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Earlier this week a huge sculpture, made to look like an extending, widening, deepening crack in the concrete floor, went on display in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern. Shibboleth, by Doris Salcedo, is apparently the most political work to be put on show in the gallery. It’s possibly the most dangerous work too as 4 people have already fallen into it! Today another unusual sculpture was revealed – this time in Trafalgar Hotel in London. I can only begin to imagine what statement sculptor Daniel Edwards was attempting to make when he designed, produced and displayed his piece about a dead Prince Harry on the Iraqi battlefield. I’ve heard several people already call it ‘disturbing’, ‘repulsive’, ‘revolting’ and ‘tasteless’ whilst others prefer to speculate on the emotional or psychological condition of ‘artist’. It seems perfectly reasonable that a piece of art should reveal something of the artist.
I wonder, is ‘art’ meant to be controversial, shocking or dangerous?
Have you been struck by the beauty of the changing colours of the trees lately or seen (and perhaps felt) the other-worldly mists? Have you been mesmerised by a sunset or been taken in by the shiny precision of dew-covered spider web? We’ll soon be able to walk over frosty lawns and may even have a few flakes of snow before the year has ended. Now that’s art to me! We like to call it ‘natural’ but surely it comes straight from the creative mind and hand of God. Yes, it makes us draw our breath and look twice. It should also make us consider the artist behind it.
In Ephesians 2:10 the apostle Paul tells us that we are God’s handiwork or more literally his work of art. That’s shocking as a statement in itself! But that’s what the Bible tells us – we are an expression of God’s creativity, love and power. What’s more, the verse goes on to tell us that we were created not just to be appreciated as works of art but to be involved in doing God’s work – creatively, lovingly and powerfully as the Holy Spirit enables us. Wow! I’m a living work of art with a practical purpose!
I read an article this week in which the author wrestled with the idea of the human race bearing the image of the Creator (Genesis 1:27). Can you see how we could consider this to be a type of divine self-portrait? But the problem many people raise is ‘How can we possibly carry within us God’s reflection when as a race we are responsible for so much that seems to be anti-God?’ The author suggested that the verse in question refers to the creation of the first community – man and woman – and that it is in community that God’s image should be found. What a wonderful concept. If we’re together and yet divided, God’s image in us is distorted and misrepresented but when we experience the deep and meaningful fellowship found through Jesus who breaks down every dividing wall, we will reflect God’s image clearly to a world that desperately needs to know the greatest artist in the universe.
I pray that God would use each of us creatively, lovingly and powerfully so that his image may be seen in us. Be warned though - it could be controversial, shocking and even dangerous…
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