Hot-Potato Jesus
So what's this all about?
Hot-Potato Jesus is an art experiment exploring relational connections and the transference of an object. Not just any object: a Jesus figurine. To some, a symbol of divinity and therefore worthy of sacred respect. To others, a symbol of intolerance and religious elitism. And to still others, a toy.
This project seeks to set in motion a system that both depends upon a relational network and at the same time, frustrates that network through the passing of a potent, and sometimes volatile, symbol. In the opinion of this artist, this is an accurate picture of much religious expansion (both Christian and in other faith groups).
Some of the questions that guided this project include:
- Will an object with such loaded content find its way through the day, or will it be discarded prematurely?
- How does the discomfort of passing along a Jesus figurine expose what some believe to be the relational intrusion of traditional views of religious expansion?
- Since these figurines will be passed through a network of relationships, will the trust in those relationships be strong enough to “carry” these pieces throughout the day? In other words, will they make it?
If you participated in Hot-Potato Jesus, please feel free to leave a comment below.
- Tim Parsley
posted by tim at 5:30 PM
4 Comments:
This is Lauren with Jesus #3. I just called, but I thought I'd let you know that Jesus #3, when I received him, had no hands and was wearing a pair of sunglasses and smoking... something... made out of kneadable eraser.
Lauren, thanks for commenting! You probably left it on a voicemail, but where was the Jesus at 5:00 p.m.?
one of the jesus, didn't record the number, was thrown at me in the main DAAP stairwell around noon, I held ontot him for about 15 min before tossing him at a student leaving a freshman design studio.
interesting thoughts but I say they're all moot, because the plastic Jesus has been so totally de- valued today, its worthless from either an art point of view or an evangelistic point of view.....As a christian, I find it hideous, and would melt it down in secret!
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