The Four Holy Gospels

I was introduced to Makoto Fujimura, a Japanese artist living in New York, earlier this year, and want to share his work with you! Watch the video below to learn more about him and how he is impacting artists in New York and around the world by painting and interpreting the Gospels in his work.

Here is a look at the Four Holy Gospels

 

Matthew - Consider the Lilies

Mineral Pigments, Gold, Platinum and Sumi on Kumohada, 48 x 60 inches

Consider the Lilies is done with over sixty layers of finely pulverizes precious minerals (azurite and malachite), oyster shell white, and painted with sumi ink that has been cured for over a century, as well as gold and platinum powders, mixed with Hide glue (Japanese Sanzenbon, which is no longer being made), to adhere the minerals onto a hand-pulled Japanese paper.  The painting depicts Easter lilies, with triumvirate flowers opening up, but with the suggestion that even these common lilies are transformed into a post-Resurrection, generative reality.

 

Mark - Water Flames

Mineral Pigments, Gold, Cochineal on Kumohada, 48 x 60 inches

Water Flames series depict the way in which flames not only consumes, but ultimately sanctify.  These works recall the visual language of the apocalyptic, moody paintings of the American artist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) - using Japanese vermillion, gold, platinum powders and cochineal (made from India's dye made from an cochineal insect).  The work moves our gaze upward, even as we stand in the ever-expanding Ground Zero conditions of the world.

Luke - Prodigal God

Mineral Pigments, Gold, Platinum on Kumohada,48 x 60 inches

The title of this work, based on a well known tale of the lost son in Luke 15, is taken's from my pastor Timothy Keller's book, Prodigal God.  The visual complexity of the work depicts my own inner struggle between legalism of religion (the elder brother) and the "recklessly spendthrift" nature of the Father's love in the story.  In the art world and culture in which we celebrate the wayward, but not having the language to bring the lost (myself included at times) back home, these series of works probe deeply into the tension that exist within my heart to love deeply - in spite of the legalism and the waywardness that prevails in the wider culture.

 

John - In the Beginning

48x60" Mineral Pigments, Gold on Belgium Linen

This work visually echoes the "Charis-Kairos" cover piece in the same way that the beginning of the Gospel of John echoes the beginning of Genesis.  The first chapter of the Gospel of John speaks not only about the origin of all creation in Jesus, but also about the mystery behind creation.  Art needs to inhabit such mysteries - to open us up to the generative reality of the deeper questions that lie behind our questions.
The portion of John - In the Beginning was done as a live performance, as part of an ongoing collaboration with Jazz percussionist/composer Susie Ibarra (see portion of Plywood documentary here)

Check out more on his site: http://www.makotofujimura.com/

A Holy Ambition

I discovered this sermon today and need to share it with you all. 

Disclaimer: you will be convicted.

Asking for Continents

While listening to music on shuffle, this song played and made my heart yearn for the nations! Listen closely to the heart behind the words.

Naturally my mind goes to two places: my own country and Japan. These lands need healing. Are we praying for that? I know I need to pray more frequently, daily, for healing. I saw this summer just how plentiful the harvest is, and more importantly, the faithfulness of God.

This has become the cry of my heart. Lord! Please, give us the nations! I want the nations to know Him, my own people to acknowledge that He is God. The islands will see His light as it rises on them. Japan, an island, known as being the Land of the Rising Sun. Lord, I ask for Japan! I plead for the friends I made this summer.

The most beautiful thing about this song is that the words were not written recently by a musician, but thousands of years ago by God himself:

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:8

For the earth will be filled
    with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. John 4:35

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession. Psalm 2:8

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
    let the distant shores rejoice. Psalm 97:1

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Upon reflecting, a well known quote from Dawson Trotman came to mind:

"Do you know why I often ask Christians, 'What's the biggest thing you've asked God for this week?' I remind them that they are going to God, the Father, and the Maker of the universe. The One who holds the world in His hands. What did you ask God for? Did you ask for peanuts, toys, trinkets, or did you ask for continents?

I want to tell you… it's tragic!

The little itsy-bitsy things we ask of our Almighty God. Sure, nothing is too small--but also nothing is too big. Let's learn to ask from our big God some of those big things He talks about." 

~Dawson Trotman 

Let's ask for continents. Will you join me in praying, in pleading for the nations?

Check out Operation World to learn more about praying for the nations!

http://www.operationworld.org/