The Wiedmann Bible
The Wiedmann Bible depicts the complete Old and New Testament in images. The original includes 19 Leporello (concertina fold) books which contain 3,333 hand-painted images, and has a total length of 1.17 km (0.73 miles).[1] Created by the Stuttgart artist Willy Wiedmann over a period of 16 years (1984–2000). Wiedmann painted the Bible based on his Polycon Painting Style which he invented in the 1960s.[2]
The Story
The idea of translating Bible verses into images was initiated in 1984, when Willy Wiedmann was assigned to redecorate the interior of the Pauluskirche in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen/Germany.[3][4] He always wanted to simplify and engage more people with the Bible. He finished his works in 2000. Due to the lack of technology, Wiedmann was not able to find a printery which had the prerequisites to publish the concertina book. Eventually he stored the Bible his gallery's attic, including essays about his works, where it fell into oblivion.[5] It was only after his death that his son discovered the four containers. He had all 3,333 images scanned and digitalised.[1]
In 2017 the Swiss light show artist Gerry Hofstetter featured the Wiedmann Bible's images during his performances in which he illuminated the Grossmuenster in Zurich and monuments in each US state.[6][7]
Since its discovery in 2013 the original Wiedmann Bible was showcased twice: 2015 it premiered at the German Evangelical Church Assembly (Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag) in Stuttgart[8][9] and 2016 at the Weygag-Museum in Öhringen.[10][11] The Bible's current location is unknown to the public.
On May 7 a facsimile of the artwork was completely unfolded for the first time at a length of 1517m (almost 1 mile). Occasion for the event was the celebration of the 500th Protestant Reformation anniversary in Magdeburg. At the same time a world record was set.[12][13][14] Since December 2017 the Wiedmann Bible is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest concertina folder with a size of 645.2 m² (6944 ft² 121 in²).[15]
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Gen 28 – Jacob's Ladder -
Is 26–27 – Song of Praise -
Rev 12:3 – Seven-headed Beast
In February 2018 the Wiedmann Bible has been published as a book print for the very first time in collaboration with the German Bible Society.[16][17] The ART-Edition is limited to 3,333 volumes and complemented by verses from the revised Luther Bible 2017.[18][19]
References
- ^ a b "The Wiedmann Bible". www.thewiedmannbible.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Artist – The Wiedmann Bible". thewiedmannbible.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Rudolf, Greiner (2018). Willy Wiedmann Ein Leben in vielen Künsten. Lammerts, Diana, Schwertzel-Thoma, Dorothea, Rieker, Manfred, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. Lachen. p. 19. ISBN 9783438033512. OCLC 1015353075.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Zuffenhausen | Evangelische Kirche Stuttgart". www.ev-ki-stu.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ Willy, Wiedmann,. Die Wiedmann Bibel - Premium-Edition Zwei Bände im Schmuckschuber mit Bildern von Willy Wiedmann und Texten der Lutherbibel 2017 sowie ein Ergänzungsband mit Informationen zum Künstler und zu seinem Werk. Luther, Martin, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft. Stuttgart. pp. 10–15. ISBN 9783438033314. OCLC 986999361.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ The Wiedmann Bible (2017-12-04), Amazing Light Art Show at the Grossmuenster Zurich, retrieved 2018-01-23
- ^ "Light Art Grand Tour USA". Hofstetter. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ "May 2015 – The Wiedmann Bible". thewiedmannbible.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Längste gemalte Bibel der Welt". pro Medienmagazin - Das Christliche Medienmagazin pro informiert aus einer anderen Perspektive. (in German). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ "oehringen.de - The Wiedmann-Bible". www.oehringen.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-01-23.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ The Wiedmann Bible (2017-06-21), 1 Mile long Bible unfolded in Magdeburg Germany, retrieved 2018-01-23
- ^ "German Bible sets world record". SBS News. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ "The longest Bible in the world, unfolded in Germany". evangelicalfocus. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ "Largest concertina book". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ "3333 hand-painted images – The Wiedmann Bible". thewiedmannbible.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Desk, BWW News. "German Bible Society to Publish New Illustrated Bible". Retrieved 2018-01-23.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "The Wiedmann Bible ART-Edition". thewiedmannbible.com. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ Bibelgesellschaft, Deutsche. "Die Wiedmann Bibel | Hochwertige Bibelausgaben | Lutherbibeln | Bibelausgaben | Shop | Die-Bibel.de". Die-Bibel.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-01-23.