This work is
about orientation; where we stand and position
ourselves
in our lives towards its events, both
physically and spiritually.
Unlike many past depictions of the
crucifixion, we are not encouraged
here to empathize with the figure on the
cross. For by the use of pathos,
the artists in the past will have used every
means at their disposal to
draw us into the scene and feel the sadness
or pity of the event. In my
own painting I have placed the figure of
Christ with his back to us, whilst
the figures of the “elders” dressed in the
fashion of the time are emphasized.
At this point we are looking in on a scene
where the main protagonists
are strongly represented as darker figures
placed higher than the cross
to indicate the moral high ground they
understood themselves to hold, and
all set against the light of the noonday
sun.
We may begin to take up our own moral position
and start apportioning blame
for the terribly deed shown. We could ask
ourselves, “Are their sins not
as scarlet as the robe worn by one of the
figures?” And as for that
contemptuous gesture? ….And the words of venom
spat out, “If you are the
Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Surely they are to blame!
But before we take this line of thought we
must remember that the Christian
churches have had to seek forgiveness from
those accused and we must never
forget the dasterly crimes that stemmed from
such a stance and viewpoint.
We may not have noticed another figure in
this painting! The human
figure dressed in green. This person only
appeared in the work in its closing
stages, as it was not in the original
drawing for the painting. I did not
understand at the time the importance,
except as part of the composition,
where it stood on a pivotal point within the
work and seemed to work as
a central point around which the rest of the
action took place.
Reflecting now on the importance of such a
figure, I can understand
its significance as a spiritual vortex: a
place within which we as the
viewer can be drawn into the scene. For in
fact this figure is the viewer.
If this is the case then the words spoken
from the cross are directed at
us. Our position, our point of view has now
shifted from that of the viewer
and now focuses on the ones looked upon and
spoken about. From this new
point of view we are looking into the face
of Christ. We must listen with
a new ear to hear what the word of
forgiveness means for us and not just
those elders or the soldiers or the howling
mob crying out for the blood
of this innocent victim.
It is important at the start of this series
of meditations to be in
the right place both spiritually and
physically.
This is not a place of repentance, of
asking for forgiveness. No, this
is the putting ourselves in the same place
as those we have historically
blamed for the death of Christ: of those
who, as fallen people, did not
know what they were doing. We will look
about for a scapegoat, even
blame ourselves, but the point is that
before anybody can lay claim to
this crime, the death of God no less, the
words of forgiveness are spoken
from the cross, “Father forgive them for
they know not what they do.” Now
we begin to understand the importance of our
orientation, for when we look
into that face of Jesus and understand
the compassion as well as
the pardon, we may well be encouraged
ourselves to forgive! Even
those who have not asked for our
forgiveness.
