Art's alchemy: Spirituality awakens for disbelieving individuals

My presentation examines alternative spiritualities within contemporary art museums, drawing from ongoing qualitative PhD research. By investigating how individuals who identify as nonbelievers encounter and construct notions of the sacred within ostensibly secular museum spaces, the findings reveal that engaging with conceptual art can evoke profound spiritual encounters. This research illuminates a unique form of alternative spirituality emerging from art appreciation, where museums function as temples for alternative spirituality. By analyzing these art-induced numinous experiences, we gain insights into evolving forms of spirituality in secular societies. This challenges conventional understanding of spiritual experience and sacred spaces.