No "There" There

The painting at left, by Italian artist Angelo Casciello is an illustration that is part of the new lectionary approved by the Italian bishops. Sandro Magister comments;

The Italian bishops' conference has entrusted the illustration of the new Lectionary to thirty contemporary artists, with their styles. It's the first time that a liturgical book has been associated with modern images. An audacious undertaking – and one immediately criticized

I have tried to find a clearer version of this piece of art online, but so far have been unsuccessful. I would like to see it better so that I can do a more fair critique. I realize there might be objections to critiqueing the piece in this format, but right now it is all I have to go on.

I also Googled up the websites of the other artists named in the Magister article, and they all seem to be pretty well within the same broad stylistic milieu.

Where to begin?

Let me just say what this painting is not; It isn't beautiful, it isn't technically accomplished, well composed or evocative. It probes none of the human experience of the event it depicts (the healing of the man born blind), and it utterly fails to draw the viewer in or make them care about seeing it again.

It is not really a work of art. Like so many modern abstract pieces, it is a placeholder representing the idea of a work of art. There should be a little rectangle in the middle with the words "place artwork here". What this painting is, is easy. The shame of it is, there are probably many living artists in Italy who could have provided, even in a very simple format, art of beauty and depth.

Now, of course, there will be those who will counter that they like this piece and find it terrific in all kinds of ways, but I can only respond in advance that lots of people liked disco, too. I would like to hear explained why and how this is a good painting. To fall back on "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is a cop-out. There is certainly a subjective element to beauty, but that is not nearly the end of it. Some things are really beautiful and some things are really ugly, to the point of making mere opinion superfluous. This is why people drive as fast as they can through Nebraska to get to Yellowstone Park, and not the other way around. Sorry, Nebraska. I give thanks for you every time I open a bag of tortilla chips, but there is just not much to look at there.

According to Catholic News Service, there are a number of translation and typographical errors in this new Italian lectionary... so many that they are issuing a set of corrective adhesive stickers to cover them all. One wonders if they could not issue a new set of illustrations in the same way.

GET THE STORY.

 

Comments

[J.R. Stoodley]

Ick. Reminds me of the things they put on the bulletins at a church I sometimes go to. I suspect future generations will see this sort of "modern art" as immature and stupid.

[Del]

The "open eyes" appear far more dead than the "closed eyes"!

Personally, I'd prefer to be "Alive and Asleep" over "Dead and Awake." So I must agree with Tim: This does not evoke the Gospel experience that it is supposed to illustrate.

Chesterton had a lot of condemnation for modern art and its failure to represent anything. And also for the modern enthusiasm for ugliness. Like this piece.

I'm going back to view that intriguing portrait of the Immaculate Heart once more. I don't want to leave with THIS image in my head!

[Francis]

This reminds me of the art of Picasso. It may be modern but I don't think this type of art glorifies Jesus. This art does not exude harmony, peace or love but the bipolar nature of its creator.

[Frank]

Like Akins site, what does anything you post have to do with Catholics, its traditions and its restoration?

The church today is being sold off piece by piece to the modern secular world, and like your and Akins post, you have to read into what your thoughts and beliefs are, as you are not church militants but like fat man Shea, looking to make money off of it

That is why the Holy Father and so many are realizing that tradition and the true church have been sold off and that restoration is in full swing

Stop with your secular insidious posts and get with what the Roman Catholic forum and other blogs are about

You are becoming like Akin a joke

[bill912]

Thank you for that expression of true Christian Charity on Christmas Eve, Frank.

[Elijah]

Congrats, Tim! You've attracted your first hobby-horse-mounted troll!

[A.Williams]

I uhgree. yu and that Akins guy doesn't never post nothin bout Cathlicism on your sytes. I thunk you and him needs som catekeezim! I'm callun the Poep on yuaall!!

