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Bisbee's avatar

While Blessed Carlo is in my mind, in his writings and actions heroic, the common art depicting him (as in the two images you presented) are not worthy or even able to be venerated.

We have commissioned an ikon of him by a respected ikonographer, who knows the “canons” of ikonography and will not depict him as a portrait or as a secular figure.

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Lisa Andrews's avatar

Wonderful post, and so well articulated. I, too find, the images presented as banal and totally lacking in an understanding of proper use of art in bringing the faithful to a deeper relationship with God. (The images of Acutis smack of something called the “uncanny valley” that happens in producing animated images of human beings. It’s easy to design cartoon or video game characters that are somewhat abstracted. When animators try to portray human beings naturalistically, something always seems “off”. The disconnect between a human-like appearance and the negative emotional response it provokes is the uncanny valley.) There are too many poorly formed artists commissioned to pump out kitsch “religious” art to satisfy the desires of equally unformed patrons. Even highly-trained naturalist artists are producing ever-larger altar pieces that do not belong in a liturgical setting. Your efforts at educating people about the proper creation and production of truly sacred art is very important. Thank you!

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