Time Unbound: An Exploration of Eternity in Twentieth Century Art

The thesis examines contemporary works of art which seek to illuminate, describe or explore the concept of ''eternity'' in a modern context. Eternity is an ongoing theme in art history, particularly from Christian perspectives. Through an analysis of artworks which regard eternity with intellectual and spiritual integrity, this thesis will explain how the interpretation of ''eternity'' in visual art of the twentieth century has been shaped. It reviews how Christian art has been situated in visual culture, considers its future directions, and argues that recent forms are expanding our conception of this enigmatic topic.In order to establish how eternity has been addressed as a theme in art history, the thesis will consider how Christian art has found a place in Western visual culture and how diverse influences have moulded the interpretation of eternity. An outline of a general cosmology of eternity will be treated and compared to the character of time in the material world. Next, a brief history of interpretations of eternity in visual art will establish a twentieth-century context, concentrating on forms that have influenced Western-Christian perspectives. The important ideological changes from antiquity to the present will be outlined, especially regarding the theological, social and cultural characteristics involved in the creation and reception of these artworks.