MARK J FISHER
  • Home
    • Contact
    • Keep-in-the-Loop
    • Purchase & Use
  • About
    • Artist statement
  • SHOP
  • ART WORK
    • Still Life
    • Landscapes
    • Figurative
    • Nature, Wild Life & Pets
    • Biblical & Christmas
    • For the Grandchildren
    • Sculpture
    • Greetings Cards
    • Pots & Older Paintings
  • Reflections
    • Reflections Index
    • Sensing God
    • Spiritual Journey
    • Hope
  • Photo Images
    • Photo Art
    • Nature
    • Street
    • Have fun!
    • Coast
    • Canals
    • Image Collections >
      • Graphics & Logos
      • We are Acocks Green
      • Shared Art Projects
      • Family Pics

Reflections

Gothic

18/8/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
​During my teenage years I had a real fascination with Gothic architecture. It probably began with visits to numerous French cathedrals and a real wonder (in both senses of the term) about how they came to be built. Reading William Golding’s novel ‘The Spire’ gave me a sense of the fragility of these massive structures (insubstantial foundations) and a real interest in how they were built. On touring holidays around France with many long car journeys I often engrossed myself in Bannister-Fletcher’s ‘A History of Architecture’, which taught me much of the technical as well as the aesthetic aspects of buildings. My particular fascination with the Gothic then led to a wider interest in ecclesiastical architecture and how church buildings have been shaped to express faith, encapsulate worship (in various forms) and, like the Gothic, lift the eyes and the heart in worship.

While the spiritual aspect, along with the dedication and skill required, is very worthy, there are aspects of these grand buildings that are well removed from faith and God. Even today cathedrals are institutions of status, prestige and wealth. They are also communities within which ambition, power and influence are at play and where some of the baser expressions of human relationships work themselves out. These are brought out quite clearly in ‘The Spire’. These are all elements of human life and nature where faith plays out in a transformative way leading then to a greater appreciation of God and indeed worship, but care is needed that such inspired structures, while encouraging our eyes and hearts to God, do not foster the baser elements too.

For me, it is an awareness of the fragility of these structures that proves most important. They are not solid monuments to human achievement, but rather more delicate expressions of human weakness out of which spring aspirations towards the Divine. They are places where, yes, people’s eyes are raised toward heaven but also where people are to be found on their knees.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    There are a variety of reflections here - all personal to me while seeking to inspire reflection in others. Almost exclusively they are associated with images of mine, which I trust is helpful to those of us who think visually!
    ​Comments are always welcome.

    Index

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    January 2023
    April 2022
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    May 2018
    January 2017
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    September 2014
    February 2014
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    December 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009

KEEP IN THE LOOP sign up
Home
About
Contact
Mark J Fisher
Images and Reflections
  • Home
    • Contact
    • Keep-in-the-Loop
    • Purchase & Use
  • About
    • Artist statement
  • SHOP
  • ART WORK
    • Still Life
    • Landscapes
    • Figurative
    • Nature, Wild Life & Pets
    • Biblical & Christmas
    • For the Grandchildren
    • Sculpture
    • Greetings Cards
    • Pots & Older Paintings
  • Reflections
    • Reflections Index
    • Sensing God
    • Spiritual Journey
    • Hope
  • Photo Images
    • Photo Art
    • Nature
    • Street
    • Have fun!
    • Coast
    • Canals
    • Image Collections >
      • Graphics & Logos
      • We are Acocks Green
      • Shared Art Projects
      • Family Pics