Persuasive Art –

I believe that there is an ‘apologetic of art’ – in other words art can be used to lead us to Christ or to point towards word and transcendent realities.  This short talk from FOCL in 2014 explains why…

 

Here are the basic notes with some of the paintings I used:

Persuasive Art

Picasso once said that ‘art is the lie which leads us to the truth’. Human beings are artists, because we are made in the image of the great artist. By taking a broad sweep of modern European art (with particular reference to Picasso, Van Gogh, Kandinsky and Chagall) we will show how art sometime reflects the culture and sometimes creates the
culture. Because it asks questions, pictures emotions and attempts to deal with the deepest spiritual questions, contemporary European art gives us a window into the modern and post-modern European mindset and culture. Can we use it to give Europeans a window into the Gospel?

I. Introduction
1. What is Art?

2. Is there such a thing as Christian Art?

II. Understanding Contemporary European Art
1. Picasso
2. Van Gogh

3. Kandinsky
4. Chagall

III. How do we use art in evangelism?
1. The Apologetic of Beauty
2. The Apologetic of Suffering

3. The Apologetic of Creativity
IV. Questions?

Suggested Reading
H.R. Rookmaaker: Modern Art and the Death of a Culture, Crossway, 1994
F Schaeffer : Triology, Crossway, 1990.
Vishal Mangalwadi: The Book that Made Your World, Nelson – 2011
Roger Scruton :Beauty – Oxford University Press, 2009

Persuasive Music

Art and Encouragment in Brisbane – Letter from Australia 7