If you were going to rank 'stuff people do' on a godliness scale, you'd probably put fighting for justice above painting, right? Stopping injustice in its tracks, saving people from exploitation – surely that's more valuable to God than making art, however beautiful it is?According to Makoto and Haejin Shim Fujimura, that perspective couldn't be more wrong. For this power couple – he's a world-renowned artist, she's a top-flight human rights lawyer – art and justice aren't just closely linked: they're two sides of the same coin. When we make something beautiful, we mirror the actions of the Creator God, who made the universe 'very good'. Creating our own art gives us a far deeper affinity for God's creative act – and helps us understand that in bringing about justice through us, he's restoring the beauty of his creation. Which is why Haejin's work saving trafficked women from captivity is driven by a recognition of their beauty in God's eyes: his good, precious creations.Listen in as Mako and Haejin unpack how we can each make art and and justice in our everyday lives and work, and how a richer theology of making is the basis for justice work that truly makes a difference.Makoto Fujimura is a highly respected artist who has exhibited in cities including New York, Tokyo, Phoenix, Hong Kong, Vienna, and Nagasaki. He is the author of several influential books, including A Theology of Making. Haejin Shim Fujimura is a human rights lawyer and founder of the legal firm Shim & Associates and the non-profit Embers International, which protects and empowers the victims of injustice and intergenerational oppression. Together they also head up Culture Care Creative, which helps people care for culture by wrestling deeply with issues of art, faith, and humanity.

Released on 29 Jan 2024