RELIGIOUS IMAGERY - PORTRAITS

After watching the Godfather scene Christening vs shooting and Fani-layoff, R. (1987/8). Untitled coming up in two lectures, ideas surrounding religion plagued my mind.

Catholicism is an easy and recognisable way to get viewers intrigued.

But where does this fit in to my general sex drugs and rock n roll vibe?

Religion is a way of coping with the instinctual(?) fear of death, death is a moment of ecstasy and a transcendent moment to enlightenment - death is not real it’s just the most dramatic change we’ll ever go through.

Conception to birth is a very long process but even longer when you account for everything that had to happen before conception, the development of relationship between parents, the meeting of the parents, their entire lives, their parents, the billions of generations before them, evolution, the creation of earth, the creation of the universe, the beginning of the eternal now etc. Birth takes a lot, death is a fast process.

Religion vs spirituality.

Location needs to have meaning so could use Chobham St. Lawrence church or Marist convent chapel. Church I know has awful lighting which may be used to my advantage although Marist will definitely have better lighting. Permission: Marist permission should be easier to obtain but the juxtaposition of religion and provocative clothing may cause problems. May have to compromise on clothing and props. Would have to work around times with the Sisters.

Rembrandt van Rijn 1661 Self Portrait As The Apostle Paul

Classical painters often used people they knew for biblical figures especially in depictions of the last supper.

Here Rembrandt used himself to fully transform into Paul, who could I make reference to? Jesus and Mary are perhaps the most notable characters in the bible. Mary's image is quite boring but Jesus is depicted male. Could this be a comment on my own quandaries with gender?

Once you've released work you loose control of it meaning and it's referencing, put the references in really obviously so you can't ignore the meaning.

Halo's are instantly recognisable religious imagery as is the crucifixion. I think I'll now ditch the idea of referencing iconic artworks throughout history and instead of pretentiously trying to steal someone else's personal narrative make nods to notable religious paintings which all share meaning.

In this piece Egon Schiele's used a simple but effective halo.

Fani-layoff, R. (1987/8). Untitled.

Shiele, E. (1911). Female Nude With White Border.

van Rijn, R. (1661). Self Portrait As The Apostle Paul.