The Quest for Truth

When you’re in the visual arts program at Brigham Young University, a theme of “being an artist who is a mormon” or being a “mormon artist” is often brought to the table. We often discuss the implications of what our mormon ideology brings to the table in the large contemporary art discussion happening around the world. 

As an illustration major and general appreciator of the arts, I have discovered an interesting juxtaposition of truth in this world: artistic truth and spiritual truth. To me, when these things are together, I am my mind is completely uplifted and inspired to create and to give something to society.

There are times when things lack artistic truth, but hold spiritual truth. And vice versa; there are things in this world which hold artistic truth, but are lacking in the spiritual truth that I think is so important. An example of each:

SPIRITUAL TRUTH:

At the risk of offending some, I am going to say that this piece hurts my eyes. Christ has a “ken doll” plasticky appearance to him due to the over blending and rendering of his features with oil paints. The fact that yellow is the color of light is kind of harsh on the eyes, and the color scheme is too eager too look photorealistic. The over-rendering of the clothes and the landscapes gives this painting a "Pixar movie" feel. However, I personally know many people who have been very touched by this artist’s work and I would never want to take that spiritual experience away from them, even if the painting does not personally speak to me. Simon Dewey is probably a wonderful and kind individual. He took so many hours to learn to paint and I’m sure he put his heart and soul into this piece. He is probably someone who seeks spiritual truth, as are those who are patrons of his work.

ARTISTIC TRUTH:

The movie the Blair Witch Project. I consider myself a film junkie, and believe it or not this film is one of my top favorite films in this world. It’s a creepy “mockumentary” horror film involving three film students who go camping in the woods of Burkitsville, Maryland and become the victims of witchcraft. I just think this movie is the perfect horror film. The fear in this movie is fear itself; the human imagination. It never shows you what is hunting them--And besides a few teeth, it never shows you any disturbing images. You are just hearing and looking out into the dark woods through a camera lense throughout the whole movie. In an artistic sense, I think this is one of the most truthful films I have ever seen. It conveys so much truth about the human mind and what fear is, and the mystery and horror that is possible to what we don’t understand or can’t see. But this film is all about a world in which evil spirits and deeds reign--a Godless world, which is something that does not uplift in a spiritual sense. I'm not sure it is putting out the kinds of messages that the people of this world need to hear--the kinds of things I want to give to the world. 

BOTH:

For the sake of brevity I will briefly name a few things that I believe hold spiritual and artistic truth in my eyes: 

-Provo resident J. Kirk Richard’s religious art.

-The last scene in Fantasia 2000, with the firebird suite scene at Mt. St. Helen’s. 

-Mr. Kreuger’s Christmas with Jimmy Stewart.

-The music of Sufjan Stevens. 

So you see, as mormon art majors, we wish to exalt this world we live in and find beauty and contribute something “praiseworthy, lovely, and of good report” to the great artistic conversation that is taking place in the world. How literal that is depends on the artist. Many people love to paint religiously and find that a very natural subject for their work. I tend to have pieces that are less literal in religious content in the fact that I’m not painting Christ and other religious figures, but I hope to be giving something that proclaims both kinds of truth in our world’s subtle beauties. I am posting photography/ a visual essay that I hope does both those things on my new tumblr account:

http://treesclaptheirhands.tumblr.com