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About 2000 years ago, Jesus, a man of Jewish descent, burst on to the Middle East scene. Without the help of an army, mass media, spin doctors or the approval of religious or secular authorities, he sowed ideas which would change the world.
His revolutionary message was that love should be the basis for all aspects of our living. Our love was to be all encompassing, not just for our friends and community, but to include our enemies.
Jesus undoubtedly had great charisma but lived a simple life mixing with ordinary people, sharing their joys and sorrows.
Much Christian art (and theology) has concentrated on guilt and suffering. But Jesus came to bring joy to the world - not to make guilt-ridden wrecks.
This collection of paintings from artists from 16 countries gives their impressions of a laughing, loving Jesus who is a living presence.
"The Smiling Jesus" by Michael Galovic |
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For 35 years I've been making traditional icons. The iconic tradition depicts Christ, Holy Mary or saints in a different way form other religious painting traditions. Icons deliberately distort the reality of this world; the protagonists of the Christian Drama always look serious, stern, austere, there are no smiles of laughter. Their tendency is to show the saints as already belonging to another realm, sanctified being and spiritualised forms. When asked to do an image of Christ for the Laughing Jesus project, it certainly was a challenge. The image which imposed itself onto my mind was that of Christ's face, the famous icon type called Holy Face Made Without Human Hands or Mandilion. Also known as the Byzantine Christ type, this icon shows the face of Jesus full of serenity and majesty, without traces of suffering, as known Western stype called Ecce Homo. I decided to introduce a blissful smile on the face of Jesus, so that we would have serenity, bliss and love combined together.
"The Smiling Jesus"
Artist: Michael Galovic
Oil on white gold on board - 29 cm x 33 cm
Chittaway Bay, Australia |
"Behold the Joy of Jesus" by Lindena Robb |
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Facilitating creative arts workshops in the Christian community has given me a new relationship with Jesus and the Church. I found myself wanting to paint an image of Jesus, unlike any I had seen before. The representations of a tortured Jesus were crowded in my mind, so the thought of painting a joyous Jesus delighted me. I was reflecting on the words: "being held" and "behold". I noticed how we support each other by witnessing our experiences. Through witnessing, we are affirming, and also sharing the human expression of life. We are being held by those who witness our lives. We are also being held by God witnessing our lives. We behold others, as the women in this painting behold Jesus, each with her own personality and expression of delight, humour, compassion, admiration, and possibly desire.
"Behold the Joy of Jesus"
Artist: Lindena Robb
Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas - 76 cm x 92 cm
Sydney, Australia |
"Drought Breaker" by Geoffrey D Todd |
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As the son of a farmer who has spent the last fifteen years in Outback Australia, the experience of harsh drought is always with me. I have tried to tie in the traditional and the modern, as many people experience in the timelessness of Outback Australia. The modern figure is anxious to show Christ the approaching storm knowing the joy it will bring, while Christ is smiling, rather than laughing, sharing the joy of the good news.
"Drought Breaker"
Artist: Geoffrey D Todd
Oil on canvas - 60 cm x 45 cm
Ararat, Australia |
"Happy Jesus - One in Christ" by Fan Pu |
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Jesus walked the Earth for only 33 years and the Bible records many stories of his sadness, pain, and righteous indignation. He came into the World in order to save mankind, but His contemporaries fundamentally misunderstood this. But when is Jesus full of joy? I believe it is only through the completion of the Church on Earth, when we become the bride of Christ, and Christ the joyous groom comes to receive the bride. In this work I have used paper to cut all different kinds of people who symbolize the different races, ages, and generations that have received the Gospel by arranging these figures to constitute the body of Jesus, I am visually expressing that those who believe in Christ are in fact the body of Christ - the Church. Torn bits of paper represent the head of Jesus, indicating that He is the Head of the Church.
"Happy Jesus - One in Christ"
Artist: Fan Pu
Papercut on paper - 78 cm x 110 cm
Nanjing, China |
"Joy in fellowship" by Mark J Cazalet |
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The image shows Jesus and Peter on a public ice skating rink with Peter slipping and being caught in Christ's arms. Both are in that high spirited state of hilarity that being slightly out of control on ice produces. It is a painting that I hope shows the joy of fellowship, delight in our physical being and the phenomenon of the created world. It also gently refers to Peter's fallibility, the slippery nature of the disciples pilgrimage of a life lived in faith and to Peter sinking into the water when he tried to emulate Christ's walking on the Sea of Tiberius.
