Makoto Fujimura

Pretty cool guy.  Amazing artist.

About a year ago (I was a senior in high school) I visited Huntington University and sat in on today's class.  I remember watching the video of Makoto painting his interpretation of the Bible, and thinking: "What? No, I'm sorry, you can't do that."  Obviously, that was a result of my experience growing up where religious drawings were, for the most part, discouraged.  Plus, having not experienced all of the Intro to DMA classes leading up to this one, I just didn't understand why Professor Leeper was in support of this practice.  Well, now as a freshman here at Huntington and having gone through these first five weeks, I can now say that I have no problem with Makoto's work ... at face value.    The second time I watched this video, I was in awe of Makoto's paintings and how they, I would say pretty accurately, portrayed sections of the Bible that struck him.  His art does seem to help illustrate and highlight aspects of Biblical readings that some people might have overlooked without these added visual aids.

But yet, Makoto's work is only his interpretation.  And I'm glad it reveals things otherwise overlooked for some folks, but for me personally, God's own Word is enough.  I am going to be so bold to say that I don't think we need art to get across God's meaning.  It's already there: written down for us, displayed through God's handiwork, and through the lives of his people.  Art can no doubt be  helpful and highlight certain things, but to claim that Makoto's paintings should be how everybody experiences the Bible is the wrong idea.  Art may enhance the Bible, but it cannot be on equal ground with the written words of the Bible because the words are God's; the pictures are fallen man's.  As I said in my last post ("Art is Interpretive"), art is interpretive.  Everybody sees it in a different way.  So, make art that expresses God, but remember: The Bible as it is, is really all we need.