BEAUTY IN BROKENNESS, HOPE IN DARKNESS

by Adam Howie (Edinburgh Granton)

What does it depict?

Beauty in Brokenness, Hope in Darkness depicts an abstract figure with a central hole in their chest. Their body and head are covered in cracks that are being filled with gold. This is inspired by the Japanese practice of kintsugi, where broken objects are repaired with gold. This is meant as a representation of how, even in our brokenness, we can find light and beauty through God, and our wounds and scars can be healed and made beautiful.

Floating above the figure’s cupped hands is a small orb of shifting light, which illuminates the scene. The figure seems to be trying to shield the orb, treating it as precious and perhaps a fleeting ‘glimmer of hope’, but the light pierces the darkness within and without and allows the healing to take place.

How was it made?

The piece was created during the morning meeting of the All Scotland Youth Councils in 2022. I love the process of interweaving the creation of artwork into a time of worship as a reflection of the time spent in God’s presence. Each time I worship this way is precious.

I made it in a digital art app for the iPad called Procreate, which is very popular among digital artists. We shared my screen on the projector at points during the event as a part of the worship. This also allowed me to share a recording of the painting process after the meeting – you can watch the recording here: youtu.be/ S5KLqAVoWKg

What inspired it?

The theme and outline that I was given for the morning included the question: ‘What is stopping us from glowing?’ Sometimes it can take a while running through ideas and looking up inspiration, but this piece came to me almost immediately.

As I kept considering and reflecting on the concept, I began to feel strongly that part of the image had to involve the cracks as a representation of brokenness. However, it was also important that these cracks were not the end of the story or some kind of failure. Kintsugi became integral to the concept, giving beauty to darkness and moments of struggle, not diminishing them or removing them, but accepting them as part of us.

As such I would like to think that God uses my work – particularly when I am painting during worship – to spark conversations, allow questions to be raised, or develop the ideas being shared. I hope that, through the Spirit, my work calls people deeper into thinking about what was said, allowing them to acknowledge what they may be going through and helping them not feel alone.