Sculptures of a vicar who works as a professional clown and a bishop who questioned the virgin birth are part of a new art exhibition designed to challenge the way theology students see life.
Twelve pieces of art and sculpture by renowned artist and ordained priest, Toddy Hoare, are on display at the newly refurbished St Michael’s College, Llandaff. It is hoped they will encourage students to take a fresh look at how the Bible is interpreted and how art can explore spirituality.
Scattered around the college, on plinths in rooms and corridors, or hanging on the walls, the pieces include the controversial former Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev David Jenkins, and “Holy clown” Roly Bain, an Anglican priest who doubles up as a professional clown. There is also a dramatic bronze of Mary Magdalene grieving at the foot of the cross, the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, questioning his faith, and Jacob wrestling with his conscience.
Toddy Hoare, a trained sculpture who spent 25 years in full-time rural parish ministry in Yorkshire following a career in the Army, hopes his work will encourage people to use art in their ministry.
He said, “I set out to make people think, to look again, to get the shy to explore spirituality and the prude sexuality. Art helps people see life from a different perspective. It encourages them to question and reflect, engaging them in a different way to books and texts. Much of my work draws on the Scriptures to tease out feeling rather than be mere illustration so we resonate better with the Bible.”
Principal of St Michael’s College, Revd Canon Dr Peter Sedgwick, said he hoped the exhibition would inspire students, as well as visitors, to the college.
He said, “Toddy Hoare’s work is exceptional and the college is delighted to host this exhibition. We’ve just had a £1.1m make-over and were looking for new ways to enhance the building. I think Toddy’s work will inspire our students to look beyond their academic studies and use art to widen their experience of ministry.”
Toddy Hoare’s exhibition will be at St Michael’s College, Llandaff, throughout February. It is open to the public.
