Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Secular persons, sacred method

Fotis Varthis has painted some popular sci-fi/fantasy characters iconographically (Link from Zelda, Chewbacca from Star Wars, etc.) in a gallery he calls "The Byzantine Series." He explains it thus:

"Byzantine painting is a language as any kind of art and it doesn't necessarily express a religious statement. For me this concept of illustrating known -fantasy- characters in Byzantine way began as a mistake when I was trying to draw a prophet and the face reminded me of Saruman! Then I thought that it would be fun to try to depict a variety of characters in that way and I will continue this project as long as it goes. Nothing to do with Orthodoxy or any other religion though."
Having posted similar convergences of the sacred with the everyday, I can say with some experience that people will pitch a tent in one of three camps.
  • The first encampment will say, "Glory to God! Maybe some people will see these images, get interested in icons, and find the Church!"
  • The second canton will remark, "How dare he use 'windows into heaven' to show us the profane! Icons are prayer and this is blasphemous! Why are you even posting this?!"
  • The third group will look over the pictures and say, "Cool," then share this post on Facebook.
What say you?

http://www.behance.net/gallery/%28The-first-9-of%29-The-Byzantine-Series/12025751
Eddard Stark, Game of Thrones

7 comments:

  1. I'd fall into camp #2, although maybe not as stridently as your example. There's some deep theology as to why icons are written the way they are, and I think it's unfortunate to water it down to just another artistic style.

    Are you familiar with the icons of jazz saxophonist John Coltrane http://fineartamerica.com/featured/saint-john-coltrane-enthroned-mark-dukes.html

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    1. Yes, indeedy. I've been rather outspoken on the topic of icons and the non-Orthodox.

      http://byztex.blogspot.com/2013/01/icons-made-by-hands-of-non-orthodox.html

      http://byztex.blogspot.com/2012/12/on-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html

      http://byztex.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-sacred-art-program-at-small.html

      http://byztex.blogspot.com/2013/05/when-heterodox-and-icons-meet.html

      http://byztex.blogspot.com/2011/09/interesting-icon-to-remember-9-11.html

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    2. The difference with John Coltrane is that the church thinks it is a form of Orthodoxy. It's called the African Orthodox Church of St. John Coltrane, although it's bishop is actually Anglican.

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    3. One of its "archbishops" places "O.S.B." after his name, clearly plunking himself into a Catholicism-related worldview. (which works for some Episcopalian/Anglican people)

      As a priest-friend of mine noted, "Orthodox Church" is not, and cannot be, copyrighted. Anybody is free, legally, to do business under that name.

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  2. Bad-quality art (if referring to traditional -- as in authorized -- iconographic style).

    Blasphemous (imo) content.

    I would say that it fits right in with the modern, weak-willed conscience that strives to make God "fit right in with the world."

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  3. These are sincere questions. Is it blasphemous if there are no halos, mandorlas, gold, etc. representing the imbued grace of God and/or sanctification? Doesn't iconography originate from a secular art tradition? Are there earlier images in an iconographic-ish style portraying myths or legends?

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  4. I think this mostly deserves an eye roll.

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