"Joy in fellowship"
Artist: Mark J Cazalet
Oil on paper - 20 cm x 18 cm
London, England |
"The First Supper" by Alphonso Doss |
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The idea first came in to my mind when I saw a very interesting painting of El Greco where Christ was driving away the business people who occupied the Temple. In this Christ was shown with anger. I then got the idea about a happy Christ. Secondly, when I saw the Last Supper by Leonardo, I thought about the first supper and imagined how the situation would have been. I was sure that as Christ was human and divine he must have had the quality of humour and wit in him and would have shared this with his followers when he discussed certain things with them I am sure that he must have had many times meetings with ordinary people where he shared his happiness with them. "The First Supper"
Artist: Alphonso Doss
Oil on canvas - 80 cm x 60 cm
Chennai, South India |
"The Radiance of God's Glory" by I Nyoman Darsane |
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The radiance of God's glory was embodied by Jesus Christ for the whole Community of Man. Jesus Christ was God's messenger but at the same time was God Himself, present among us to renew the Life of Man. In this painting, the spreading rays symbolise the divine radiance which Martha and Mary were able to discern from the vibrancy, joy and love of Jesus. This phenomenon could also be witnessed and felt by others around them. The dark and muted background expresses the darkness of the world at that time into which he brought light. "The Radiance of God's Glory"
Artist: I Nyoman Darsane
Acrylic on canvas - 90cm x 80cm
Den Pasar, Bali, Indonesia |
"Baptism in Jordan" by Yosef Darsane |
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When Jesus was baptised in the Jordan River the glory of God was manifested as the descent of the Holy Spirit appearing as a dove descending from Heaven. And this was the sign that he was the Son of God. This painting is done in the style known as Wayang Kamasan. Originally the Wayang Kamasan style was that used in the village of Kamasan-Klungkung. This is the classic, artistic style of painting which takes forms from the wayang kulit (leather puppet show) and presents them as paintings.
"Baptism in Jordan"
Artist: Yosef Darsane
Acrylic on canvas - 30cm x 30cm
Den Pasar, Bali, Indonesia |
"Laughing Jesus" by I Gede Sukana Kariana |
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In the Bible there is no mention about smiling of Jesus explicitly. This is a mystery for me so I must find out by more carefully searching in the Bible. Laughing is an natural expression of human being, to express their joy from the bottom of the heart. Jesus as a human being must also have emotions like other humans. He live his life as a normal human being. Although there is no explicitly in the Bible about how Jesus smile and laugh but when He met with many children, I convinced that Jesus smile and make a joke with the children. He hug them and take closely with himself and put his hand upon their head to bless them. Maybe Jesus did not have time to play with children because of his short ministry in the earth (3.5 years). But the joy of Jesus is mentioned when said: “ I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
"Laughing Jesus"
Artist: I Gede Sukana Kariana
Oil on canvas - 50cm x 60cm
Den Pasar, Bali, Indonesia |
"Washed Disciples’ Feet" by Ketut Lasia |
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Jesus said that whatever you do for others you do for me. His message is that as believers we must use as a model his actions in kneeling on the ground as a servant, assuming humility, as seen by all humanity. Jesus reminds us that we must renounce our arrogance and be compassionate to all. As I interpret the scene I have painted, it means that Jesus is really happy and joyous when people laugh at something funny, because through this it can be clearly shown that Jesus really enjoys laughter and happiness.
"Washed Disciples’ Feet"
Artist: Ketut Lasia
Acrylic on paper - 20cm x 30cm
Den Pasar, Bali, Indonesia |
"Yesus Memberkati Anak-anak" by Komang Wahyu |
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I was most impressed to read in Matthew 19 that Jesus said: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as them." Adults often want to constrain children, Jesus wants to welcome them, to talk to them, to bless them. This inspired me to put it down on canvas, using a decorative style. The colours I have chosen are bright to reflect the bright and colourful mood when Jesus called the children. The aim was to represent the happy loving mood of Jesus when he was blessing the children who were witnessing to their parents and the disciples. Jesus has been placed symetrically in the centre to become the focus. The message is that the love and grace of Jesus is for all people, from babies to old people, and that those who are disciples must regularly rethink their attitudes that Jesus is selective.
"Yesus Memberkati Anak-anak"
Artist: Komang Wahyu
Oil on canvas - 78cm x 88cm
Den Pasar, Bali, Indonesia |
"Come, See and Believe" by Nit Ketut Ayu Sri |
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This painting describes the appearance of Jesus Christ after His resurrection to Thomas, known as one of the 12 chosen disciples of Jesus. The relationship of these disciples with Jesus was intimate and it is possible that they were together almost all the time. But Thomas doubted and found Jesus' resurrection difficult to accept. But in a display of God's grace, Jesus stood one day right in front of Thomas and said," Come, place your finger on my wounded palm and you will see!"
