Background ideas about Art & Spirit

by Femke Hoyng

 

In 2012, I began working on the theme of Art and Faith. While traveling the world, I had seen and photographed many beautiful things that emerged from religions. Beautiful churches, mosques, temples, paintings and statues, music! But also religious expressions that have become daily traditions. The splendor and pomp, and the naturalness with which people strive for what they believe in and what gives them meaning, linked to one or more gods, gave me a warm feeling.

I'm not religious myself. I see the expressions of religion without experiencing a belief in a god. That raises the question: Can you consider religious expressions art? Perhaps that's a personal matter.

What I see in any case is that belief in a religion gives people a certain confidence, a sense of security in life, support in difficult times, and a sense of community. It gives life meaning for many people, in a spiritual sense. I think...

The words trust, stability, and meaning can also be applied to an artist. For an artist, these words are felt during the creative process. They feel the confidence to know where their work is going, to know when it's finished and good and when it's time to stop. Artists need this to express their creativity; it gives them stability in life. It gives them a sense of purpose when they can be happy and proud of the work that comes from their hands, their soul, and their mind. This is a spiritual process.

You believe in spirituality or religion because it gives meaning to your life. It gives value to your life. It seems to connect you with something familiar, with others who believe the same, and that feels good. It gives you confidence; you're on the right path. With rituals and visible or audible expressions, you thank the spirit for the good in your life or ask for prosperity and trust when life is less rosy.

An artist creates through a process of reflection and creation. They believe their ideas can lead to something good, and during the creative process, they become increasingly certain that their creation is correct and good. Of course, this doesn't happen with every idea he develops. And he stops development if no confidence is shown. He might let it rest for a while, waiting for the moment he's convinced of his original idea again. He goes back to work or starts over. When his basic idea no longer holds true, he discards it and comes up with something new. The artist's self-confidence reflects himself, but it can also depend on the appreciation others have for his work.