Personal Reliquiary
Object: wood, gold, textiles
size: 80 x 80 x 200 cm
The work, titled Personal Reliquary, is a profound reflection on historical and religious themes and a contemporary artistic expression of personal parallels. It is an object, a kind of personal relic, where the artist has created an imprint of her face based on the model of Veronica's canvas.
Veronica's Shroud is one of the most famous relics of Christianity, on which there is an imprint of the face of Jesus Christ. According to tradition, St. Veronica, during Jesus' journey to Golgotha, held out her kerchief to wipe the sweat and blood from her face. Miraculously, the imprint of Jesus' face remained on the cloth. This relic is venerated as a symbol of God's mercy and Jesus' suffering. For Christians, it symbolizes God's presence and grace that is available to all people. In the context of Judaism, Jesus, as a historical figure and teacher, has a different meaning, being regarded as one of the many prophets, but not as the son of God or the Messiah. In this work Lednárová reflects on concepts such as children of God, man-Jesus Christ and symbolically puts all people on an equal footing.
The work has a strong humanist message and is a celebration of humanity and universal symbols such as equality, impermanence, eternity and that we are all human. Through the intertwining of Jewish and Christian roots, the author also explores through her own family history, highlighting the intermingling of cultures and religions. The Personal Reliquary is more than just a work of art; it is a visual manifesto that makes us think about how we perceive and interpret the past, and how those interpretations are reflected in our lives today. It is a profound meditation on the human condition and the historical connections that shape us. The author invites us on a journey of introspection and discovery of the universal truths and values that underlie human existence.