ΒΟΟΚ:Art & Religion in the 21st Century, Thames & Hudson Publications

The long and conflicted relationship between art and religion has given many of the greatest works in the history of art. Contrary to the expectations of 20^th Century rationalists, religion has not faded away in the 21^st Century, but roared back onto the scene with renewed vitality. Artists today continue to reflect seriously upon religious traditions, themes, and institutions, suggesting a new approach to spirituality that is more considered than confrontational.

By Dimitris Lempesis

“Art & Religion in the 21st Century” by Aaron Rosen, is the first in-depth study to survey an international roster of artists who use their work to explore religion’s cultural, social, political, and psychological impact on today’s world. The book encompasses a wide range of media and genres, from sculpture to street art, and considers faith in its broadest sense, from Islam and Christianity to Aboriginal mythology and meditation. An introduction outlines the debates and controversies that the art/religion connection has precipitated throughout history. Each of the book’s ten chapters introduces a theme: ideas of the Creation, the figure of Jesus, the sublime, wonder, diaspora and exile, religious and political conflict, ritual practice, mourning and monumentalizing, and spiritual “dwelling” in the body and in space, followed by a selection of works that illustrates that theme. Among the artists discussed are: Ai Weiwei, Francis Alÿs, Vanessa Beecroft, Maurizio Cattelan, Cristo and Jeanne-Claude, Olafur Eliasson, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, Mona Hatoum, David LaChapelle, Richard Long, Annette Messager, Mariko Mori, Grayson Perry, Richard Serra, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Bill Viola, Mark Wallinger and more.