Spirituality in Contemporary Art : The Idea of the Numinous

I recommend this book for everyone, I have read it for wider-reading towards my dissertation at university and it is the perfect read. It flows beautifully and is incredibly insightful. The artists discussed are well chosen and the work that Yoon focuses on is diverse and integral so his discussion of the numinous. Absolutely love this book! Even if you don't take an in-depth interest in art or spirituality, it is fascinating!

This is an interesting review of spiritual aspects in contemporary art. Avoiding any bias towards particular religious affilliation it can at times come across as neutered of significance and import. Using the term numinous does however make sublimity accresible, to those who have a problem with religions in general.

Gives you everything to need to start researching this topic

great

Good book useful on its theme, but not too deep thinking

ok

I found this text while searching about the spiritual in art or spiritually concerned artists for my photography dissertation. I’m interested in researching how contemporary art has the potential to occupy the spiritual void left by the retreat of religiousity in modern (western) societies, as foretold by both Nietzsche and Jung. This academic text defines quite rigourously the numinous which is a more profound spiritual and universal phenomenological human experience than religousity or the sublime. The author goes through a rather meticulous effort to articulate exactly what he means by numinous, which aspects he has found in contemporary art and how his installations are trying to conjure this mental state in the viewer. The reason I find this read compelling is because Jungu Yoon has set out to identify a more universal human experience of numinousity and spirituality than our culturally defined concept of religious experience. He merges East and West to address and engage a wider audience, not geographically determined. His application of multimedia in order to engender this experience is highly effective. Given the scarcity of philosophical and theoretical material on this subject, I feel the author has succeeded in providing quite a lot of groundwork on the subject. If anyone is interested in this particular application of art, this book offers an important contribution to this sub discipline and to any artistic practice in this realm.

This book deals with a difficult topic and does so in an interesting and thoughtful manner. The analysis of specific works of art is detailed andcomplex, relating both Eastern and Western ideas of spirituality to artistic practices. A very good introduction to a fascinating topic.

C'est un livre très importante pour ceux qui travaillent sur l'art contemporain. Jungo montre comment le multimédia art enforce le sens de la spiritualité.

The best philosophical, or rather, theoretical book, I have ever read. Essential Reading. Yoon's discourse is profound and necessary to navigate the postmodern cultural landscape - Read it!