Symbols of Heaven through Perspectives of Western and Eastern Arts

Abstract

This article aims to answer the question concerning the concepts of heaven by examining the art works of three famous artists: Hieronymus Bosch, Raqib Shaw, and Takashi Murakami. The works of the three artists present different perspectives and interpretations of heaven and liberation. Bosch represents Western medieval art that reflects religious concepts and symbols of the creation of earth and heaven. At the same time, Shaw represents contemporary art that combines together Western and Eastern cultures, conveying the beauty and destruction of heaven. Meanwhile, Murakami presents the fusion of traditional Japanese culture and modern pop culture through the images of arhats and the use of bright colors to represent the attainment of nirvana and spiritual peace.

In terms of symbolism, Bosch’s works use images of the Garden of Eden, flowers, and animals to symbolize the abundance and sacredness of heaven. Whereas Shaw, as seen in the work entitled “Paradise Lost”, uses beautiful but fragile plants and animals to reflect the fragility of heaven that is destroyed. Furthermore, Murakami uses images of 500 arhats to symbolize liberation from suffering, while using bright colors to represent purity and inner peace. This article presents in-depth analysis of the interpretations of heaven and liberation from an artistic perspective, using diverse symbols and cultures by each artist.