At the end of the 1970’s, in the days before multi-channel television, children’s programming was limited to two hours on a weekday evening. Alongside controversial school drama Grange Hill, adventurous space dwellers The Clangers, and magazine show Blue Peter, was Vision On. Aimed especially at children with hearing impairment, Vision On featured an assortment of segments, one of which was The Gallery. This section consisted of artwork sent in by viewers which covered every subject imaginable, and ended with one of the presenters apologising that they couldn’t return the pictures, but there was a prize for everyone whose art had been shown.

That so many children were willing to send in their prized art speaks volumes both about the show, but also about the nature of art. It speaks in a way that words are unable to.

The history of art in Christianity reflects the history of the faith itself. From the earliest times, within a century or so of Christ’s death, there are paintings and sculpture that depict various aspects of Christian belief. Most notably, many of these works portray Christ himself, although the conventional depiction of Jesus as a long haired bearded figure didn’t become established until at least the sixth century.

Before then, artists had used the ethnic characteristics of their own community when creating images of Jesus.

The Christ We Share is a collection of some thirty or more modern pictures of Christ from cultures across the globe. Here we find Jesus sitting with other tribesmen around a fire in the plains of Africa. He is shown as a South American styled bandit staring out from a ‘wanted’ poster. He is a blonde blue eyed meek and mild figure surrounded by birds and small furry animals.

I wonder what image comes into our minds when we think about the person of Jesus Christ?

Although we know much about what he did and what he said, his physical appearance isn’t mentioned at all in the bible. But he nevertheless continues to inspire artists from every corner of the earth. And why? Because he walks with us. He speaks with us. He identifies with us. He is God. And who wouldn’t want to know what God looks like?

(May 2017)