At St Mary's Cathedral, we have just said farewell to a superb exhibition of work by an artist who is at once original and traditional. Brian Whelan paints religious subjects using much traditional iconography but with a playfulness and vibrancy which introduces a sense of joy and humour to serious things. His subjects range from biblical scences, such as Jesus walking on the water, Noah's ark, the Ascension or Balaam's ass to mediaeval symbolism of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He also repeatedly paints images of the Holy City, a vision of the possibility of a harmonious, thriving, creative city which is a place of secure dwelling or of pilgrimage.
Brian's art shows that religious faith is, above all, a matter of life. He is not offering a picture of abstracted holiness, but of life that is complex, joyful, tricky, rich and capable of transfiguration. His transfiguration is one of colour and shimmering surfaces, of a brightness that speaks more of playful joy than solemn piety and yet is no less profound. His use of narrative invites the viewer to participate in his paintings, whatever their level of familiarity with the subjects or symbolism. His approach to creating his art is highly interactive - he works enthusiastically with others and is generous in his sharing of ideas and in his development of themes that have been opened up through exploration with others.
You can see many examples of Brian's work on his own website, and also on that of Brentwood Cathedral, where he has recently completed a commission. Fr Martin Boland provides a stimulating commentary to that work and to the central place of beauty in Christian faith. It is rare to find a contemporary artist so confident in his portrayal of traditional religous themes and I will continue to follow his work with interest. We will miss the colour and liveliness of his work in the Cathedral!
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