"Come, See and Believe"
Oil on canvas - 46cm x 58cm
Artist: Nit Ketut Ayu Sri Wardani
Den Pasar, Bali, Indonesia |
"Jesus and Zacchaeus" by Soichi Watanabe |
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Zacchaeus was a rich man in Jericho, but isolated and hated as a tool of the Roman Empire because he was a chief tax collector.A little man, he had to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus as he entered Jericho. Jesus looked up, saw him and said with a smile: "Zachaeus I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus was very happy because not only had Jesus spoken directly to him in front of the crowd who so disliked him, but Jesus was coming to his house for a meal. Jesus also really happy because this man had an immediate conversion, one that would have been financially painful - not many of us would give half of our possessions to the poor as Zacchaeus did. I wanted to show his joy in the form of a flower and the colour yellow. When I had been painting I found an echo of the joy between Jesus and Zacchaeus.
"Jesus and Zacchaeus"
Artist: Soichi Watanabe
Oil on canvas - 61cm x 73cm
Saitama, Japan |
"Let the Children Come" by Masaru Horie |
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I executed this picture from Luke 18: 15-17 which tells how Jesus spent a happy, loving time with children on the way to Jerusalem for the Cross.
The scene is the most lovely in the Bible.
I made a great point of crystallising this scene during my teacher's life of 34 years. I wish to express my sincere thanks to the Lord that I have carried out the duties of the education of children for the love of Christ in the public and church school. I am the elderly over the age of seventy, but I want to be an infant received into the kingdom of God.
"Let the Children Come"
Artist: Masaru Horie
Papercut on board - 49cm x 36cm
Kobe, Japan |
"The cheerful excitement of Jesus" by Jae Im Kim |
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Korean characteristics of cheerful excitement, rhythm and motion are the most important elements of my work. I must live and feel and breath Korean culture, and with my weekly immersion in the Bible I feel inspired to transcend God's words into works of art. I see brown as the colour of Korea. It is the colour of the earth and human beings are created out of earth. The Korean word for "cheerful excitement" is "sinmyoung". For me, Jesus is cheerful excitement, and I have tried to show Him in the colours of Korea out of materials which came from the earth, that is, to show His humanity as a loving loveable Christ.
"The cheerful excitement of Jesus"
Artist: Jae Im Kim
Torn handmade paper on paper - 24 cm x 35 cm
Seoul, Korea |
"Jesus at the Bethany Home" by Hanna Cheriyan Varghese |
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The painting depicts a relaxed and happy Jesus in the company of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. When Lazarus died "Jesus wept". To weep for him meant that Jesus had great times of joy in sharing and laughter with the siblings — Mary, Martha and Lazarus. These three gave Jesus the welcome and sense of family and companionship, and an oasis in His busy ministry of teaching, healing and journeying. He could relax from His weariness and enjoy the hospitality of good food and conversation. They loved each other and shared jokes that must have provoked much laughter and smiles. A loving God gave us the emotional gifts of joy, love and laugher. Surely Jesus is no exception.
"Jesus at the Bethany Home"
Artist: Hanna Cheriyan Varghese
Acrylic on canvas - 69cm x 53cm
Selangor, Malaysia |
"Relaxing with new friends" by D Batna |
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Jesus is sharing his word at a position of elbow on ground. Being lower than the others expresses his humility. His humble and true words are changing the world. Young people who are listening to his word are getting ready for some great work. They have gathered their saddles and catched their horses, which tells us that they are ready for action.
As we want to know clearly the future the Lord has promised us, the guys also want to know everything in the future before they set off.
It is an autumn morning. Sky, clouds, rainbow are in orange, the colour of the tabernacle. If attention is given, it is clear that a map of Malaysia, Philippines, India, Korea, Japan, and middle and south-east Asia pops out before the eyes. Time is near when the kingdom of God will be established in these lands. The brook the guys were drinking from flows away into the distance. The spring of eternal life will reach to many nations.
"Relaxing with new friends"
Artist: D Batna
Acrylic on canvas - 50cm x 70cm
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
"The Nomad Boy Teacher" by Bumdulam Ganzong |
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The Gospel of Jesus should be preached all the time. The young evangelist, standing in front of Mongol nomads, is preaching the good news of Jesus. These people had never heard the Gospel of Jesus before, so they paid great attention and interest to the message of this joyful boy. Mongolians easily accept the news that has never been heard before. So, these Mongol nomads, sitting in a circle just as is their custom, are happy listening to the new message, and receiving Christ into their lives.
