Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity

One of the exhibitions at BYU's Museum of Art is entitled "Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity."

The exhibition houses works of art of a religious nature, such as Arnold Friberg's "Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land."

On the tour I went on with the class, I was taught how to look for an intimation, or a symbol of Christ our Savior.





















Ron Richmond's "Exchange No. 8" depicts two chairs. One is overturned and has a red cloth draped over it. Standing over it, or above it, is an upright chair with a white cloth.

Where some might see only two chairs, I learned to look at colors and symbols. Red stands for blood and injury. White is a symbol of purity and cleanliness. The scripture Isaiah 1:18 comes to mind, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." An interpretation of this painting is that it could be symbolic of the Atonement of our Savior, who overcame death and sin, and bled from every pore to become white and holy forever. He extends that opportunity to become pure to each of us. The upright chair could be a throne, or the "Mercy seat" of God, or the "Judgement seat" of Christ.

















Frans M. Johansen's work "The Rod and the Veil" is not a painting, but a huge piece of sculpted bronze. the two figures are both reaching for a rod, which, in LDS doctrine, often represents the Word of God, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One figure is higher than the other, and is reaching behind from what appears to be a thin cloth. Again, in LDS doctrine, the "veil" is the thin shroud that covers the earth that humans might not know all things. When we die, we go through the veil and are able to understand more about the Plan of Salvation. We are taught that people on both sides of the veil are reaching towards eachother, and that it is the Gospel that brings us together. This work of art depicts that reaching, that desire to be with one another. It is a part of God's Plan of Happiness.