People

by Marianne Kantert
 

Sheet metal, gold leaves, welding, 
height 78 cm

2007
 

During a time of prayer and worship at our "Bread of Life“ spring community weekend I had a mental image or vision of hundreds of people drawn together and forming a large vessel reaching heavenward. I made a sketch of this image.

This vessel appeared to be filled with the light of God and the light was able to penetrate to the darker outside through gaps between the people.

I had the impression that this vessel represented the body of Christ - God’s people, his church. Generations and generations of Christians have composed this body. It visually depicts how Christians are all inter-connected, those who came before us, those who are with us now, and those who will come after us. This trans-generational vessel connecting heaven and earth is built by God himself. 
 

Some weeks later, after I had sketched this vision, I was invited along with other artists to compose a piece of art for the gathering of 600 Christians from Europe and Lebanon for the On Holiday week together in Belgium  this past August. 

I felt intrigued and then the vision of a sculpture quickly came to my mind. In a flash I saw not just an idea or rough sketch, but the finished piece. I knew this is what I should create as a sculpture. The challenge was what technique to use. 

Cutting the shapes of little figures out of a sheet of metal, literally hundreds of them, was a very tiring and exausting work. My fingers hurt; and  I got blisters on the palm of my hand.

It became quite boring and I had to be alert, not to just cut the metal in a mechanical, lifeless way, but to do it purposefully, always remembering the theme of our  gathering: rejoicing together in hope – a taste of heaven. 

After a period of tedious work I started to listen to Christian music as I continued to prepare the metal figures. The music lifted my spirit to praise God in thanks and adoration. The sculpting was no longer just boring and difficult, but part of the prayer. And I realised that this experience is actually what this sculpture is about: God’s people, together, united by the light of God, through prayer and adoration, forming one body in Christ. 

Being a Christian and being part of the body of Christ is not always easy or comfortable. Christian love includes sacrifice, toil, and sweat. Sometimes we feel exausted, spent, and hurt. We get blisters and even bored sometimes. 

But the challenges and struggles didn’t stop me from pressing on with my work.  For every disciple of Christ, the day-to-day challenges don’t stop us from pressing on. Jesus is with us every step of the way.