Roots and Culture Gallery: Stations of the Cross

Roots and Culture Gallery

Stations of the Cross,

Acrylic on canvas (2006) Artist:Dudley Charles

Review by Curator, Clairmont Chung

No. 1

No. 2

Stations of the Cross is a 14 piece set of acrylic on small canvases: none more than 12”X9”. The story of Jesus' last trip on earth usually adorns the entrance to christian, particularly Catholic, churches. Easter is the time of the year we reflect on our commitment to the revolutionary ideals Jesus espoused before the empire got hold of his body and later tried to re-program his words.

Perhaps even more telling is Peter's story where he supposedly met Jesus while he, Peter, was on his way out of Rome along the Appian Way and to relative safety from Emperor Nero's slaughter of Christians. Jesus had already completed the stations, been lynched and then freed from his earthly tomb. Nero, Emperor of Rome, blamed christians for burning half of Rome to the ground. Fleeing that fate and seeing Jesus, Peter was naturally, surprised to see his mentor. Peter is reported to have asked, “Domine, Quo Vadis?'

I suppose his words were more in the order of, “ Wuh yu deh pon?, Wutup, dawg? or Wah Gwaan, Rasta?” Charles' Jesus does not speak Latin.

No. 5

No . 6

Charles attempts to reclaim that ethos of faith to the point of dying. It is itself dormant if not dead and in need of resurrection.

Faith and Christianity came much later, this was about challenging power.

Jesus reportedly replied I am going to the city to be crucified again. Inspired by Jesus' selfless commitment, Peter then turns around and heads back to Rome and his own martyrdom.

No. 7

No. 8

Today, the disciples have merged into the pasty background, reflected in panel 13 the underground tomb, and offer no voice against the excesses of empire. Instead, the empire is on a rampage to stop, frisk, imprison, kill, and deport.The cross still hangs on necks, on the ends of chains, but made of platinum and studded with blood-diamonds. 'Christians' run the empire now.

Our voice isn't completely lost. We still have the transcripts of past martyrs to inform us. And they are still a few remaining alive fighting the fire. Charles' Jesus didn't say 'I go to be crucified again'. Who goes to be killed. Instead he pointed to burning Rome and shouted, “Fyah Bun”.