Art And Art Essay

1060 Words3 Pages

Art is something that has been around since humans have roamed the earth. It has been created by millions of different people, and has been influenced by many things. One incredibly big influence on art has been religion. Artists usually create work to express feelings and convey different meanings. It is no surprise that religion plays a significant role in this creation. When I think of art being associated with religion, the first thing that comes to mind is symbolism. Symbols are a very important thing in different religions. For example, in Hinduism and Buddhism, mandalas are used as a meditation tool and they symbolize the cosmos. These beautiful creations are symmetric arrangements of circles or concentric shapes. They are often seen as carpet designs, mosaics, and henna tattoos. People have started to realize their beauty more and more recently, but many don’t know that they stem from a religious belief. Another example is within Christianity. Christians use the symbol of the cross extensively in art. There have been many sculptures of crosses or Jesus on the cross made by artists since the beginning of Christianity. Even some Christian churches are in the shape of crosses to reiterate this symbolism. An example of a church like this is the infamous Westminster Abbey. Another way to describe this symbolism is iconography. Iconography in art is basically the repetition of certain images or ideas that are identified with something significant. These icons help someone to identify what the work is associated with. An example of this in Buddhist art is the depiction of buddhas or bodhisattvas. A buddha is a being who has reached enlightenment and a bodhisattva is a being who has reached enlightenment but chooses to stay in ... ... middle of paper ... ...ures. This can be pretty controversial at times depending on how people interpret the bible. Many Christians feel that it is going against the word of God to get a tattoo while others feel that it is a way to proudly voice your beliefs. In Hinduism, henna tattoos are very symbolic. They are traditionally created on the hands of Hindu brides. The process is meant to be a moving experience. Each symbol has a specific meaning and can represent things such as beauty, happiness and rebirth. These tattoos are only temporary but they still have a significant meaning. Religious art is all around us. It makes the world a beautiful place. Art creates a deeper meaning behind the stories of our religions. It allows us to express anything we want, religious or not. I think art allows us to understand our world a little easier. It explains things that cannot be put into words.

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