This is a piece that I've been working on for several months, and it is very religious in nature. For those 2 reasons, I'm both super excited and very nervous as I share this with you now. An artist always hopes that their work will be understood and appreciated. I am definitely feeling that way today.
Every 3 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has an International Art Competition that is open to all of its members. I decided that this time, I was going to be brave and participate, even though the caliber for entries is extremely high. Here are some of the best from the last competition in 2012. As you can see, many are oil paintings, but there are also sculptures, fiber art, assemblages, etc. When I get the chance to see the exhibit in Salt Lake that has all of the winning artwork, I'm always in awe at the talent and testimony of so many different people from around the world.
The theme for this year's competition is "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus". I knew that, as an abstract artist, telling a specific story of Jesus would be a bit of a challenge. However, relating my testimony of the Savior's ability to change even the most hardened and brazen criminal into a sanctified soul through his atonement is something that would be much easier. The truths of the Savior's power almost need to be related abstractly.
Though the artist statement I included in my submission had to be much shorter, here is my original statement explaining my piece and what it means.
One of my favorite stories from
the Savior’s earthly ministry is related in the New Testament, John 5:2-9. Here
we learn of the pool of Bethesda. This particular pool had a reputation for
healing when it was “troubled” and as a consequence was surrounded by the sick
and crippled. They believed that only
the first person to step into the troubled water would be healed. This meant that the sickest and most helpless
would be passed over by someone strong enough to make it into the water
first. An intense rush would occur when this spring
came to life- perhaps hundreds of people striving, even fighting, to get into
the water first. For those who could not
move on their own it would have been a constant battle of hope vs. hopelessness-
always being within sight of this miraculous pool, and never being able to
claim the blessing of healing.
John tells us of a particular man who had been
lame for 38 years. He had been waiting
by the pool, hoping that someone would help him into the water when the time
came so he could be healed. We don’t know
how long he had been waiting, but I can imagine the scene when the Savior
appears at this pool one Sabbath day. The pool is thronged with ill and injured
people. The spring has just burst into life and many are quarreling with each
other, hoping to reach the water first. This man sits alone in a place fairly far back
from the crowd, surrounded by filth and the evidence of his lengthy wait. He doesn’t move- he knows there is no chance
he can get to the water first. The Savior is drawn to this man, out of every
other person there, and approaches. They
watch each other for a few moments, the beggar wondering why this man seems so
interested in him. No one has noticed
him for so long… Finally the Savior
draws nearer and asks “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man sadly explains that he has no one to
help him into the water. He has already lost his chance to be healed since he
couldn’t get there on his own. The
Savior kneels down and looks deeply into this man’s face, lined with wrinkles
and coated in dirt. His powerful gaze penetrates the despair in his eyes as He then
commands him, His voice powerful, resonant, and full of love- “Rise, take up
thy bed, and walk.” Immediately this man, unable to walk for 38 years, is healed
of his infirmity and is made whole not just physically, but emotionally and
spiritually as well- for when the Savior extends His grace to someone who is
reaching out, the effects are all encompassing.
I
love this story because it illustrates so perfectly the atonement: the Savior’s
infinite power to heal. Each of us is
that lame man, weighed down by sin and its consequences, unable to heal
ourselves. Many of us in this condition put our trust and hope in things that
cannot bring us peace and forgiveness, and we end up waiting and despairing. Many of us view the sins of others, particularly
if those sins are deeply wicked and humiliating, and say to ourselves, “What he
has done is unforgivable.” Though the
path to redemption may be harder and longer for some, the power of Christ is
infinite, eternal, and open to all who come unto Him with a broken heart and
contrite spirit. My piece represents the
transformation that each of us can experience through the grace of Christ.
The bottom panel,
or “Sinful Man”, is a visual representation of a life plagued by sin, addiction
and selfishness. In this state, a man is
capable of the worst crimes imaginable:
murder, immorality, and countless other acts of greed and corruption. As his sins accumulate, his burden of misery
becomes heavier and heavier, and the way back seems harder and harder to reach.
Red and Black are central to this panel,
and represent sin and corruption. I
specifically referenced Isaiah 1:18- “…though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as wool…” I used paper clay to
add dimension and represent the heavy burden of sin, and the strips of paper
that I have shaped into thorns, pustules and knobs represent worldly habits and
the infection that comes with them. I
covered much of the clay with painted muslin to symbolize the way a sinful man
seeks to cover his sins, but in the place where the heart is represented, the
muslin is not able to hide what’s inside.
Though the stitching is desperately trying to keep things shut, we see
more paper elements covered in wax, representing a hard heart that is unwilling
to change, despite the pain.
The central panel
or “Repentant Man” represents this sinful person who has now turned to the
Savior for help. Despite still
struggling with many imperfections and the consequences of wrong choices, he is
experiencing the Savior’s grace and the change of heart that comes with it. Complete repentance is not simply a passage
of time, but is a matter of complete submission, of recompense and humble
acceptance of all the ramifications of our sins, which can be especially
difficult for those whose sins are numerous and grievous. We can see that the heart has changed-
instead of being filled with wax and thorns; it is white with white elements
that represent the cultivation of Christlike attributes. The repentant person has humbled himself, and
no longer has the desire to do evil. We
can see that there are still red splashes and simple thorns. He is not yet
perfect, but through consistent choices that draw him closer to the Savior, the
red and black are receding and white is becoming common place. There is truly no life that is so burdened
with sin the Savior cannot heal them.
The final panel or “Sanctified Man” represents
this man achieving his, and God’s, final goal- to be made perfect through the
power of Christ. In this panel, we see
all the good and ennobling traits that are branching out from his now sanctified
heart. I used many of my favorite
scriptures to represent the intimate relationship this person has established
with Christ and God the Father through study and the keeping of covenants. The many paper elements are those same
Christlike attributes from the second panel, magnified through the Savior’s
Grace. This man’s heart, that was at one
time black and hardened, is now pure and sealed to God. He has become an heir of all that the Father
has.
The miracle of
the atonement is that we can progress from the bottom panel to the top through
the enabling grace and sanctifying power of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that all who see this piece
will understand that it represents every
single person who answers the Savior’s query “Wilt thou be made whole?” with a
humble and submissive “Yes.”
I don't know when I'll hear back about my work, but if I make it to the next round of judging, I'll be asked to ship my piece to Salt Lake so they can review it in person. I'm hoping I can at least get that far- the photos I've included are the only ones I could include in my submission, and of course all my pieces are much better in person anyway. Don't worry, I'll be so excited if I go to the next round I'll have a whole post just filled with exclamation points and smiley faces. :)
Thank you for letting me share both my artwork and my testimony. I absolutely love how art can be the vehicle for sharing truth and ideas. I hope what I've shared has been uplifting- that was the entire reason I created this piece.
I've tried three times to comment on this and we'll hope it works this time... I think they are beautiful, and then when I read the story of them, even more so. I hope you move through the competition with ease...
ReplyDeleteThanks B-Jo. It worked this time, btw. :)
DeleteThey are just gorgeous!!! You did an amazing job telling that story through your art. I wish you all the best!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love, love this. The most beautiful abstract expression of repentance- well, the ONLY abstract expression of repentance- I have ever seen! It is unique and wonderful, and it is clear that it was crafted with great care and thoughtfulness. Well done, Anjuli! I hope that you go all the way. :-)
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing testament of salvation through art.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteGREAT Textures!
ReplyDeleteOMG,.. such intricate textures! Just so beautiful!
ReplyDelete