SOME of the most celebrated contemporary artists have revealed their thoughts on art in a book being launched in the North-East next month.
Art and the Spiritual is a collection of essays by leading artists, with responses by theologians. It includes contributions from Bill Viola, Anthony Gormley and David Puttnam.
The book, published by the University of Sunderland Press, originates from a symposium held in Durham in 1996, the UK Year of the Visual Arts.
The conference provided the opportunity for theologians to respond to the work of major artists.
The essays are devoted to different aspects of the visual arts, each examining the nature of the spiritual through video art, sculpture, celebratory theatre, glass, architecture and cinema.
The book and symposium were inspired by Bill Viola's work The Messenger, which caused controversy when it was installed at Durham Cathedral in 1996, but which has since toured the world to public acclaim.
The book is edited by Canon Bill Hall and Professor David Jasper, of Glasgow University.
Canon Hall commissioned The Messenger and organised the symposium.
Art and the Spiritual will be on sale in bookshops from Thursday. It can also be bought on 0191-525 2410.
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