Don't have problem with "modernist" Christ statue

There is a gigantic bronze image of the Resurrection of Christ in the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican. It looms over the Pontiff and his guests who sit on the dais. It's of that modernistic style of a bony and elongated Christ and the setting is rather odd with an almost reef appearing landscape seemingly marked with skulls. I mention it because during an understandable humor break a picture of Pope Benedict XVI seated in front of this sculpture with lurid lighting was posted on one of the blog sites I enjoy. I got the humor, where Christ looks like either the Borg Queen, Alien Queen, or a Titanic sinking victim in that picture. So I surfed until I found a realistic image and it is odd and rather grim. Still, I do not have a problem with it and here is why.

In the Creed Catholics recite and believe, "...He descended into hell and on the third day he arose again from the dead and ascended into heaven..." While it is not written in scripture per se it is widely understood that as Messiah and Savior Jesus went into hell to fetch forth those who had been in a holding situation awaiting the Messiah's redemption. This is what Jesus was "doing" during the three days he was in the tomb. I think that statue is appropriate in tone if the viewer bears that part of the Creed in mind. It's actually rather powerful if one thinks of Christ rising up from hell where he had gone to rescue those who merited being saved by the Messiah. So the rather underworld and modern neo gothic look of the statue, skulls and all, is not inconsistent with that part of the resurrection, where Christ is arising from hell, having gone there to rescue those who merited being saved through his grace.

I don't know anything about the sculptor and the statue's making, but even if he had a hidden agenda of some sort, sometimes even whacky modern "artistes" stumble upon a truth of imagery ha.