The Cross in China

I was hearing all kinds of conflicting stories about Christianity and the emerging church in China.

So I thought I would pop over and take a look for myself. And last month I did just that – I went to China. Met some great people. Saw some cool stuff. Here are some thoughts and images, that I will start posting over the next few weeks.

The 798 art district in Beijing is a funky place to hang out. You can spend the whole day inside all the galleries and exhibitions housed in recyled military factories. This image below is actually my official computer desktop image right now.

China-798-art-area

At 798, I saw an installation by artist Yan Lei which involved 3 large pieces curated under the title Eternal Value. This one is says "Eternal Value: Cross"

Cross-in-china

An explanation:

On the artwork, whose shape resembles that of a cross, he inserted four words: sex, show, speed and suck. The usage of these words is to stress the relation of the artwork with today's popular culture and ideas, stimulating also the psychology of a “Vanity Fair”. Link

At 798 there is also a huge statue of Jesus on the cross which had a sign below it saying "Man at Work".

Man-at-work-cross

Jesus really is at work in China. More images and thoughts later.

Andrew

Andrew Jones launched his first internet space in 1997 and has been teaching on related issues for the past 20 years. He travels all the time but lives between Wellington, San Francisco and a hobbit home in Prague.

4 Comments

  • Phil Wood says:

    Andrew, this is intriguing. It’s come just to late to include it in my ‘Phil’s Saturday Breakfast’ roundup, but there’s always next week. China has been a theme a definite trending theme for us. Sometimes it’s hard to separate fact from fantasy. The latest speculation is, what if the Chinese authorities took the Constantinian option and moved to establish the Church. I do hope that’s only a rumour. I confess to a sinking feeling. Shalom, phil

  • Andrew says:

    Hi Phil. I have some observations and thoughts on that topic and hope to blog it soon.

  • Sounds fascinating – i want to know more – Where are tyou these days and will you be @ Greenbelt? maybe we can meet and chat

  • Andrew says:

    mulla, we have an invitation to greenbelt festival this year that we are prayerfully considering. maybe . . . but if not somewhere else i hope.

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