Jesus in Melbourne
Jesus in Melbourne is an ongoing series of monoprints begun in 1995. The first group of prints was exhibited as ‘Christ in Melbourne’ in 1995 at St John’s Southgate. A second group entitled ‘PassionSuite’ was shown at the St Francis Pastoral Centre in 2001.
Michael has located the story of Jesus’ life in Melbourne, just as the Australian painter Arthur Boyd had done 70 years earlier.
The works ask: What would it be like and how would we respond, if Jesus lived in contemporary Melbourne? If Jesus came to twenty-first century Melbourne, who would he associate with? How would he be treated?
Would Jesus be popular or scorned in contemporary Melbourne? Could he be cheered into Melbourne along Swanston Street, then discredited by the media and bashed in the city lock-up? Would he be weeping over what he saw in the city from the top of the Westgate Bridge? Could he agonise over suffering for others at the Myer Music Bowl and be arrested in the Royal Botanic Gardens? Could he end up crucified at Chadstone Shopping Centre? Would he celebrate his resurrection on the beach at Elwood?
'Restroom Nativity', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 1995. (Private Collection)
'Christ Baptised in the Yarra', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2022. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Tempted by Satan on the Eureka Tower', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2022. (Private Collection)
'Christ Under the Westgate Bridge', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2022. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Entry into Melbourne', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Christ in St Kilda I', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 1995. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Does the Beatitudes at the Comedy Club', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2010.
'Christ at McDonalds', 29 x 29.5 cm, 1995. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Does Damage to some ATMs', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Speaks at the MCG', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Upstairs at Edward's Tavern', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Washes His Friends' Feet!', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Gethsemane at the Bowl', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Jesus is Arrested. . .', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Jesus is Bashed in the Lockup', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Ecce Homo' - Jesus Discredited by the Press', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Jesus is Taken to the place of Execution', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Christ Crucified at Chadstone', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2000. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Friends Identify the Body', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2005. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Friends Come to Reclaim His Body', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2005. (Private Collection)
'Noli Me Tangere!', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2005. (Private Collection)
'Thomas Checkout Jesus' Wounds', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2005. (Private Collection)
'On the Road to Elwood', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2005. (Private Collection)
'Jesus Shares Fish + Chips at Elwood Beach for Breakfast', Monoprint, 29 x 29.5 cm, 2005. (Private Collection)