceeded 5 million. This number does not include poor third-world countries with weak testing capabilities and inability to determine the cause of death. Due to the epidemic, the lives, economy, and travel of people around the world have been affected to varying degrees; for example, people have to wear masks when going out, maintain social distance, the number of gatherings is limited, quarantine is required when entering the country, travel has been greatly reduced, related industries have laid off employees, and unemployment has Rates thus increase and so on. In this environment, church gatherings have also been affected to a considerable extent. During the period when the epidemic was severe and gatherings were restricted, physical church gatherings were suspended, and online live broadcasts and video conversations became necessary alternative modes; even if the epidemic eased and physical gatherings reopened, online Synchronization has also become the new normal. In the face of this disaster, which is called the "pandemic of the century," what resources does the Christian faith have that can help the church respond and turn the crisis into an opportunity? This issue of "Sandow Journal" takes "Epidemics and Disasters" as the theme, and brings together different scholars to discuss it from the perspectives of the two Testaments, doctrinal theology, and practical theology, hoping to enlighten modern Christians on how to deal with the challenges of this era. ...