August 1st, 2025
In Defense of Ugly Art
Art is an expression of man’s search for truth and meaning in the universe. Expression of any attempt at discovering truth and meaning, regardless of its effectiveness, is art. Beauty on the other hand, is a recognition of glory in the expression of truth and meaning. Thus, art may be beautiful, but does not have to be. Truth and meaning may be revealed in suffering for example and suffering is not beautiful; it is ugly.
Ugliness can disguise beauty but it does not oppose or diminish beauty. That which is ugly awaits redemption and beauty often whispers hope into that which is not yet redeemed. The most recognizable icon in the world depicts a crucified man beaten and bloodied, and it is art.
Well then, what is opposed to beauty? – canvases without paint, pages without words, film without light, bricks without architectural form, and notes without rhythm. The opposite of beauty is not ugly. The opposite of beauty is boring, and boring is lifeless and inhuman.
Patrick Sullivan
Though I see Pat’s point, I can’t shake the memory of the accompanying image titled l’enfern (the inferno), painted by Georges Leroux– a French veteran of World War I.
I am not sure how to defend ugly art. On one hand, I cannot bring myself to hang a print of this in my study because of its benign gore and a reminder of the fact that large portions of France were just left like this. On the other, this image helped me strengthen my fear of God, understanding our inclination to sin at scale.
Where then is the beauty?
Where is the redemption?
The thread is open. Create boldly, and may the Spirit guide us all