3 Reasons Why I Depict Wings on Angels
Wings on angels in LDS art present some mixed feelings. In our effort to remain true to doctrine, I believe that this very beautiful and universal symbol–and the artists that use it–can be misunderstood. Just as we develop an understanding of language with experience, we can learn how artists use symbols as part of their visual communication.
- THEY ARE A SYMBOL.
Merriam-Webster defines it as investing things with a symbolic meaning or expressing the invisible by means of visible representations, such as artistic imitation that is a method of suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truths or states. Using this definition, how would one visually depict the difference between mortal people, divinity, or anything in between?
The Savior is recognizable by long hair and a beard, flowing robes, and nail prints in his hands and feet. During my musings of the Second Coming, I often wonder how he will appear, and will he come in the form that I recognize from the artwork I’ve seen of him? I know he will wear red, a symbolically powerful color that brings ancient associations of Gethsemane and the Crucifixion, as well as his modern Millennial purposes of waging war against the enemies of his people. He will still display the scars he chose to keep in his resurrected, celestial body, recalling to our minds what He has done to conquer death and sin.
In viewing art with angels, I would hope those who are a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints would understand that the majority of artists who depict angelic beings with wings do so in a symbolic way, hoping to delineate their identity. Sure, we could just place them in white robes, and that is what many LDS artists do knowing the addition of wings throws people off, but symbolism and beauty are lost when wings gain a doctrinally negative connotation.
2. SYMBOLS REPRESENT INTANGIBLE CONCEPTS.
Elder Holland testifies, “From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children. …Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near.” There is an invisible world that is extremely busy and involved in our “seen” existence. It can be too easy to forget about it because of what our eyes tell us, and we are in a constant battle to remain cognizant of that vital and unseen world. We need symbols to recall that dimension into our mortal awareness.
The alphabet and words do this–use basic visual structure to guide the mind to transcendent experiences and abstract ideas. Art is like another language, using pictures to represent concepts, and many artists use this language to inspire the minds of their viewers. Take the symbol of a wing–it is multifaceted and can be used to separate a regular person from a holy messenger, imbue this figure with the ability to move from one dimension to another, and gives them a raised status as a divine message bearer.
Egyptian hieroglyphs have intrigued us for decades because of their beauty and depth. They added wings to many of their glyphs, elevating their meaning from the mundane to the divine. Their beliefs in the afterlife drove their everyday existence, and they found ways to bring this awareness into their writing, decor, and record keeping.
3. SYMBOLS ARE A POWERFUL RELIGIOUS TOOL.
Symbols are replete in religious, Christian, and LDS culture. We wear symbolic rings and clothing. We place symbols in and outside of churches, temples, and other holy edifices. We study scripture and holy writ full of symbolism. Christ taught in symbolic parables, meant to reveal truths to the reader at the rate of their spiritual awareness. They are not only a tool, but they are also intensely intriguing. Deep meaning and aesthetic value can be added to a story, building, or piece of art through it.
They are like puzzles for the mind to decipher, and they allow room for the viewer to add their personal experiences. The Word of God can function as a symbol. The words are the same for all, yet through them, we find personal meaning and revelation unique only to us. We can take a simple verse and simply take it at face value, or we can spend hours analyzing, cross referencing, and pulling up all our earthly experiences associated with it–and then even discuss it with others to add their experiences to it.
This is the experience I hope to create with my art. Each piece strives to create a mental space through visual means where a viewer can bring to mind meaning gathered through their experiences. My favorite part of art-making is when conversations take place about how a piece affected someone–what it brought to their minds. I am both blown away and enriched with their unique experiences and perspectives. A picture is worth a thousand words, and a symbol is similar.
