Andres Serrano - an Artist Of Religious Symbolism

Andres Serrano is an artist who is known for inspiring his photographs with religious symbolism. He had many works of art that caused controversy between people. A few of his works of art are Piss Christ, Blood and Semen, and Courtesy of the Estate of Nancy Spero. Andres Serrano was born in New York City on August 15, 1950. He spent his childhood in Williamsburg with his mother, who spoke little English. His father left the family to return to where he was born.

He was an only child therefore he was left to fend for himself at an early age. He dropped out of school at the age of 15 with the dream of becoming an artist. After Serrano dropped out of school he attended the Brooklyn Museum of art school, but started to do drugs. Because of his actions his art practice was delayed for a couple years. When he was 28 he decided to get his life back on track and give up drugs.

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He was into photography but still wanted to take up an art career. He wanted to create his own art.

In 1997 Andreas was approached by a woman named Laurie Fierstein. She was a bodybuilder and a writer. They met when Serrano was photographing women bodybuilders. She gave him his first models. Their names were Tazzie Coloev and Yolanda Hughes. After this, he continued to photograph many more bodybuilders. He was curious and amazed at what these women could do.Andres Serrano was influenced by pre-war European art movements, some of Serano’s first paintings incorporated blood, dead animals, raw meat, urine, milk, and seamen.

For example his notorious photograph of his artwork Piss Christ caused a lot of controversy for more than 20 years. The artwork is a red and yellow photograph of a crucifix put into a tank of Serrano’s piss. “At the time I made Piss Christ, I wasn't trying to get anything across, “ Serrano told the Guardian. “ In hindsight, I’d say Piss Christ is a reflection of my work, not only as an artist, but as a Christian.” What Andres said ticked off a lot of Christians. They attacked the artwork verbally and physically with giant hammers. “ The thing about the crucifix itself is that we treat it almost like a fashion accessory. When you see it, you are not horrified by it at all, but what it represents is the crucifixion of a man, “ Serrano said to the Guardian. “ And for christ to have been crucified and laid on the cross for three days where he not only bled to death, he shat himself and peed himself to death. “

So if Piss Christ upsets you, maybe it's good thing to think about what happened on the cross. “ Blood and Semen was used as the cover of one of Metallica’s album. The album was named Load or Reload. Serrano produced this artwork when AIDS was getting national attention. Andres has worked with every type of bodily fluid. The only bodily fluid he has not worked with is vomit and pus.Andres Serrano had many many photographs, some famous and some not. A lot of them were controversial. He has a solo exhibition in Aspen, USA. In 2017 he was awarded Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters, France. He would be considered rough looking man. Andreas is still alive to this day as he is living in the US.