A meeting of modern art and religion : Jun-mo Jeong > Review

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A meeting of modern art and religion

 People, religious or atheists, often say, "Oh God," in case of trouble or exultation. Of course, in this case, the meaning of “Oh God” is often unconscious rather than absolute in the context of Christianity. It is seen as the standard of the mentality to depend on something absolute. There is an argument that this respect and belief in the Absolute of humans goes back to the origins of art, so that the first art was born from religious rituals or shamanism in primitive society. In other words, art was born as an object of worship of an invisible god or a by-product of worship. In particular, in the primitive age when a theoretical system of thought was not established, artistic activity exists as the only means to materialize religious rituals. did. From this point of view, the birth of art and religion have been closely related, and in particular, the role of Christianity in Western art up to medieval art was very important. In art, especially since the transition of human consciousness from witchcraft to religion, art history up to the Renaissance before the Renaissance appears to be mostly Christian art. 

 “Religion is a compromise or reconciliation between nature and a superhuman power believed to dominate or control the course of human life. According to this definition, religion is defined by two elements: a theoretical element and a practical element: a belief in a power higher than human beings and a prayer to reconcile with or adore them." - James Fraser 

 There are too many forms of art combined with religion before our eyes. For example, in Buddhism, Buddhist statues, rituals, and halls as spaces for enshrines are all based on the basic teachings of Buddhism, and especially in western art, it is difficult to list them because there are too many. In other words, at least one era of western art was Christian art, and the Christian afterlife and customs have always worked at the bottom of the lives of westerners. The culmination of such art based on Christianity is considered to be Gothic. And after the Renaissance, it is seen that thorough Christian art, based on the patristic philosophy of the Middle Ages, has disappeared. 

 In modern times, the concept of art has drastically changed from that of the past. Thus, art is art for all, and art can be found everywhere, whether it be the street or the market. 

 In this regard, Jadel Meyer diagnoses the modern age: "The art of our time is inclined toward low skill, childish form, inorganic form, absurd form, ignorance, and human autonomy, which has lost the true foundation of the higher."

 Yes. This is the result of both victory and defeat of the extremely developed modern civilization and its escape or exodus, and the militant struggle by the avant-garde tribes after the 19^th century. If you look at today's art, just like the aspects of world politics, society, and culture, even the strands are so entangled that it is difficult to grasp them. In this social confusion and mental chaos, modern people naturally try to escape from anxious psychological states and fears. However, groups of modern people can naturally see a subject who is dependent on an absolute.

"Contemporary art and religion", at first glance, seems to have nothing to do with it. It is Young-churl Shim's work that seems to tie these two unrelated masses together. Therefore, depending on the viewer, the contents of Young-churl Shim 's work seem very contradictory itself. Moreover, all of her works follow the word of the absolute "God, from the standpoint of a Christian and a believer, and continue to experiment with how to spread it through contemporary art. Also, the Icon or Raphael seen in the Christian Orthodox Church", like this statue of the Virgin Mary, is today's religious painting and a confession of her faith, and on the other hand, the concept of sculpture from the pedestal is further confirmed, developing into ready-made and banjo small sculptures, and contemporary art where minimal art and kinetic art meet sculpture. Her thorough experimental spirit and authorship should be sensed from the fact that her work shows her cutting edge aspect, as well as the will to live as an ordinary person, a gentle sheep, under God. But she is presenting before us, a new form of divinity.