Season of Blessing－Asian Art and Christianity

It was during the Age of Exploration in the 16th century when the Western countries advanced overseas that propagation of the Christian faith started in Asia.  After Spanish and Portuguese propagated Christianity around Asia, then came the colonial period when various other denominations such as Protestantism were brought.

While Christianity is a minority religion except for the Philippines in Asia, the process of its dissemination shows a wide range of variety depending on place and time.  Intertwining with Islam, Buddhism, Hindu or indigenous beliefs and culture as well as politics and social circumstances, Christianity took root in each area by transforming itself and negotiating with the local context.  New ways of living with faith and visual forms (including icons) came into being as people began to accept Christianity and sought for ways to develop and embrace their faith through their own approach.

For example, “Santo” displayed in this exhibition, is a holy figure made in the Philippines.  The Spanish colonized the Philippines from around 17th century.  Using tropical black woods and ivory and made in a shape of a Filipino person, “Santo” possesses a unique charm different from Western holy figures.

This exhibition shows works which were made since the 1940s against the backdrop of Christian adaptation in Asia.  While these works are not made to be placed as mural paintings or altar ornaments in the Catholic church, they are born out of the Christian culture of the specific time and locale the artist belongs.

Some of the works represent the artist’s Christian faith, while others stylistically incorporate characteristic forms of Christian art such as altarpiece.  We also find works which historically examine the Christian adaptation or take a critical look on Christianity as having lost substance in the contemporary society.  Christianity influenced Asia both socially and culturally.  These works take you on a journey to trace and explore its past and presence.