Makoto Fujimura Lecture Adds New Dimension to Manifold Greatness

On March 12, artist Makoto Fujimura presented a lecture on visual theology as part of the World Christians Lecture Series. Fujimura is an artist from New York who recently completed a project entitled The Four Holy Gospels, a work commissioned in light of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, in which Fujimura illuminated the four gospels through painting.

In his lecture, Fujimura explained the thought process that went into creating several of the large images included in The Four Holy Gospels. He also discussed visual theology, an area of theology that is rarely focused on, particularly in Protestant and Evangelical traditions. Fujimura argued that beauty does not have to be the opposite of function, and that because of our culture’s emphasis on the visual, we have a unique opportunity to combine the two. By having a theology through the arts, Fujimura believes we can affirm both our sensory knowledge and our rational knowledge.

Van Wylen Library has two copies of The Four Holy Gospels. It is currently included in the Manifold Greatness display on the first floor.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger