Bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space. Between the sacred interior of the Christian temple and the secular exterior

Bronze and glass are materials that have been used for centuries in Christian church decoration as carriers of symbolic meaning. When the front façade of a church had a carved bronze door and the window placed on the axis above it was glazed, often filled with stained glass, there was a symbolic jux...

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Main Author: Grażyna Ryba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego 2022-08-01
Series:Sacrum et Decorum
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sacrumetdecorum.pl/english-bronze-and-glass-in-the-symbology-of-liminal-space-between-the-sacred-interior-of-the-christian-temple-and-the-secular-exterior/?lang=en
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author Grażyna Ryba
author_facet Grażyna Ryba
author_sort Grażyna Ryba
collection DOAJ
description Bronze and glass are materials that have been used for centuries in Christian church decoration as carriers of symbolic meaning. When the front façade of a church had a carved bronze door and the window placed on the axis above it was glazed, often filled with stained glass, there was a symbolic juxtaposition of material and colour: the carved bronze door in the earthly zone of the secular and the colourful glass images placed above it symbolising the sacred. The article cites examples indicating the search for new forms of expression and the formation of a new symbolism related to metal and glass in contemporary sacred art. The changes involve the introduction of colour into the decoration of bronze doors, glass inlays and the gradual domination of large panes of glass. Often, the expressiveness of glass begins to be complemented by forms created using new techniques of handling artificial light. The artists’ exploration often leads to the expansion of the church entrance, inclusion of various forms of installations, and increasingly often they turn to the use of new media. Contemporary artists are to a large extent inspired by the Church’s stance, which emphasises the importance of the liminal space between the sacred and the secular, and consequently more and more often refers to the symbolism of the door and sponsors new innovative solutions.
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spelling doaj.art-1a4ed1adb5494f3d8aee3665888cd9652022-12-22T04:02:52ZengWydawnictwo Uniwersytetu RzeszowskiegoSacrum et Decorum1689-50102720-524X2022-08-01145372DOI:10.15584/setde.2021.14.4Bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space. Between the sacred interior of the Christian temple and the secular exteriorGrażyna Ryba0Uniwersytet RzeszowskiBronze and glass are materials that have been used for centuries in Christian church decoration as carriers of symbolic meaning. When the front façade of a church had a carved bronze door and the window placed on the axis above it was glazed, often filled with stained glass, there was a symbolic juxtaposition of material and colour: the carved bronze door in the earthly zone of the secular and the colourful glass images placed above it symbolising the sacred. The article cites examples indicating the search for new forms of expression and the formation of a new symbolism related to metal and glass in contemporary sacred art. The changes involve the introduction of colour into the decoration of bronze doors, glass inlays and the gradual domination of large panes of glass. Often, the expressiveness of glass begins to be complemented by forms created using new techniques of handling artificial light. The artists’ exploration often leads to the expansion of the church entrance, inclusion of various forms of installations, and increasingly often they turn to the use of new media. Contemporary artists are to a large extent inspired by the Church’s stance, which emphasises the importance of the liminal space between the sacred and the secular, and consequently more and more often refers to the symbolism of the door and sponsors new innovative solutions. https://sacrumetdecorum.pl/english-bronze-and-glass-in-the-symbology-of-liminal-space-between-the-sacred-interior-of-the-christian-temple-and-the-secular-exterior/?lang=enbronze doorstained glass windowliminal spaceentrance zone
spellingShingle Grażyna Ryba
Bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space. Between the sacred interior of the Christian temple and the secular exterior
Sacrum et Decorum
bronze door
stained glass window
liminal space
entrance zone
title Bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space. Between the sacred interior of the Christian temple and the secular exterior
title_full Bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space. Between the sacred interior of the Christian temple and the secular exterior
title_fullStr Bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space. Between the sacred interior of the Christian temple and the secular exterior
title_full_unstemmed Bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space. Between the sacred interior of the Christian temple and the secular exterior
title_short Bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space. Between the sacred interior of the Christian temple and the secular exterior
title_sort bronze and glass in the symbology of liminal space between the sacred interior of the christian temple and the secular exterior
topic bronze door
stained glass window
liminal space
entrance zone
url https://sacrumetdecorum.pl/english-bronze-and-glass-in-the-symbology-of-liminal-space-between-the-sacred-interior-of-the-christian-temple-and-the-secular-exterior/?lang=en
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