Ugly As Sin

[Apotheoun]

A new piece of "sacred art" is installed in the chapel of St. Stephen's cathedral in Vienna:

[url="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/05/ugly-as-sin/"][u][b]Ugly as Sin[/b][/u][/url]

[T-Bone _]

ewww...

[Brother Adam]

He is an atheist and describes himself as a "Stalinist". Hrdlicka was personally commissioned by Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna to produce the sculpture.

[VoTeckam]

[quote name='Brother Adam' post='1881281' date='Jun 2 2009, 04:55 PM']He is an atheist and describes himself as a "Stalinist". Hrdlicka was personally commissioned by Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna to produce the sculpture.


[/quote]


Well that makes perfect sense. He is the obvious choice to be commissioned for sacred art.

I sense a definite case of "emperor's new clothes" syndrome going on in regards to art these days.

Edited June 2, 2009 by VoTeckam

[Apotheoun]

In Eastern Christianity a true icon can only be produced by a person who is living the Orthodox faith of the Church.

[dominicansoul]

someone needs to take it down and respectfully burn it (since it is, after all blessed...)

YEESH!

and what's the deal with mentioning the commies she was killed with???

[CatherineM]

That's like something from a nightmare.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='dominicansoul' post='1881324' date='Jun 2 2009, 02:28 PM']someone needs to take it down and respectfully burn it (since it is, after all blessed...)[/quote]
I think it is made of metal, so they might have to melt it down.

[dominicansoul]

i wish someone would! that would be great!

i think we in the Latin Rite need to take pointers from the Eastern Rite in regards to images...

there have been way way way too many UGLY images/statues/paintings/ not to mention architecture etc. etc. produced for the Church since the 1960's...

[Niccolò]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1881322' date='Jun 2 2009, 03:26 PM']In Eastern Christianity a true icon can only be produced by a person who is living the Orthodox faith of the Church.[/quote]


[quote name='dominicansoul' post='1881343' date='Jun 2 2009, 03:43 PM']i think we in the Latin Rite need to take pointers from the Eastern Rite in regards to images...[/quote]

I second that sentiment.

I always thought Cardinal Schoenborn was a pretty solid guy; what's the deal?

[picchick]

hmmmm...
I think that there are more important things to be up in arms about within the Church other than artwork of saints. Perhaps maybe Eucharistic abuses that happen day in and day out. This artwork is gross looking and not the greatest protrayal of a saint (unless the guy wanted to show torture on her face).

I don't think the image was blessed by Pope John Paul II. The nun was. I am sure that people don't think that but the article was not clear on that.

I really don't find anything to be angry about. Maybe grossed out because she is listed with communists. I don't find the thing pretty or a good interpretationg. But I have more things to spend my anger on than a piece of art I don't care about.

[Maximilianus]

Reminds me of Munch's [url="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/The_Scream.jpg"]"The Scream"[/url]

[mamalove]

That's just disturbing.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='picchick' post='1881353' date='Jun 2 2009, 05:57 PM']hmmmm...
I think that there are more important things to be up in arms about within the Church other than artwork of saints. Perhaps maybe Eucharistic abuses that happen day in and day out. This artwork is gross looking and not the greatest protrayal of a saint (unless the guy wanted to show torture on her face).

I don't think the image was blessed by Pope John Paul II. The nun was. I am sure that people don't think that but the article was not clear on that.

I really don't find anything to be angry about. Maybe grossed out because she is listed with communists. I don't find the thing pretty or a good interpretationg. But I have more things to spend my anger on than a piece of art I don't care about.[/quote]

Bad art in churches and Eucharistic abuse are connected. I'm not suggesting any more outrage over this heinous image than any other ugly church. It is one more reminder of a need for a strong call for authentic renewal in the Church.

[puellapaschalis]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1881322' date='Jun 2 2009, 10:26 PM']In Eastern Christianity a true icon can only be produced by a person who is living the Orthodox faith of the Church.[/quote]

This is off-topic, but can I ask if there's something analogous when it comes to church musicians/choir members in your tradition?

[TotusTuusMaria]

ew. its so ugly.

[Excelsior1027]

That's just scary lookin'.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='dominicansoul' post='1881324' date='Jun 2 2009, 04:28 PM']and what's the deal with mentioning the commies she was killed with???[/quote]
Probably to connect our martyrs with the "martyrs" of the artist's religion.

[picchick]

[quote name='Brother Adam' post='1881373' date='Jun 2 2009, 05:15 PM']Bad art in churches and Eucharistic abuse are connected. I'm not suggesting any more outrage over this heinous image than any other ugly church. It is one more reminder of a need for a strong call for authentic renewal in the Church.[/quote]
Eucharistic Abuse, although connected, is higher. I am not saying that it belongs there or that it is beautiful. I am saying that I will save my outrage for atrocities against God greater than a piece of metal shapen in an ugly form.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='picchick' post='1881427' date='Jun 2 2009, 04:12 PM']Eucharistic Abuse, although connected, is higher. I am not saying that it belongs there or that it is beautiful. I am saying that I will save my outrage for atrocities against God greater than a piece of metal shapen in an ugly form.[/quote]
Icons -- as an extension of the incarnation -- are central to Christian worship, so I cannot reserve my outrage, because this piece of "art" is an offense against God, Who causes human beings to be saintliness.