The mystical mind as divine artist: visions, artistic production, creation of images through empathy

Descriptions of mystical experiences have been mostly analyzed to highlight the relation between visions and real images: in recounting their visions, in effect, mystics let their visual heritage emerge, that is, the images they love to use in their private meditation and the popular iconography of their territory: they see with their minds what they have already seen with their eyes. In this panel, however, we aim to investigate the figure of the mystic as an inspired artist, able to model and build his own work of art entering in empathy with his visual and intellectual heritage. Like a painter or a sculptor, the mystical mind selects literary sources and stylistic and iconographic models to build the mental image and create his work of art.
Recently, in effect, such mystical experiences have been interpreted as the extreme outcome of an ability to look deep down, learned through practice, through a look educated in the use of images and a mind skilled in “inner visualization”. Going beyond this perspective and analyzing the production of images through empathy, should be possible also to verify if and how the “embodied simulation” works not only in the fruition of a work of art, but also in the field of the production of images, originated from the mystical experience.
Therefore, for this panel, we intend to collect papers that investigate the figure of the mystic as a “divine” artist, able to product effective mental images (often linked to real pictures), which are often described in reports of visions or in devotional writings.

The themes and subjects for discussion could be:
- visions and the visual arts
- the meaning of the visions and mental images in hagiographic literature
- transformation and censorship of works of art in visions
- visions and vivification of works of art
- visions and “inner visualization”
- visions and mnemonic technique
- visions, embodiment, embodied simulation
- comparative studies on visions between different religious cultures

CIHA FLORENCE 2019 – MOTION: TRANSFORMATION

GENERAL AND PRATICAL INFORMATIONS

The CIHA Italia Committee invites proposals for 8 of the 9 Sessions of the 35° CIHA World Congress Motion: Transformation .
Provide a title, an abstract of 350 - 450 words in length, a short biographical note of no more than 100 words, a CV, your institutional affiliation (if any), reference letters from supervisors, a list of publications, etc. Please submit your proposal uploading all documents as one PDF file at the following link: http://www.ciha-italia.it/florence2019/2018/04/07/upload-your-paper/

Please make sure the title is concise and reflects the contents of the paper, because the title is what appears online, on social media and in the printed programme.

Please name your submission file and clearly describe in your abstract the case and the themes you intend to engage with. Your proposal is meant to be pertinent in the topics of the Session you would like to participate in.

NOTE:

Young scholars, graduate students, PhD students and candidates have the opportunity to attend the Congress presenting a Paper or a Poster, qualifying for grants provided by the Getty Foundation - Los Angeles.

Applicants coming from low GDP countries worldwide are especially welcome.

If you are presenting a proposal for a Paper, please remember that it is meant to be pertinent in the topics of the Session you would like to participate in. If you apply for a Poster presentation instead, it is not necessary to indicate a specific Session.

Applicants for the Getty Grants should not upload their proposals using the platform.
They are instead kindly asked to submit their proposals and documents sending an e-mail at the following address: firenze2019ciha-italia.it and pointing out they are applying for the Getty Foundation grants.

To the grant holders will be given more information once they will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

The awarded Papers and Posters will be published on the CIHA Italia Firenze 2019 website as content proceedings of the Congress.

- Deadline for submissions: January 15th, 2019
- Notification of acceptance: February 28th, 2019

Draft paper submission: in the two months prior to the conference the conveners will be in contact with the Congress organizers and the Chairs to discuss draft versions of their papers/posters.

Regarding the Papers, the Congress organizers are aiming at 20 minutes presentations + 10 minutes for debating.

Language differences will be accommodated as follows: everyone will be allowed to speak in their own language, but an English version of their own contribution is meant to be provided to the Congress organizers and will be projected on a screen during each talk. Debates will be moderated in English.

CIHA plans to refund Speakers with a grant of about 500 € that will be handed at their arrival in Florence.

The registration fee for Speakers is of 150 €.
It includes congress kit, participation in all the sessions, Opening cocktail and keynote speeches. More information on terms of payment will be given soon.
The registration fee for young scholars, PhD students and graduated students is of
80 €.

Travel and accommodation: travel organization will be up to each Speaker, as well as the accommodation option (the CIHA Italia Committee Secretariat will provide soon a list of suggestions). It is expected that candidates are able to seek funding in their own country to cover travel and accommodation expenses.

For any further information please contact us using the following email address: firenze2019cihaitalia.it