Anger over ‘sacrilegious’ graffiti at Canterbury Cathedral – but it was put there deliberately
“I think it’s a sin,” was one person’s response to graffiti-style artwork at Canterbury Cathedral; Not all visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Site seem to appreciate the new installation.
“Are you there?” Brightly colored text asking questions like: and “God, what will happen when we die?” It was plastered on the pillars and walls of the building founded in AD 579, just days after the Right Rev. Sarah Mullally emerged as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
And by the cathedral’s own admission, the artwork called “Hear Us” was not well received by everyone.
“The everyday theological questions expressed in the art installation and the cathedral’s historic graffiti tradition did not prevent some from expressing very strong reactions,” a spokesperson said in a press release about the work.
“One visitor said: ‘I think it’s a sin’, while another wondered whether the graffiti images made parts of the historic site ‘look like an underground car park in Peckham’.”
However, some positive reactions were also received.
“Others were quick to express their admiration for the installation, its artistry and emotional impact,” the spokesperson added.
The installation was created by poet Alex Vellis and curator Jacqueline Creswell, who were inspired by community workshops where people answered the question: “What would you ask God?”
The cathedral said they worked with “marginalized communities” and a team of talented artists to uncover handwritten literature pasted onto stone pillars, walls and floors.
It was designed to contrast with the ancient, traditional architecture of the church to offer new interpretations of faith and worship. The “free to view” exhibition runs through Jan. 18, along with artist talks, historical graffiti tours and family-friendly events.
“There is a naiveté that is magnified by the disturbing style of graffiti,” Canterbury Dean David Monteith said. “There is also truth to what is being said because it has not been filtered, collected or sanitized. First of all, this graffiti makes me wonder why I can’t always be this sincere, especially in my prayers.”
“This exhibition deliberately builds bridges between cultures, styles and genres and allows us to receive the gifts of young people, especially those who have so much to say and from whom we need to hear so much.”
The language of graffiti “belongs to the inaudible,” Mr. Vellis said.
He added: “By temporarily graffitiing the inside of Canterbury Cathedral, we join the chorus of the forgotten, the lost and the marvelous. People who want to mark themselves, to say ‘I was here’ and to let their engravings carry their voice through the centuries.”
Canterbury Cathedral was founded by St Augustine and describes itself as a unique place of worship and an important place of pilgrimage. One of the UK’s most visited historic sites, it is sometimes referred to as “England of Stone”.
The artwork comes at a time when church attendance across England has increased over the last six years. to a report It was published last year by the Bible Society. The group claimed there had been a “dramatic increase” in the number of young adults, particularly young men, attending church.
Last week, Dame Mullally expressed her delight at becoming the first woman to hold the title of Archbishop of Canterbury. His official installation as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury will take place in March, following the removal of the graffiti art.
