I was rather excited to book for Mark Meynell’s talk on the arts and faith this year – I missed last year’s talk, which I regretted as I practice art, and although my work doesn’t necessarily illustrate my faith or the gospel, my relationship with God informs my creativity and expression. I was curious to find out how other people view this connection.
Mark and Rachel’s home is a warm, colourful and friendly place, brimming with books and art, and when my son Lukas and I arrived we felt so welcome right away. Our anxieties about doing things for the first time often revolve around the practicalities – will there be enough seating, will I know people, will I be asked scary questions at the end and so on. All these concerns became irrelevant; so many people came and with a table laden with cakes and drinks, Mark and Rachel had their work cut out to call us to order for the talk to start.
In his discussion, Mark considered different aspects to a variety of arts, from acapella singing to painting and literature.
I quickly realised that unless I took notes like an eager student, I was not going to remember all the interesting particulars, but I decided against that and instead allowed the words to wash over me and trusted that the right information would stick, and I would perhaps even go home inspired. I did.
Some of the points that I found of personal relevance:
How artists see and depict the world in a slightly different way and engaging with art can help us expand the way we view the world around us.
Art is not rational – it cannot be grasped by employing a rational approach.
Mark also talked about the expectation on art that it should always be lovely, pleasing and palatable, but that sometimes the raw depiction of life, when an artist is honest and truly moved by something, can seem challenging, brutal, perhaps confrontational. This is not necessarily an artist setting out to shock or confront but possibly just a deeply sincere response to the intensity of an experience or outrage at injustice.
Just as in film and literature, the depiction of harsher realities is not necessarily an endorsement, but rather an attempt to show it without facades, for example Picasso’s painting Guernica, which though arresting, even moving, is not a thing of beauty.
I cannot wait for next year’s talk and would encourage everyone to go to these summer link talks if you are able to.