While visiting Ely Cathedral yesterday, we came across a modern exhibition with a Biblical Cain-Abel quote in its title, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’, and a quasi-poignant subtitle, which would suit any first grade project of a liberal arts student, “what it is to be human.”
As usual in cases like that, the author* put lots of bronze? plastic? (I have no idea) figurines of unpleasant looking modern people (no, not all of them were supposed to be disheveled, precarious or homeless: some just looked plain bored) on empty pedestals and plinths inside the cathedral**, which, I guess, must call attention to a variety of ongoing issues (you can name a few).
Well, it definitely didn’t work for me: I was instantly pissed off. I am not an Anglican, but seeing a sister church being used in this cheap way, as an attempt to focus on social problems through the lamest promotion of bad art was gross. Yes, I know that Christianity is almost dead in Britain—I am not blind and can see that the very idea to “preserve former religious spaces giving them a new life” was taken to a whole new level, and it’s not about helping folks in need anymore. Having a coffee shop inside? It’s fine: “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:17). A playground for little kids, when mothers could have a bit of rest? Absolutely fine. The wholesome list can be continued, but it’s not the point anymore: what started once as a charitable initiative, quickly became a PR trap, and every alumni with a degree in bad art can enter the (once) sacred space in order to become famous.
