Dylan Mortimer

Artist Statement 2004

Does evangelism have any place in the art world?  Does the nature of Evangelical Christianity threaten the artistic process?  How can the most used subject matter in the history of art still be challenging and relevant today?  These are some of the questions I try to address in my work.  I am a Christian, but I aim to warn and inform the public about the difficulties of my faith.  The artistic process is essentially about questioning and doubting.  Faith is the process of finding answers and believing.  My exploration is to question whether the two can co-exist. 

By employing the language of familiar public formats (signage, advertising, public communication systems, etc.) I aim to ask questions about public and private faith in contemporary society.  I try to balance humor and seriousness, sarcasm and sincerity, in a way that bridges a subject matter that is often presented as heavy or difficult to deal with.

By appropriating signs and materials, the work asks questions about society’s depth of spiritual belief, the customization of religion and the restriction or tolerance of religious behavior in public settings.  I am interested in presenting these ideas and issues in a way that will cause the audience to question their assumptions and beliefs.  The intent of the work is to create questions that allow the viewer to confront their religious and spiritual feelings.