The Pictorial Bible series explores ways in which biblical texts can be visualised, without recourse to figuration or illustration, within a non-iconic framework of religious art. The series represents a coming together of two faculties (believing and seeing); two cultures (the Bible and visuality); and two disciplines, principally (biblical studies and art practice). Within the network of these interactions, the works are concerned with visualising biblical texts with reference to a tradition – espoused by Judaism and aniconic sensibilities within Christianity – that is predicated upon the illegitimacy of pictorialising spiritual concepts and scriptural stories and events.
The Bible in Translation is the third project in The Pictorial Bible series (following Settings of the Psalms (2000) and Seal up the Vision and Prophecy (2007)), and the second project in The Aural Bible series (following R R B V E Ǝ T N Ƨ O A (2015)). The exhibition investigates ways in which texts from, commentaries upon, and cultural articulations of, the Judaeo-Christian Bible can be transformed into visual and sonic images. The printed, spoken, and heard word is subjected to a hermeneutical process that deploys systems of codification, excision, and redaction, and techniques of collage, superimposition, and abstraction. By these means, the source material yields significances, connections, and resonances that are not ordinarily evident.
The Pictorial Bible III Booklet
Opening, School of Art Gallery, Aberystwyth University, February 13, 2015.
Works
Click on the coloured numerals to open captioned pdf versions of the artworks, and upon the thumbnails to open enlargements of the same:
07/1 Bible Studies: Lamentations (2007)
13/1 Bible Studies: God/Word (2013)
13/2 Bible Studies: Begat/Jesus (2013)
13/3 Bible Studies: Rivers (2013)
13/4 Bible Studies: Justified (Sins Removed) (2013)
13/5 Bible Studies: Justified (Removed Sins) (2013)
14/1 Prevenient: My Mother’s New Testament (1936/1965/2014)
14/2 Image & Superscription: Matthew (2014)
14/3 Image & Superscription: Mark (2014)
14/4 Image & Superscription: Luke (2014)
14/5 Image & Superscription: John (2014)
14/6 Bible Studies: Line Upon Line, Line Upon Line (2014)
14/7 A Wordless Gospel (2014)
14/8 Preaching = Painting (2014)
14/9 Large Letters (2014)
14/10 Sindebt (Cheirographon) (2014)
14/11 Trust in Thy Word (2014)
14/12 YHWH (Tetragrammaton) (2014)
14/13 Intercessions (2014)
14/14 The Floating Bible: Miracle of the Risen Word (2014) (54-part visual image)
14/15 The Floating Bible: Miracle of the Risen Word (2014) (57-part sonic image)
14/16 Chi Rho (Christogram) (2014)
14/17 Painted With Vermilion (2015)
4 Comments. Leave new
Was anyone “moved” spiritually by this exhibit? Did anyone come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the wonder and mercy of God, of the mystery of redemption, of God’s magnificent grace towards mankind?
People get ‘moved spiritually’ in a variety of ways, I’m told. The works are not intended to articulate the theological concepts you describe. Mnay thanks for your interest.
Although this art looks very interesting, without being able to read the small plaques next to each work, I can’t get very far in interpreting or appreciating these unique expressions.
Perhaps someone could shoot a new slide show that shows each plaque, then the associated artwork.
If you are reading this on the Academia site, then I suggest that you down load the pdf. After which, you can blow up the pages to any size you wish. The small plaques are only descriptors of title, size, medium etc. You’d need to read the text for each painting to appreciate the concepts governing them. Thanks for your interest.