This study aims to explore a constructive relationship between religion/Christianity and art in the age of Post-capitalism. For this purpose, I surveyed a brief history of the relationship between religion and art. Then I chose Andy Warhol and his art as a test case since he and his art were not only a representative of contemporary art but also a good ‘place’ where religion and art could share their concerns together. Many critics have interpreted that Andy Warhol and his art were ‘a superficial and commercial mirror’ representing the mass consuming society and its zeitgeist, whereas Jane D. Dillenberger argued Warhol and his art were essentially religious. These approaches, however, sacrificed an important aspect of Warhol’s artistic world. Instead of devaluating one side of Warhol’s art, I compared the implications of Warhol’s art with the message of Ecclesiastes. I concluded that both converged to recognize that “all is vanity” although Warhol’s art diverged from the thoughts of a biblical teacher (Qoheleth) in regard to how to live this meaningless life; while Qoheleth recommended readers to enjoy everydayness, Warhol decided to remain as an observer of life. Such an approach that seeks after mutual respect and sincere dialogue can be one of the ways in which both religion and art identify and enrich each other.

This study aims to explore a constructive relationship between religion/Christianity and art in the age of Post-capitalism. For this purpose, I surveyed a brief history of the relationship between religion and art. Then I chose Andy Warhol and his art as a test case since he and his art were not only a representative of contemporary art but also a good ‘place’ where religion and art could share their concerns together. Many critics have interpreted that Andy Warhol and his art were ‘a superficial and commercial mirror’ representing the mass consuming society and its zeitgeist, whereas Jane D. Dillenberger argued Warhol and his art were essentially religious. These approaches, however, sacrificed an important aspect of Warhol’s artistic world. Instead of devaluating one side of Warhol’s art, I compared the implications of Warhol’s art with the message of Ecclesiastes. I concluded that both converged to recognize that “all is vanity” although Warhol’s art diverged from the thoughts of a biblical teacher (Qoheleth) in regard to how to live this meaningless life; while Qoheleth recommended readers to enjoy everydayness, Warhol decided to remain as an observer of life. Such an approach that seeks after mutual respect and sincere dialogue can be one of the ways in which both religion and art identify and enrich each other.

Religion and Art, Post-capitalism, Andy Warhol, The Book of Ecclesiastes