A group of recovering addicts have begun Lent by embarking on an art project that will culminate in an exhibition at Easter.
Reverend Paul Turp of St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch, invited students of The New Hanbury Project, a group of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, to create artworks about their personal struggles to the 14 Stations of the Cross.
The Stations or the Way of Sorrows depict the final hours of Jesus in 14 stages, from his arrest to his burial. An unofficial fifteenth stage is sometimes added for the resurrection.
Rev Turp said that he did not want the project to be a traditional depiction of the Stations: “I don’t want you to necessarily draw pictures of Jesus, draw yourselves, do a reflection of what it means to you.
“I want your depictions of you being rejected and betrayed, like Jesus. It may just be a complete abstract of your emotion.”
The artwork has to be ready by Palm Sunday, a week before Easter and will be displayed in the church.
The project’s art teacher Katrine Storebo was enthusiastic: “I think it’s really interesting, it’s a more personal project so gives them a chance to say something about their past.”
Rev Turp added: “It’s going to be hard for them because they are addressing their past and present problems.
“This project is a way for them to show, at one point in this road, I was down. I felt tortured but at the end there is new life.”