"The Nomad Boy Teacher"
Artist: Bumdulam Ganzong
Acrylic on canvas - 75cm x 50cm
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
"The Nomad Jesus" by Badamragchaa Batjargal |
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No matter where he would have been born, Jesus would proclaim the Good News of Salvation. I believe that He would preach the Good News no matter where he lived, what weather he would face. His heart beats for every person of the world, young and old. The star represents the birth of Jesus. Jesus, in the middle of Mongolian nomads, is happy because he is in dialogue with these nomadic people, all aged people turn out to meet Jesus and to hear what he says.
"The Nomad Jesus"
Artist: Badamragchaa Batjargal
Acrylic on canvas - 74cm x 49cm
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
"Jesus at a Well" by Batjargal Tseintsogzoi |
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This painting is titled as "Jesus at a Well". The lady, a typical Mongolian lady, just came from the nomadic family group in the background to draw water from a well in desert. There she met Jesus, who is dressed in very typical Mongolian horseman style, sitting by a well in very hot day. Jesus is happy to meet her and offers her the Gospel.The woman seems to be pondering on the message given by Jesus, because she puts her arm on her hip. In very hot summer, the most needed thing for Mongolians who live in the desert of south Mongolia is water. So, the painting figures out that Jesus is the only living water.
"Jesus at a Well"
Artist: Batjargal Tseintsogzoi
Acrylic on canvas - 64cm x 50cm
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
"Loving Jesus" by Joseph Scott |
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My native town in Pakistan is Lahore, in the Punjab province where Punjabi people live and speak the Punjabi language. We live in a joint family system where children are taught to respect elder people. This painting has been painted in the Punjabi culture, showing Punjabi dress. Sometime children remain without shirt in summer. As everybody knows that children are great blessing of God, mostly children are loved by all the people. When our elderly people are tired of daily routine work and come home in the evening in pensive mood, seeing the children, they begin to laugh or smile. The children sit in their laps and their parents get a lot of pleasure. Angry parents forget their anger and feel happiness to see the children because the children are always innocent. The same is with Jesus.
"Loving Jesus"
Artist: Joseph Scott
Oil in paper - 37cm x 55cm
Lahore, Pakistan |
"Loving the Children" by Joe Mek |
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Taim bilong Jesus I wok wantim ol man no meri long olgeta hap long groun I go inap na nau em toktok wantaim ol mangi long dispela taim long givim blesing lang ol pikinini tekyu God blesim yu. When Jesus was on earth teaching men, women and children about the Kingdom of God He also spoke to them about going back to His Father to prepare a place for them — he prayed for His Father's protection and blessing upon them, particularly the children.
"Loving the Children"
Artist: Joe Mek
Acrylic on canvas - 85cm x 110cm
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
"Bigpela Long Ol Pipol" by John Siune |
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Jisas autim tok bilong Bigpela long ol pipol. Jesus is very happy to come to the village to meet all the people, old men, mothers, babies, young men, girls, because he loves them all, all creatures, even village dogs. My pipol like to put feathers, flowers and decorations in hair, to paint faces with bright colours, and to wear necklaces of pigs tusks, shells or beads for special ceremonies and visitors.
"Bigpela Long Ol Pipol"
Artist: John Siune
Acrylic on canvas - 104 cm x 78 cm
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
"Fishing with the children" by Oscar Towa |
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Jesus like to be with children in village as he can laugh, sing, play games and share meals with them, but now Jesus has taken the children out in a canoe for fishing, always exciting for children. They all are very happy to catch fish. Even the pukpuk (crocodile) face on the prow of the canoe is happy.
"Fishing with the children"
Artist: Oscar Towa
Acrylic on canvas - 94 cm x 92 cm
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
"Successful fishing" by Jane Kama Wena |
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Fishing was important 2000 years ago as it is now in my country. Jesus knew a lot about fishing and he has caught a large barramundi fish, which is very good for eating. He will have a happy time sharing it with his friends. Jesus is also the "fisher" of men and women for his Kingdom, so He wants to look after us for both our spiritual and our physical needs.
"Successful fishing"
Artist: Jane Kama Wena
Oil on canvas - 75 cm x 90 cm
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
"Jesus the Worrier" by Gigs Wena |
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Jesus the Worrier has a spear and axe but no shield — he does not need it. The other figures are Peter, John and Paul, all big men in the New Testament. They are sheltering behind a shield but they are happy because they know Jesus will protect them. They do not trust their own strength.
