Art + religion in the 21st century

Contrary to the expectations of 20th-century rationalists, religion has not faded away in the 21st century, but roared back onto the scene with renewed vitality – and blaspheming artists get all the press. Some exploit the shock potential of religious imagery, but many also reflect deeply on spiritual matters. This survey shows how religious themes and images continue to permeate the work of contemporary artists from across the globe. The introduction outlines the debates and controversies that the art– religion connection has precipitated throughout history. Each of the book’s chapters opens by introducing a theme – ideas about creation, the sublime, wonder, diaspora and exile, religious and political conflict, ritual practice, mourning and monumentalizing, environmental art and sacred space – followed by a selection of works of art that develop that theme. The book encompasses a wide range of media and genres, from sculpture to street art, and considers faith in its broadest sense – from Islam and Christianity to Aboriginal mythology and meditation. Art & Religion in the 21st Century is essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary art and culture.