The “Stations of the Cross” has contemporary relevance
21 Mar 2018 - by
The practice of contemplating a series of images depicting Jesus’ final journey to crucifixion may have started in the 13th century but it continues to have relevance today if the 2018 Stations of the Cross exhibition is anything to go by.
Artists and audiences alike have been deeply engaged and provoked as they have meditated and reflected on the inspiring, unusual and sometimes provocative 16 stations featured in the exhibition at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, 3-15 March 2018.
When artist Kevin McKay was reflecting on how to approach the Station he had been given–Jesus is laid in the tomb–he decided to honour his friend and studio neighbour Troy Quinliven who passed away in early 2017 (Troy has participated twice before in a Stations of the Cross exhibition.)
Kevin unearthed some unfinished pieces from Troy which he decided to use–the result was a posthumous triptych collaboration between the artists called Let me hide myself in thee after the line from the Rock of Ages hymn.
“Trying to recall intentions and decipher meaning in Troy’s work and in his absence, and then seeking an appropriate way to bring that work to completion has been an interesting experience that one can imagine consumed the disciples of Jesus,” Kevin said.
“In burying those we love, the abstract reality of our own mortality becomes more real, and in perpetuating their memory we seek to connect our existence with something greater than ours alone,” he said.
Merici College teacher Laura Pearce brought her Year 12 Religion, Worship and Arts class to see the exhibition because they’re currently looking at religion in the arts.
She said they have been looking at Indigenous Stations of the Cross in college but it was valuable for students to compare with some contemporary interpretations.
“They found the whole exhibition very thought provoking. They liked the fact that the artists were from very different backgrounds, some religious and some not,” she said.
“They also liked the fact that the artists were given a briefing and not just told to 'paint Station 10' etc. They thought that by giving the artists a brief it encouraged them to be more abstract and to think outside of the box,” she said.
About 200 people viewed this year’s exhibition which was officially opened by Professor Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA on Friday March 2.
“This remarkable exhibition celebrates universality and how a group of 16 very diverse artists brought together by the theme of the Stations of the Cross—led by the curator Doug Purnell - present the visual meditations on the events surrounding Easter,” he said.
This is the second year the Centre has hosted the exhibition which has been curated by Rev Dr Doug Purnell OAM since 2007.
For the past 11 years, Doug asks a group of artists to participate in the process–giving each artist a different station to reflect on over a nine month period.
“Along the way, I attempt to visit artists in their studios. Studios are very intimate spaces, and it is a great privilege to be invited in and to engage conversation with artists about their art practice, and about life, and being. I always come away energised and excited,” he said.
“It intrigues me that the artists, all with different life experiences, different cultural backgrounds, different art practices produce works that speak in lively ways that complement each other,” he said.
The 2018 Stations of the Cross artists were John Forrester Clack, Chris Wyatt, Euan Macleod, Lachlan Warner, Marikit Santiago, Gina Bruce, Greg Warburton, Paul Miller, Jeanette Siebols, Jennifer Little, Fan Dongwang, G.W. Bot, Saif Almurayati, Kevin McKay and Troy Quinliven, and Benita Everett.
The pattern of the Stations of the Cross goes back to a discipline initiated by St Francis in the early 13th century. That pattern offers a number of stopping places or stations to reflect on the journey of Jesus from his being sentenced to death to his crucifixion and resurrection.
The ‘pattern’ provides a way of reflecting on our individual lives from that moment when we recognise that we are mortal through to and beyond our death.
A special thanks to the following people who volunteered their time during the exhibition: Dorothy Dashwood, Alan Wilson, Peter Masters, Joan Kitchin, Johanna McBride, Angela Devlin, Ray Williamson, Meryl Turner, Keith and Ann Skamp, Glenda Cloughley, Lynlea and Clive Rodger and Chris Ledger.
The Centre hopes to host a 2019 Stations of the Cross exhibition.
You can listen to Professor Sasha Grishin's opening address via this link.
You can download the 2018 Stations of the Cross catalogue here.