A major new art installation at Canterbury Cathedral in which ordinary people pose questions to God has split public opinion ahead of its official launch, with visitors reporting visceral reactions to the bold graffiti-style graphics and thought-provoking questions displayed on the ancient walls.
Whilst many have reported their delight and intrigue, others have been discomforted by encountering the artworks.
Featuring questions including “Are you there?”, “Why did you create hate when love is by far more powerful?” and “Does everything have a soul?”, the “Hear Us” installation is the culmination of poet Alex Vellis and curator Jacquiline Creswell’s collaboration with marginalised communities and a team of skilled artists to create vibrant handwritten literature responding to the question “What would you ask God?”.
Through several community workshops held earlier this year, those involved explored poetry, curiosity, and authority, with the resulting questions then rendered in impactful graffiti-style lettering which has now been expertly and sensitively affixed to the Cathedral’s stone pillars, walls and floors for the duration of the exhibition.
The striking contrasts and conversations between the ancient architecture and this contemporary messaging, and between tradition and innovation, offer new interpretations of faith and worship practices, demonstrating that spirituality is not static, but an evolving journey.
However, the everyday theological questions expressed in the art installation and the Cathedral’s historic tradition of graffiti have not stopped some from expressing very strong reactions to “Hear Us”.
“I think it’s sacrilegious” said one Cathedral visitor, whilst another wondered whether the graffiti images made parts of the historic site “look like an underground car park in Peckham”. Others though were quick to speak of their admiration for the installation, its artistry, and emotional punch.
“There is a rawness which is magnified by the graffiti style which is disruptive” said David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury, recognising the potential for “Hear Us” to divide opinion. “There is also an authenticity in what is said because it is unfiltered and not tidied up or sanitised. Above all, this graffiti makes me wonder why I am not always able to be as candid, not least in my prayers. This exhibition intentionally builds bridges between cultures, styles and genres and in particular allows us to receive the gifts of younger people who have much to say and from whom we need to hear much.”
Speaking about the collaborative work, poet Alex Vellis said: “This project, at its core, is about community, using your voice, and change. Language is the people who speak it, and graffiti is the language of the unheard. By temporarily graffitiing the inside of Canterbury Cathedral, we join a chorus of the forgotten, the lost, and the wondrous. People who wanted to make their mark, to say “I was here”, and to have their etchings carry their voice through the centuries.”
“Surely we have all wondered about the mysteries of the universe, the meaning of life, or in times of uncertainty, sought advice?” said “Hear Us” curator Jacquiline Creswell. “Within a theological context, posing a question to God is viewed as a form of prayer, meditation, or contemplation, in return receiving guidance and solace from a source believed to be all-knowing and compassionate. By reaching out to the Divine with personal inquiries, individuals may find comfort, clarity, and direction amidst life’s uncertainties.”