In the exhibit Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity at the Brigham Young University Art Museum, a collection of art is brought together under theme found in the following scripture verse:
“And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me” (Moses 6:63).
The string that ties together the different pieces of art is the belief that all things can be types, or symbols, of Christ. Some pieces are overtly religious, such as God Steadying the Ark by Boleslav Parasion, which depicts God guiding Noah’s ark (Pheysey 11). Others may be more difficult to relate, such as Daily Bread by Lee Bennion (14). This is a simple painting of a woman holding a loaf of bread in her apron. The challenge to the viewer is to find how each piece can be a type of Christ.
The piece that was most interesting to me was The Prodigal Son painted by Bruce H. Smith (19). To me, this seemed to be only a painting of a feast. However, the tour guide for our class led us through an analysis that uncovered the subtle meanings. The first panel is bright and colorful, symbolizing the Prodigal Son’s life before he left his home. The center panel is painted with different shades of gray. In the middle of the table are miniature pigs, a reflection of the low point of the prodigal Son’s journey and how he was forced to feed himself with the pigs. The last panel was bright, colorful, and abundant with food. In the front was a depiction of a tiny cow, signifying the slaughtered calf at the feast in honor of the son’s return. The different elements in this painting came together to portray the parable of the Prodigal son, which is representative of Christ’s willingness to readily forgive us. This seemingly simple painting became, through analysis, a type and shadow of Christ.
The opportunity to learn in this exhibit is exceptional; I would highly recommend attending it. If you are not usually interested in art, you are not alone. I do not usually appreciate art museums. A solution to this problem would be to sign up for a tour. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and can help you see the deep and beautiful imagery in each piece. The exhibition guides are also helpful. Don’t just walk through this exhibit—all you’ll see is a few paintings on a wall. However, if you take the time to understand each painting you will leave thoughtful and inspired. This is not an exhibit to see, but to experience.
Works Cited
Pheysey, Dawn C., and Herman C. Du Toit. The Image Speaks: A Study Guide for Religious Art. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Museum of Art and Religious Studies Center, 2009. Print.
