Language of Contemporary Art and the Artist’s Experience. Altars of the Holy Sepulchre in St Anna’s Church in Kazimierz Dolny

Abstract

There is a custom in Polish tradition of arranging an altar of the Holy Sepulchre in churches. It is a kind of occasional decoration, which presents the body of Jesus Christ lying in the tomb. The place becomes an altar for exposing the Eucharist. Despite a long tradition that dates back to the16th century, most of the installations are characterized by mediocre aesthetic and artistic value. This, however, encouraged me to take up the challenge of designing a contemporary altar of the Holy Sepulchre. The place of my endeavors was St Anna’s Church in Kazimierz Dolny in Poland - a city of historical architecture and artistic traditions. The church is out of use most of the time. Between the years of 2003 and 2014, during Easter, I designed seven projects, which I have described in more detail in my work. The enormous space that I had at my disposal gave me freedom in my aesthetic and artistic endeavors. The application of contemporary imagery and language in my installations startled but at the same time involved parishioners in experiencing their own prayer and adoration. It also made me aware of the value of artistic creation in sacred art expressed via means that are adequate to the time in which an artist creates. Annual installations of the Holy Sepulchre have become “a laboratory of contemporary art in sacred space”.