"Jesus the Worrier"
Artist: Gigs Wena
54 cm x 78 cm Acrylic on canvas
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
“Emmaus” by Emmanuel Garibay |
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Now the thing I wanted to raise is that most so-called Christians always have a limited concept of the Christ image. They always think in terms of that person who lived in Palestine two thousand years ago. So the concept of Christ derives from a very obscure historical event, in many cases made up by his disciples. The point is that is very difficult for most people to contextualise their faith because the colonial packaging of the Christian faith has been deeply embedded in their consciousness and it’s hard to get away from that. So the figure at the centre is a woman – she is drinking with them and telling a joke and everybody is laughing around her. But the real joke is that people are laughing because they thought all along that Jesus was a man, and that Jesus was a Caucasian-looking guy, you know – all these conventional concepts about Jesus. I have a different image of Jesus, which is that of woman, a very ordinary-looking Filipino woman, who drinks with them and has stories to tell. The idea of laughing is very common among Filipinos – to laugh at their mistakes. It’s all part of understanding the culture and it’s also part of contextualising the concept of faith within the culture. I’ve been trying to come up with an acceptable marriage of some of my beliefs. It’s not a traditional or a conventional kind of belief system -- an ideology that I have developed as part of my involvement in mass struggles.
“Emmaus”
Artist: Emmanuel Garibay
Oil on canvas - 50cm x 60cm
Manila, Philippines |
"Joking Jesus" by Hugh Dodd |
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As a keen member of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh I see Jesus as being as much as a party man as a party leader. I have always seen him as a man I would like to have a drink with — which is not a feeling I always have about some of his clerical representatives!
"Joking Jesus"
Artist: Hugh Dodd
Pastel on paper - 48 cm x 50 cm
Edinburgh Scotland |
"Smile with Jesus" by Robert Fairley |
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My picture of Jesus laughing is in fact a picture of myself. I believe that the notion of painting oneself as Jesus is according to Biblical teaching - after all, if we are all made in God's image, why not? This positioning was also practised by many of the great masters painting in their own image as that of Christ. When I had finished this painting I showed it to one of my classes and asked for comment. An eight year old student said: "Something's missing — but I can fix it!" He picked up a blue crayon and wrote "smile" in an arc over the top. My moment of panic at the prospect of seeing three week's work ruined turned to relief, then pleasure that the child understood.
"Smile with Jesus"
Artist: Robert Fairley
Water colour on paper - 32 cm x 42 cm
Glen Uig, Scotland |
"Juggling Jesus" by Graham Murdoch |
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The image of Jesus juggling came to me as an expression of a man who likes to entertain his friends. I wanted to communicate this idea of a happy man without compromising our lack of knowledge of what he looked like.
"Juggling Jesus"
Artist: Graham Murdoch
Ink and water colour on paper - 60cm x 40cm
Aberdeen, Scotland |
"The Maoao village wedding" by Dick Bibimauri |
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A village wedding in our part of Malaita in the Solomon Islands is always a happy affair. The whole village is involved because everyone is extended family — no invitations have to be sent out as everyone will come anyway. There will have been much planning and growing of fruit and vegetables. If the bride is from a nearby village she will have been carried to the groom's village with much joking and laughter. Pigs are always part of the celebrations, as bride price and as delicious meat when roasted village style. There is music, dancing, games and much hilarity. I know that Jesus enjoyed weddings and he really would enjoy a Solomon Island wedding. Perhaps he would bring his own guitar to lead singing.
"The Maoao village wedding"
Artist: Dick Bibimauri
Oil on canvas - 89 cm x 64 cm
Malaita, Solomon Islands |
"The Fishing Adventure" by Eddie Daiding Bibimauri |
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Catching fish with children is a very exciting, enjoyable activity in the islands. Jesus is seen here with two children fishing on the reef. Jesus is always portrayed as a Hebrew in the Islands, and would not be accepted as Melanesian character. However, Jesus would be down to earth with people, enjoying fishing in particular. This is also a parable of evangelism. Solomon Islands is a nation with a very high population of young people (65%), and if Jesus was here, he would be spending much of his time with young people in evangelism to bring them into His Father's Kingdom.
"The Fishing Adventure"
Artist: Eddie Daiding Bibimauri
Oil on canvas - 60 cm x 80 cm
Malaita, Solomon Islands |
"Jesus Smiling At His Father" by Heather M Taiwo |
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One of the goals in my life is to use the talents God has given me. This project is a wonderful idea and a unique opportunity to use my talents. I came up with the idea for this drawing when I was thinking how much I like to just think about God and smile to myself. I figure that Jesus sometimes did the same thing and in doing this drawing I thought it would be an excellent way to help people around the world to see a side of Jesus which will help them to relate to Him - as I know He wants to have a happy relationship with them.
"Jesus Smiling At His Father"
Artist: Heather M Taiwo
Pencil on paper - 35 cm x 45 cm
California, USA |
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