A major new art installation at Canterbury Cathedral in which ordinary people pose questions to God has split public opinion ahead of its official launch, with visitors reporting visceral reactions to the bold graffiti-style graphics and thought-provoking questions displayed on the ancient walls. Whilst many have reported their delight and intrigue, others have been discomforted by encountering the artworks.Jesus commands His followers to minister to the marginalized and of course He does so Himself. But the marginalized story is not all kumbaya: in today's Gospel from Luke 17:11-19 Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one of these outcasts comes back to thank Jesus. The message seems to be that the lepers may not be loving people themselves, but we are to love them anyway.
Featuring questions including “Are you there?”, “Why did you create hate when love is by far more powerful?” and “Does everything have a soul?”, the “Hear Us” installation is the culmination of poet Alex Vellis and curator Jacquiline Creswell’s collaboration with marginalised communities and a team of skilled artists to create vibrant handwritten literature responding to the question “What would you ask God?”.
Your humble Anglican is not particularly offended by the temporary graffiti stickers. Having regularly winced at the Progressive sensibilities of Anglican-Episcopal clergy (comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable) this is far from an extreme provocation. However, he is sorry for the tourists who were hoping to take photos of the magnificent interior.
Worse, IMHO, is the patronizing point of view of the art sponsors. If I were a law-abiding, God-fearing, hard-working "marginalized" person trying to succeed in British society, I might feel personally insulted that the Anglican church decided that the graffiti format was the best way to speak to me, much as some Black Americans might feel if white elites try to reach them using Ebonics. Snobs are often not self-aware.
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