[Del]

Some kind advice for Frank:

If you don't like Tim's blog (or Mr. Akin's), then don't read them. I'm sure that you can find blogs that suit your desires better. Encourage your friends to read THOSE blogs.

Some readers may like to have their Catholicism well-behaved in its little box, with every post about Mary or the Pope.

Here, we believe that Catholicism should infuse everything in our lives... and so we talk about our everyday lives, but in a Catholic way.

Tim is an artist. His blog is often about art. Very Catholic art, old and new, good and bad.

Many of us enjoy beer. Some of us even brew our own beer, as a hobby. This invites us to talk about Bavarian Catholic beers and Trappist Monastery beers, etc.

Everything is on the table here, a still-life to examine through our Catholic worldview.

My blessing to Frank:
May the conversations in your comfy Catholic home be as congenial as those in this comfy Catholic blog!

[Tim J.]

I just find it amusing that Frank thinks it highly insulting to lump me in with Mark Shea and Jimmy Akin.

If that is an insult, keep 'em coming.

[Del]

And Tim... May you grow as rich as Mark Shea off of us namby-pamby POD Catholics!

[Frank]

It was posted:

"And Tim... May you grow as rich as Mark Shea off of us namby-pamby POD Catholics!"

When Mr Akin, Mr Fat man (delete any post that does not fall into line with his way of thinking) Shea and now their disciple Mr Jones donate their "riches" to the poor and traditional chapels trying to fight off the secular modernists, then maybe we can we can call me a troll

Until then I pray the rosary in front of abortion clinics, donate my money and time, and continue to write books and articles that promote traditionalism

Merry Christmas!!

[A.Williams]

Oh boy.. that just makes you a hunky dory kinda Catholic doesn't it!...I bet no one on these sites prays the Rosary, gives money to the Church or supports the Pope or orthodox Catholic positions! No, not on these bonafide progressive blogs!

Most of us prefer to make felt banners and custom leotards for our liturgical dancing services!

[bill912]

Frank seems to be full of bitterness, and empty of joy. These are not the marks of a Christian. To paraphrase St. Paul: "If I pray the rosary in front of abortion clinics, donate my money and time, and continue to write books and articles that promote traditionalism, but have not love, I gain nothing."

Pray for Frank.

[Tim J.]

Since I was a kid, it has been my aspiration to be as rich as Mark Shea, who I understand keeps his vast fortune divided among several off-shore bank accounts.

I heard he is planning on spending the next year dead for tax purposes.

[Del]

Frank,

You would find a lot of friends here, if you didn't come in with the guns blazing.

What do you want for credibility?

I am enrolled in the Rosary Confraternity. I pray the Rosary every day. I read my Bible, too.

My younger son (17) is called to the priesthood. He is learning the Latin responses, so he can serve at the Low Tridentine Mass. We are on the leading edge of the Motu Proprio in our diocese.

My older son (19) and I spent over 20 hours in prayer at the local abortuary, during the "40 Days for Life" campaign last October.

I personally organized a weekly hour of Eucharistic Adoration in our parish, where was none before.

I could continue to boast of my Catholic credentials, but you get the point. I'll bet that most commentors here have similar creds.

We're pretty damned orthodox! We all know the Joy of living a Catholic life.

However, I wouldn't set foot inside the SPPX chapel located just 5 miles away. They are so insanely focused on their traditionalist worship that they've become Protestants.

We could be friends here. We would enjoy learning about your traditionalist enthusiasms.

But if you insist on first hearing us say that Benedict isn't a proper Pope, or that John Paul wasn't Great, or that the Ordinary Form of the Mass doesn't have the True Presence... then you're a troll.

[Del]

Meanwhile... that ugly painting. If I read at Mass, I won't have to look at this, right? Please tell me that it's just an Italian thing...

[A.Williams]

One other thing about the painting.

The title of the Gospel account is "The Man born blind".

Is this even a painting of a man?

Those are some pretty lengthy eyelashes!...Dude.