Jonathan Walker/Collegian
Aidan Hart speaks to his audience on “Christianity and Sacred Art Today: The Quiet Power of Devine Beauty.”
Aidan Hart is a man who lives through his art, and his passion was evident while he was on campus Oct. 3 through 6 speaking on a variety of subjects ranging from art to religion. On Monday, he gave a speech entitled “Hermits and Hierarchs: Monasticism on Mt. Athos.” Tuesday he spoke at the Fairfield Society on “Why an Icon is not an Idol: The Role of Christian Art in Salvation.” On Wednesday, Hart explicated on “Christianity and Sacred Art Today: The Quiet Power of Divine Beauty.”
Hart, who is one of England’s renowned artists, has been commissioned to paint for the Prince of Wales, the St. John’s Illuminated Bible Project, as well as for many Eastern Orthodox Churches around the globe. He is most famous for his iconography—that is, icons—which, according to the “Merriam Webster Dictionary,” are “representations or pictures of sacred or sanctified Christian personages, traditionally used and venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church.” He is also world renowned for his frescoes, sculpting, painting and carving.
Originally from New Zealand, Hart was trained as a sculptor and painter, but became interested in art that exhibited Christian themes. He was introduced to the icon by one of his art professors, and quickly fell in love with the abstract representations of saints.
“Icons are imperfect perfection and perfect imperfection,” Hart said. “I was taught a lot of principles on Mount Athos; it gave me the opportunity to look more closely at Byzantine icons.”
This love affair with the icon led Hart to convert to Orthodoxy in 1983; soon after his conversion, he joined the monastic life at Mount Athos, Greece, where he lived and studied as a monk for two years.
Hart then lived as a hermit in England, though his life was anything but secluded; he received more than 2000 visitors a year. Finding the monastic/hermit’s life “a bit crushing,” Hart reentered the community and has since married and started a family.
Andrew Cuneo, assistant professor of English, met Hart while Cuneo was studying at Oxford University.
“He came to Oxford in 1998 and spoke at a conference on art and architecture,” Cuneo said. “He was really most memorable and I went up after the talk to meet and greet him.”
Cuneo said Hart’s speech had struck a cord. Cuneo said he was impressed by Hart’s method and ideals of art.
“What really stuck on to me was when he said the artist really had to love the subject and the material he uses,” Cuneo said. “He gets to know the material perfectly.”
Cuneo and Hart have since kept in touch, and Cuneo was instrumental, along with the art and religion departments, in inviting Hart to Hillsdale’s campus to speak.
“He is one of the best [iconographers] in the world,” Cuneo said. “It’s a privilege to have an artist of this caliber on campus.”
Concerning his work, Hart said painting icons is not only a beautiful expression of artistic talent, but is also a wonderful way to express one’s faith and love of God.
“It’s an opportunity to be alone with God,” Hart said. “There is a very strong missionary element—to communicate God to people.”
“It’s wonderful to see the cognizance between the holiness of the man and the power of the art—art being more than mere raw talent of faithful reproduction,” Cuneo said of Hart’s work. “They [the icons] always remind the viewer that it’s our duty to become icons of Christ.