British Religious Art: The Work of Sculptor David Mach

Abstract

The relationship between art and religion is one of constant evolution in the light of new esthetic trends. Indeed, even the most groundbreaking art continues to process the raw materials provided by transcendence, religion, and, specifically, Christianity. One of the recent movements in which this process may be found is the work of young British Artists, also known as BritArt. In this respect, David Mach is a sculptor who anticipated BritArt and who has produced numerous significant works of religious art. His is an apocalyptic form of art that compels human nature to come to terms with its essence through anger, violence, fury and overwhelming profusion. In its religious sense, Mach’s art seeks authenticity through a poetics of waste and the recycling of physical and symbolic materials. It is also a populist art that strives to attain spectacular achievements and employs Shock-Art, which attracts attention and opposes common sense. As in his crucifixions, Mach frequently undertakes radical searches in which he forces visual reality. In any case, Mach’s art —and BritArt at large— finds protection in irony, for it would appear that, in order to relate freely with religion, it needs to remain a playful, sarcastic and irreverent form of art.