The church in Yaodu District, Linfen City, Shanxi Province was renovated before reopening. The exquisite picture frames made of plexiglass are suspended in sequence on both sides of the corridor and give a breath of fresh air.
The portrait on the south side has strong Chinese characteristics. The ink paintings are blue and green, with freehand-drawn landscapes, mountains, and water, pavilions, and towers. In the paintings that are of various Biblical themes, there are a group of people wearing traditional Chinese clothes: The Birth of Jesus, Simeon and Anna praising the Savior, The Sermon at The Well, The Sermon On The Mount, The Little Children and Jesus, Gethsemane, The Crucifixion of Jesus, etc. Jesus’s life is depicted in the ancient Chinese style.
On the north side are some classic Western paintings which described historical events in the Bible by Western oil painting techniques: The Adoration of The Shepherds Central Panel of The Altar of The Sassetti Chapel, Adoration of The Magi, Jesus among the Doctors, the Annunciation and Christ with the Woman of Samaria, Transfiguration, The Wedding at Cana, etc. These paintings are copies of famous paintings in the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Florence Art Museum in Italy, and the Vatican Gallery.
A co-worker, Chen Li, said the original intention behind hanging these paintings was to demonstrate the profound cultural heritage of Christian diversity.
During the pandemic this year, the Yaodu Christian Council raised funds to renovate and completely change the image of the church. To make full use of the existing facilities, they decided to hang fine Chinese and Western paintings since they are treasures of Christian culture and art. These paintings have helped to spread Christian culture, promote truth, goodness and the beauty of Christ.
Pastor Huang Hailin, who returned from further study in Taiwan, instructed co-workers on the installation of the works of art. In addition to hanging Chinese and Western Bible stories on both sides of the corridor, there were more than thirty pictures hung on both sides of the third floor. On one side were famous foreign Christian figures and on the other side famous Chinese Christian figures (including local celebrities), supplemented by character introductions.
In the past two years, biblical works were hung inside and outside of the church. These had been generally welcomed by the believers.
(The author is a co-worker of the church in Linfen, Shanxi.)
- Translated by Elaina Wu
山西省临汾基督教会呈现新形象：走廊变身“画廊”
教会复堂在即，山西省临汾市尧都区城区堂装饰一新。两侧走廊新依次悬挂的有机玻璃制作的一幅幅精美画框，令人耳目一新。
南侧的画像，具有浓郁的中国化特色，水墨丹青，写意山水，高山流水，亭台楼阁，一群穿着中国传统汉服的人物讲述着圣经的故事；耶稣降生、西面和亚拿称颂救主，井边谈道、登山宝训、耶稣和小孩子、在橄榄山客西马尼园祷告、被钉十字架等，以中国古风讲述基督的一生。
北侧则是悬挂一些西方古典名画：以西方油画艺术手法描述的圣经里的历史事件：天使告知牧羊人圣诞消息、博士来朝、耶稣在教师中间、耶稣和撒玛利亚妇人在井边、登山变像、迦拿婚宴等。大多是一些收藏与法国巴黎卢浮宫、意大利佛罗伦萨美术馆、梵提冈画廊的仿制名画。
两会负责同工陈丽长老介绍，悬挂这些画像的初衷，就是利用生动形象的绘画精品，充分展示基督教多元的深厚文化底蕴。
今年新冠肺炎疫情期间，经区两会研究，筹集资金对教会进行全面装修，彻底改变教堂形象。经协商一致同意充分利用现有设施，制作悬挂一系列中西绘画佳作，展示基督教文化艺术瑰宝，传播基督教文化，弘扬基督里的真善美。
曾在台湾深造归来的黄海林牧师正在指导同工安装，他介绍说，这次制作画像除了两侧走廊悬挂中西圣经故事主体画像外，还将在三楼两侧悬挂著名基督教人物肖像画像，一侧是外国著名基督教人物，另一侧是中国基督教著名人物（包括本土著名人物），并辅以人物简介，总共有三十余幅。
前两年借鉴外地经验，在教堂内外悬挂了一些圣经经文书法作品，受到了信众普遍欢迎。
注：作者系山西临汾一教会同工。
The church in Yaodu District, Linfen City, Shanxi Province was renovated before reopening. The exquisite picture frames made of plexiglass are suspended in sequence on both sides of the corridor and give a breath of fresh air.
The portrait on the south side has strong Chinese characteristics. The ink paintings are blue and green, with freehand-drawn landscapes, mountains, and water, pavilions, and towers. In the paintings that are of various Biblical themes, there are a group of people wearing traditional Chinese clothes: The Birth of Jesus, Simeon and Anna praising the Savior, The Sermon at The Well, The Sermon On The Mount, The Little Children and Jesus, Gethsemane, The Crucifixion of Jesus, etc. Jesus’s life is depicted in the ancient Chinese style.
On the north side are some classic Western paintings which described historical events in the Bible by Western oil painting techniques: The Adoration of The Shepherds Central Panel of The Altar of The Sassetti Chapel, Adoration of The Magi, Jesus among the Doctors, the Annunciation and Christ with the Woman of Samaria, Transfiguration, The Wedding at Cana, etc. These paintings are copies of famous paintings in the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Florence Art Museum in Italy, and the Vatican Gallery.
A co-worker, Chen Li, said the original intention behind hanging these paintings was to demonstrate the profound cultural heritage of Christian diversity.
During the pandemic this year, the Yaodu Christian Council raised funds to renovate and completely change the image of the church. To make full use of the existing facilities, they decided to hang fine Chinese and Western paintings since they are treasures of Christian culture and art. These paintings have helped to spread Christian culture, promote truth, goodness and the beauty of Christ.
Pastor Huang Hailin, who returned from further study in Taiwan, instructed co-workers on the installation of the works of art. In addition to hanging Chinese and Western Bible stories on both sides of the corridor, there were more than thirty pictures hung on both sides of the third floor. On one side were famous foreign Christian figures and on the other side famous Chinese Christian figures (including local celebrities), supplemented by character introductions.
In the past two years, biblical works were hung inside and outside of the church. These had been generally welcomed by the believers.
(The author is a co-worker of the church in Linfen, Shanxi.)
- Translated by Elaina Wu
Shanxi Linfen Church Turns Corridor into Art Gallery
