The controversial graffiti in Canterbury Cathedral

[RevUlsion]

There is outrage on social media about graffiti in Canterbury Cathedral. More accurately, an art exhibition in the style of graffiti. Many see it as desecrating a holy building.

Here's a lively article defending the exhibition. Lots to ponder: about art, 'sacred' buildings, and whether some language is off-limits when it comes to God.

www.flaneurnotes.com/post/let-us-spray

The people involved in the workshops presumably had some say in how the thing was going to be presented.
The aesthetic is definitely friendly, a little cute, accessible, a very mainstream idea of what graffiti looks like. I would imagine that was also intentional.
If the aesthetic was rough and ready, people would be complaining about that too.

Unless you are a professional buildings conservator/materials specialist with knowledge of adhesive, then your idea of risk is not particularly relevant here.
I’m definitely neither of those, but I’m going to do Canterbury and everybody involved the favour of assuming that they have approached it with the appropriate knowledge of what they’re doing.

Well ok then. 🤷‍♀️

I think the fact they’re removable also adds another layer to it.

Is it commenting on the transient nature of people’s doubts with regard to religion? That they too will one day be removed and what will be left is their religion?

"Presumably" doing a lot of work here. Anyway, I'm not sure why it's an offence against shitness that it was designed by committee.

Honestly, the more I've been on this thread, the less I like it 😂 perhaps because I feel I'm being told I don't like it because it's too edgy when what I actually don't like about it is that is so lacking any edge. I bet Welby fucking loves it.

People aren’t just saying they don’t like it. That’s a deeply disingenuous thing to claim. They’re criticising it on the grounds that these questions have all been asked before.
It is simply a personal opinion that the show is ‘egregiously ugly’.
It is simply a personal opinion that a stained glass window is beautiful and that ‘the beauty catches your eye, and holds your attention and wonder, and then as you keep looking you see a story in the image and you ponder it.’
It is simply a personal opinion that most people would think "yuck" and look away from the content of this show.
I don’t see what’s wrong with being determined to find meaning in it. That doesn’t seem to meet any different from pondering a stained glass window and being determined to see the story/find the meaning in that.
I’m not at all sure what you mean by arty intellectuals, or indeed what is wrong with being either of those things.
It is interesting that you assume that there is an ‘average hoodie’, and that they would not be interested in this exhibition. That doesn’t seem to me to be a very inclusive way of thinking.

I said presumably because I don’t want to sound like so many people on this thread who are proclaiming it to be definitely not very Christian or definitely ugly or definitely offensive.
That is very often how art projects like this that involve engagement and workshops work, though.

They’re criticising it on the grounds that these questions have all been asked before.

Literally nobody has done this.

Yes ok then

I think you said "presumably" because you have no idea whether it's true 😂

That IS the problem!

obviously, it's up to them what they do with the cathedral

I just think that making it look like everywhere else is depressing. I don't know what they were going for. I have this weird feeling they wanted to be contemporary and edgy but I can't know that for sure. But if that's what they were going for, they are at least 40 years out of date.

It could be an underpass, an underground Tube train.... goodness knows how much they paid for it.

I find it sad that so much art that's available (in allegedly public spaces) is the same - grindingly depressing or shouty colours.

it's like somebody made a law that art can't be attractive any more. Of course everyone has a different definition of attractIve

Editing to add - when I lived in London, there was some amazing graffiti around. This feels childish and pointless (I mean in appearance, not the questions). I don't know that any of that graffiti would be suited to a cathedral but there was definitely more skill involved. This looks like somebody went through a bunch of fonts on AI.

the messages are fine, although not really anything that the Christian church - all religions, in fact- haven't struggled with forever- "why all the suffering?" "are you there?" etc etc
’fine’ and ‘although’ being the key words.
admittedly this is a very mild kind of criticism, slight loads-agh, but criticism it is.

I dislike it and would have been cross to have paid £18 to visit such a unique and beautiful building to find this on display. The fact that it is temporary would not have lessened the issue. It’s a cathedral not a fairground.

How is it a counter argument to anyone's opinion that "that is just your opinion"? I've had that levelled at me several times so far on this short thread. Yes, obviously. That is why I'm saying it...! What else would any of us be expressing except our own opinion? So strange.

People are giving their views, it doesn’t need to be offset with others may feel differently, that’s a given.

I disagree. There’s nothing Jesus did that shows us he would be upset or pissed off in anyway by an art installation that’s designed to provoke thought and exploration of God.

It has all the artistic merit of the BAM! POW! in Batman.

Last week someone damaged the war memorial in our town with graffiti. It's a small town and many local families relations names are remember on the memorial. People are very sad and angry.

