Umenie a Cirkev XXI. (diskusné stretnutie) / Ako spolupracovať s umelcami?

How to cooperate with artists?

What is the use of art in the church? Why not fill the interior of the temple with mass-produced art substitutes? What does it mean to demand quality and true artistic values?

In a memorial homily from 1964, Pope Paul VI. tries to restore friendship between the Church and artists. The Church needs artists, he states and expresses regret that these worlds have drifted apart from each other. He reproaches the artists: "You separate art from life. …Sometimes you forget the basic canon of your dedication to expression; we do not know what you are saying, sometimes even you do not know what you are saying: the Babylonian confusion of tongues arises. Where is the art then?" At the same time, however, he also sees a problem on the side of the Church: "We gave you a hard time when we imposed imitation as a basic canon on you, the creators, always vital and overflowing with thousands of ideas and innovations. We have this style and you have to adapt to it; we have this tradition and you must be faithful to it; we have these masters and you must follow them; we have these canons and there is no escape from them…” www.teplicka. org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/HOMILIA-UMELCOM-PAVOL-VI_7.-5.1964.pdf
Pope Benedict XVI also expresses the desire to renew the Church's friendship with artists and the world of art. in his address to the artists in 2009: "However, this friendship must be constantly supported and developed so that it is authentic and fruitful, adapted to the times and takes into account various social and cultural changes." www.teplicka.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/ 09/STRETNUTIE-S-UMELCAMI-BENEDIKT-XVI_21.11.2009.pdf

How can these words be lived in reality? What are the rules, pitfalls and possibilities of cooperation with artists? Do believers appreciate such efforts in their own church? We can ask these and similar questions to our guest - Viennese Jesuit Gustav Schörghofer SJ. Since 1999, he has been inviting contemporary artists to engage in dialogue and enter one of the two Viennese Jesuit churches with a temporarily placed work. At the same time, he runs a small JesuitenFoyer gallery, takes care of the pastorate of artists with a unique approach, is the chairman of the jury for the Msgr. Otto Mauer-Preises and develops many other, similar activities to connect the Church with contemporary artists and art. https://jesuitenkunst.at/konzept/

Guest: Gustav Schörghofer SJ
Jesuit, art historian and curator of contemporary art from Vienna

Moderator: Kristína Kottrová

Discussion sessions are based on the thoughts of the ongoing Synod on the synodality of Pope Francis. They strive to help the development of dialogue between the Church and the world of contemporary art.
Information about past and planned events can be found at www.teplicka.org/synoda-u-nas/
Audio recordings on the Spotify podcast Farnost Teplicka Bratislava https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/farnost-teplicka

We look forward to joint meetings and conversations!