JESUS ON THE TUBE

by Antonia Rolls
Artist Extraordinaire

About Jesus on The Tube

If you were sitting on the Tube and someone came and sat next to you, in full Byzantine costume, is it likely that you would nod quietly and say I bet that’s Jesus? As you sit there with the glow of this person’s halo highlighting your newspaper as you read, and the gentle hum of his presence setting off your mobile phone or fast forwarding your ipod, would you think Yep, bit odd but definitely Jesus. It is more likely that you would sigh and wonder why the Nutter always has to sit next to you.

I wondered what would happen if Jesus did get onto the Tube. How many of us would acknowledge him? We are very conditioned to ignore each other on public transport, and make sure that what tiny personal space we have remains unpolluted by our neighbours, we certainly don’t like to make eye contact. But what if Jesus DID get into your carriage, and you did make eye contact with the Son of God, wouldn’t the earth move for you? I wonder if you would be utterly terrified and utterly enlightened all at once – and could you tell anyone else about it, or would you turn into a Nutter, like the Looney next to you with the Byzantine clothes and fancy light show on his head?

This painting is about Jesus sitting on the Circle Line one day, and being studiously ignored by those sitting next to him. He looks directly out at you, so you cannot ignore him, even if you want to. Maybe Jesus did sit next to you once; maybe he sits next to all of us, frequently. Maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he is waiting for you to recognise him, and won’t give up or get off the Northern Line until you do.

Jesus on the Tube has become a world wide phenomenon. It has been featured in many publications and Religious Educational material for schools. It has captured the imagination of families, schools and individuals in the UK, USA, New Zealand and South Africa. Families are painted next to Jesus at a Tube/Subway station of their choice, each person holding an item that best describes them. Having your own Jesus on the Tube has become a real statement of faith and fun, it is a wonderful experience to own such an unusual and profound work, where you and Jesus have centre stage together. It is true that Jesus doesn’t just take the London Underground, he could catch a bus, a taxi, stand in line in a shop. Click on MY Gallery to see further examples of what I can do for you.