I do hope this 'art' doesn't encourage other people to deface precious monuments.

Musk and Vance haven't complained about the graffiti on our roundabouts and crossings.

Yes, I agree

Hopefully it's made clear when you book that this is there. Otherwise, that would be really annoying.

I did wonder how regular worshippers feel but I see some of them have already commented on social media!

It is interesting that you assume that there is an ‘average hoodie’, and that they would not be interested in this exhibition. That doesn’t seem to me to be a very inclusive way of thinking.

I hear what you're trying to imply and it's the exact opposite of what I mean. I mean the "marginalised young person", that this stunt is trying to reach, would be more moved by a piece of organ music than this. Because he, the metaphorical marginalised young person, doesn't need to be patronised, and can be awed by beauty as much as anyone else.

This is of course, in my opinion, as no one needs clarifying.

Yes exactly. Why does this come up from those who like it. It’s all ‘just your opinion’

None of us can know, obviously, but I think Jesus would have been irritated by anything that made the Church feel exclusive to the arty middle class intellectual types.

See upthread reactions such as, I paraphrase, "the fact that the decals can be removed symbolises the transience of the Church"

Jesus would have been much more on board with the £3 stay and play for under 5s on Wednesday mornings, tea and biscuit included.

And yes, this is just mumoftwo's opinion, etc

It's not criticism at all. It's making the point that these are fundamental questions in all religions- the questions are not what people are objecting to at all.

I find atheists often pop up on threads like this and assume that Christians will be aghast at the idea of someone asking these questions or expressing doubts, when in fact dealing with doubt is an absolutely fundamental part of faith. No one minds the questions.

A simulacrum of radical
Ha! Yes, indeed!

You can buy graffiti vinyl stickers like in the exhibitions on Amazon Prime.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KAIRNE-Stickers-Accessory-Graffiti-Accessories/dp/B0FD9SMQ5K/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=2H4BFOYLJMJVC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.D3W_3L_1Y_VBx-2hURjpbI6S8CLGrfk8xgeXxTV_pOZQiN-C_g6qDkowR52zSt7MCpRbqwS23AfZFAOpby6SsVBv92-clT4hycfkiM9_0tUD_A6VI-szZZv_UP8W4vekybhftmYvRDoVIDPGs3Dikx0FcGRj7BRfRep14r6K90codfRcCRQ6Bfa4tLj2d0WEAe3JKppNkI1ydD8biR9UGPIzs59yGeTl2QaVqzKS3r7ODPl5D0XFDcsVPvL-6BzQwZi0utfpBJca8hB2SaPdPNkTzO7Uxw3xuVGRgOT-lBc.TZ9fYM3Wo1VDF4wpMXebNRy5_Jafy9Ozcx0oMjD9KIM&dib_tag=se&keywords=graffiti%2Bwall%2Bstickers&qid=1760557547&sprefix=graffiti%2Bwall%2Bstickers%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Some of the stickers look very sticker like, which is rather cringe some look a bit more convincing. It certainly is not banksyesque.

Only difference is these were custom made.

Also,
Let us spray
😁
The exhibition title would be commendable for a year 5 RE project.

Saying that, I like aspects of this exhibition, the church is traditional and hierarchical, a Cathedral even more so. Graffiti is sometimes a form of expression by those excluded from institutional power.

Not sure I Iike the selection of text, they should have just done bible verses. They can order them here

www.amazon.co.uk/AXEN-Stickers-Bottles-Computer-Decoration/dp/B0CNR1H5MD/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.275a6f53-9cf6-44a3-b23b-8329edb3157f%3Aamzn1.sym.275a6f53-9cf6-44a3-b23b-8329edb3157f&crid=28VT9XCHQB61U&cv_ct_cx=bible%2Bvinyl%2Bstickers&keywords=bible%2Bvinyl%2Bstickers&pd_rd_i=B0CNR1H5MD&pd_rd_r=6e83984a-8c25-4eae-8b17-8f58d05ac137&pd_rd_w=FpOTu&pd_rd_wg=Updjy&pf_rd_p=275a6f53-9cf6-44a3-b23b-8329edb3157f&pf_rd_r=AFZT08PJKYX2B0M7QSMS&qid=1760558196&s=kitchen&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=bible%2Bvinyl%2Bstickers%2Ckitchen%2C91&sr=1-4-ad3222ed-9545-4dc8-8dd8-6b2cb5278509-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

I’m just really not sure who the display is aimed at. The marginalised and disenfranchised aren’t necessarily going to have nearly £20 to spend to come and see it. Yes it might be free for services but would a graffiti installation persuade newcomers to join in spiritual worship?

They might mind big questions being dressed up as plastic graffiti mind you. It’s infantilising