MYSTERIUM FIDEI

DESCRIPTION

This wearable sculpture/bag is a breathtaking example of exquisite craftsmanship of the CUiRASÉX atelier, meticulously crafted from the finest violet and colibri blue hand-boarded Madras vegetable-tanned goatskin. The bag's exterior features a detachable crown piece with razor-sharp teeth, and a set of padding wings on the back, complete with googly eyes on top, masterfully arranged to form the features of a demonic creature.

The bag is further adorned with a pair of hand-polished, mirror-finished 316L stainless steel 'hands' in the form of a Morningstar- a signature emblem of the iCONS+ series, and a spring keyring with a removable heart charm, adding a whimsical touch of to the overall design of the piece.

The bag is secured with a smooth Raccagni silver-tone zipper and comes with a front flap pocket that features a monster face, adding yet another unique detail to this collectible piece. The interior of the bag is fully lined in electric blue recycled cotton twill and has a small silver metallic calfskin patch pocket. The artisan mark “E” and year of production mark “A” are stamped on the back of the right zipper stopper.

The bag is versatile and can be worn as a crossbody or shoulder bag with a single shoulder strap, or as a backpack with double shoulder straps. Alternatively, it can also be displayed as a stunning art object, showcasing the unique craftsmanship and whimsical design that make it such a one-of-a-kind piece.

MORE DETAILS

H20 x W14 x D10 cm (8” x 5.5” x 4”)
Exterior: 100% Hand-boarded Madras goatskin
Interior: One goatskin patch pocket
100% Recycled cotton twill lining
Front flap pocket with magnetic closure
Two adjustable shoulder straps
Removable crown
One removable heart charm
Hand-polished mirror finished 316L stainless steel hardware
Required 52 hours for one artisan to make
Cross-body, shoulder bag and backpack
Can also be displayed as an art object
Individually handmade in China
Reference No. CX23U0104006

STORY

Mysterium Fidei was completed on April 24, 2022, exactly two months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Heavy fighting continued in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, resulting in massive casualties and homes being razed to the ground Russian forces also struck five railway stations in central and western Ukraine. In the besieged port city of Mariupol, civilians and the last Ukrainian defenders were sheltering at the Azvostal steel plant, with the situation becoming dire as families inside ran out of food, water, and basic supplies. The invasion has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, with more than 5.3 million Ukrainians fleeing the country and a quarter of the population displaced. This is a humanitarian catastrophe.

The title of this work, ‘Mysterium Fidei or Mystery of Faith, is the Latin term that the Catholic Church uses to refer to mystery hidden in God, which can never be known unless revealed by God. Mysterium Fidei is a conceptual piece filled with religious connotations. The composition of the work draws strong parallel with one of the most popular artistic expressions of Jesus in the past few hundred years - The Sacred Heart - depicting Jesus Christ with his heart exposed and, in some cases, holding his heart in his hand. The imagery of Jesus’ heart outside his body, venerated and cherished by millions of Catholics and Orthodox around the world, recalls the one of the five piercing wounds that Jesus Christ suffered during his crucifixion - the side of Jesus’ chest. According to the Gospel of John, blood and water poured out of this wound (John 19:34). The lance wound is a symbol of devotion to the heart of Christ and a reminder of the redemptive power of his suffering. In the Directory on Popular Piety, St. Augustine writes “… Your purification is that water, and your redemption is in that blood.” The heart symbolizes Christ’s infinite and boundless love for mankind, and was usually depicted with the Crown of Thorns encircling it and a dagger piercing its flesh in a reference to Christ’s lance wound at the crucifixion.

In Mysterium Fidei, however, the heart is depicted without the Crown of Thorns, the flames, the spear, the rays of light, the cross or any holy symbols of divinity that are usually featured in the Sacred Heart. Additionally, the heart is held by a grotesque, demonic, winged creature with a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth instead of Christ. The perverted re-interpretation of the Sacred Heart is anything but scared. The work makes use of the familiar religious imagery, titles, and associations, not to mock but to provoke a dialogue about the relevance and meaning of religion in face of war, as a source of hope or answers to questions about the human condition. The work also calls into question the classic conundrum: If God is omnipotent, all-good, all-powerful, and all-knowing, how does God permit such appalling evil as the Holocaust or the atrocities inflicted by the Russians on the citizens of Ukraine? How does God, in this case, work in a mysterious way? And where is God now?

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