An artist on the trail of religions

Liulia has delimited her project to just the religions and, unlike the media, focused herself on their positive goals. She says that she deliberately leaves politicising religions to others, and the same goes for the links between religion and economy. This is why the code words are ‘beauty and wisdom’.

Liulia utilises the characteristic symbols, colours, forms and narratives of different religions in her photos, paintings, installations and media art. She offers an original and markedly feminine perspective on the religions. The exhibition emphasises tolerance and diversity, and the religions are discussed on equal terms.

The viewer can compare the identical objectives of the religions, and study the religious systems as an element of human culture. Key to the exhibition, as well as the world of different religions, is an information packet, published both in print and on the web, and a documentary telling about the creation of the exhibition. The nine religions address nine questions, such as the following: Which are central characteristics of each religion? How was the world created? What is god like? What is man? What is life?

WOMAN TAKING ON A MAN’S ROLE

The comprehensive photo study that forms part of the exhibition is presented through the artist’s own perspective. Liulia has photographed herself in the traditional dresses and symbols of the religions, in both masculine and feminine roles. ”The woman in the Choosing My Religion photos is often a scholar,” explains Liulia. “This is possible in art, but very rare in the reality of the religions. There, a woman’s most important task is to transfer the faith, created and defined by men, to the next generation in as unchanged a form as possible. Women cannot practice their religion in the same way as men. The gender division in religions is present everywhere and in all cultures.”

In addition to images of people, the study contains photos of nature, architecture, pilgrimage sites and religious objects. The installations contain books, furniture, cult objects and souvenirs relating to various religions. Some of the exhibits are also the artist’s research material, as well as dresses and jewellery used in the photo shoots.

PAINTING AS MEDITATION

Choosing My Religion will also put on display Luilia’s newest mode of expression: painting. The exhibit features large paintings, created in 2008, which express the exhibition’s theme through a profoundly symbolist imagery. Her aim has been to create images laden with different meanings, inspired by religious art. ”Painting is a kind of meditation; the artwork is born out of the union of my body and mind. I painted the huge canvasses with my bare hands, so that the fragile link wouldn’t break,” she says, describing the creation process. Like the choreography, Return of the Goddess, created by Virpi Pahkinen especially for this exhibition, these paintings emphasise the physical and emotional aspects of religion.

JOURNEY INTO THE LAND OF RELIGIONS

Religion scholar Terhi Utriainen has characterised the Choosing My Religion project as both a scientific excursion and a shrine to many religions. For the project, the artist has conducted long and thorough research all over the world. Her objective, however, was not to make a scientific analysis or realistic documentation of the world of religions. Liulia made selections and changes in her material and its presentation with the creative freedom of an artist.

LOSING MY RELIGION

Liulia sees her own non-engagement with religions as an asset to her work as both an artist and a researcher. The reference in the project’s title to the hit Losing My Religion by R.E.M. reveals a personal philosophy of life, chosen at a very young age. ”When you study religions, you might also lose your own. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to understand other cultures if you don’t understand other religions. This has been my point of departure.” In her exhibition, Liulia invites the visitors to play with the idea of which religion they would choose or what kind of religion they would assemble from the various elements.

UNDERSTANDING RELIGIONS AND ART

According to Liulia, art and religion share an aspiration for emptiness and meaninglessness, absolute beauty and purity. ”Contemporary artistsare especially fascinated by the various forms of Buddhism, Taoism and Orthodox Christianity. You can’t grasp contemporary art either, if you don’t know religions,” she says. At the exhibition, the visitor can also think about the differences between a religious experience and an aesthetic sensation. And how can different religions and their sets of values be interpreted and understood through art? And finally: is art also a matter of faith?

Jari-Pekka Vanhala

The presentation above is based on articles by Marita Liulia and Terhi Utriainen in the book Choosing My Religion, published by Maahenki Oy.