Art and faith combined: Father Schörghofer about his passion

Art and faith combined: Father Schörghofer about his passion

Jesuitenkirche, 1010 Wien, Österreich - Father Gustav Schörghofer, who saw the light of day in Salzburg, has established itself as a crucial figure in the cutting field between art and faith for decades. As the rector of the Jesuit Church, one of the great baroque churches in Vienna, he is not only responsible for maintaining and maintaining this cultural heritage, but also the promotion of contemporary art through numerous exhibitions and projects.

Schörghofer was born in Salzburg in 1953 and grew up directly at the Majestic Fortress Hohensalzburg, where he came into contact with art early on. These experiences shaped him and led him to study art history and classical archeology with Wilhelm Messerer and Hans Walter. In 1981 he entered the Jesuit order, where he studied philosophy and theology until he was consecrated to priest in 1988. He then accepted the challenge and became editor-in-chief of the magazine "decision" from 1988 to 1997 before he worked as a pastor in Lainz-Speising for a few years.

One of the highlights of his career is the management of the Jesuit foyer, a small gallery in the Jesuit Church, which has been working with contemporary artists since 1999. These collaborations offer platforms to research artistic forms of expression within a spiritual framework. Schörghofer sees interesting references in the relationship between art and belief, even if these two areas are not always directly connected.

response of art in faith

An indispensable part of Schörghofer's work is the examination of the role of art in religious and philosophical discourses. He is deeply convinced that contemporary art can have a voice in intercultural and interreligious dialogue. "Art and Church" is an important point of reference in this context. This ecumenical magazine is devoted to current positions of art and architecture and illuminates its influence on faith. It analyzes how modern church buildings and artistic projects transform central content of the Christian tradition and thus underlines the important connection between religion and contemporary work.

Schörghofer's passion for art is also evident in his dedication to look at old masterpieces again. For example, he spent eight hours in front of a picture of Caravaggio to better grasp its depth and meaning. This speaks for his conviction that dealing with art can open up a deeper spiritual dimension.

musical accents and views

Another highlight of today's conversation, which took place at 2:05 p.m. in the Jesuit Church, was the musical performance. The playlist included works by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and, with compositions such as "I. Mariae Announcement - Sonata No. 1 from the 'Rosary Sonats'", made a harmonious connection between art and faith. The soloists such as violinist Daniel Sepec and the musicians Hille Perl, Lee Santana and Michael Behringer made sure that the radiant acoustics of the church created a special atmosphere.

Father Gustav Schörghofer remains a key figure in Vienna, which plays a central role in both the art scene and in faith. His commitment to contemporary art and the preservation of cultural values ​​shows that the connection between art and mind is not only alive, but also necessary. With the support of initiatives such as the Jesuit Church and the Jesuit foyer, he opens doors to creative and spiritual discussion.

You can visit [OE1] and [jesuiten.org] for more information about his impressive career and his projects and explore the discussion-promoting platform [kunstigion.de]