Art for prayer.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
Psalm 19:2-4 RSVCE
Visio Divina, which means “divine seeing” in Latin, is an ancient prayer method that draws us into communion with God through images.
PRACTICE
- Prepare
Set time and space aside. - Ground
Look to truly see. - Contemplate
Study the details. - Meditate
See what stirs inside. - Commune
Tell God what you see. - Live
Act on your insights.
HUMAN BEINGS, IN A CERTAIN SENSE, ARE UNKNOWN TO THEMSELVES. JESUS CHRIST NOT ONLY REVEALS god, but ‘fully reveals man to man.’
Saint John Paul II in Letter to Artists, 1999
I create and photograph wire sculptures.
I see the sculptures as metaphors for reality, as God sees it, while the photographs represent the facets we can merely glimpse at this side of eternity. I also see them as representative of our core self, our essence, while the photographs represent the multiplicity of our (sometimes conflicting) experiences, perspectives, and beliefs.
My hope is that my artwork rouses your curiosity and sparks contemplative wonder about your inner life and the world around you.
Process
I create fist-sized metal mesh sculptures by hand, listening closely for feedback so I bend, score, pick and twist with its grain.
I photograph each sculpture from different angles under various natural light conditions to capture some of the countless shadows.
MATERIALS
Aluminum window screen mesh
White art paper
iPhone (6S, 11 ProMax) or Nikon D3500 DSLR
Photos, Snapseed, and Lightroom
SCULPTING TOOLS I USe
HANDS / SCISSORS / PENCIL / FORK / HAIR PIN
ABOUT
Hi, I’m Ren.
In 2016, I discovered a personal connection to the visual arts through the Fundamentals of Design course taught by renowned architect David Sellers.
Since then, art has become to me a wordless but wholesome language to process daily life and share the Gospel.
In the Advent Season of 2020, I fortuitously discovered Visio Divina. During the Easter Season of 2021, I came across Saint John Paul II’s Letter to Artists published in 1999.
This slow but steady confluence of content, form, and mission have launched REVEAL Visio Divina.
When not creating art, you can find me loving on my family and friends, and helping people create the home they need for the life they want at revealmethod.com.
