Sunday, February 21, 2010

One of my favorite religious paintings

 
I saw this painting for the first time on my mission. Katie sent me a postcard from the BYU Museum of Art with this on the front.  The painting is called Exchange No. 8, by Ron Richmond who painted it in 2004. 

On the back of the postcard was the following:

For the Beholding Salvation Exhibition: In the 20th and 21st centuries, conceptual works have supplemented more traditional renderings of the Savior by focusing on ideas, rather than on objects or narrative representations. Often the figure of Christ is not even present in these works; signs and symbols replace the human form as in this painting by Ron Richmond. Conceptual art, such as this, encourages viewers to ponder and explore what meanings may be vested in the work. For instance, as you observe the chairs and cloths in this painting, reflect on the manifold roles of Christ as Advocate, Judge, Intercessor, and Resurrected Savior. Consider the placement of the chairs and their relationship to each other. Contemplate the intense colors of the draped fabric that call to mind the Messianic words: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

2 comments:

Kathy Haynie said...

Thank you for the comments. Very meaningful.

Katie Lewis said...

Man, I am such a profee at sending you stuff on your mission. Although you never told me so.