(1) Is there a connection--a resonance, a similarity, maybe even an opposition--between the art and a Biblical text? What kind of connection is it? And what does it mean?
(2) Is there any discernible influence of the Bible upon the art we encounter? What is its nature? How do you feel about it?
When in the CU Art Museum I chose to focus on two paintings that were side by side. They were The Lake Project 15 by David Maisel and The Lake Project 3 by David Maisel. The Lake Project 15 was blue, ethereal, with shapes like white wispy clouds. In contrast The Lake Project 3 was stark red and white, and more geometric. These two prints put side by side on the same wall as the only prints on that wall seemed important to me. They seemed put together like a binary, as two contradictory things but of the same thing, since they are both images of the lake. Different, but one. I was then able to connect this idea to the bible, because I see a lot of things in the bible as being different, but of the same thing. Heaven and Hell, and Cain and Abel are two pairs that came to mind first. Cain and Abel were different in their actions, but they are brothers and they are connected in that. Heaven and Hell is like good and evil, but I would argue that they are two parts of the world, that they are connected because God made them. I don't necessarily think that the author was influenced by the bible in these works, but I do think that in some way he was influenced by these two opposing forces whatever they may be to put these paintings side my side on the same wall. This placement was certain to illicit a response from me so I do believe that this was done on purpose, with some sort of binary in mind.
ReplyDeleteAlex Boehler