Religious artist

The indefatigable • Viennese
religious artist Ernst Degasperi has exhibitions of his works opening simultaneous in Liverpool's Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals this week.
An industrial designer up to 1952,46-year-old Mr. Degasperi had what he describes as "an intense spiritual experience" while studying tree roots in his native Austrian Tyrol. Drawings resembling roots have remained the basic element in his work, because he sees their structure as symbolic of the fight for life against natural obstacles, the struggle between good and evil.
He has helped decorate several Austrian Catholic Churches and exhibited his work all over Europe, presenting some examples personally to the Pope last year. His drawings now retail at about £200 apiece in Vienna, he said.
Finding his work did not contrast favourably with "monuments to Nelson" and other objects, he has not exhibited in Westminster Abbey. His drawings were seen for the first time in London last year in St. John's Church Hall, Smith
Square and International
Students House. Mr. Degasperi said the students had, at first, been reluctant to have religious drawings, but "a few wept when the time came to take them down". He left some to hang in their rooms.
The drawings on show in Liverpool are cycles illustrating "The Revelation of St. John", "Song of the Sun by St. Francis" and "The Magnificat". They embody a development in his style from black and white to use of such colours as gold, silver and blue. Each 'Magnificar drawing, for in'stance, pictures d lint of the prayer and, though symbolic, human. figures and their relationships to one another are clearly discernible.
Much involved in Catholic Social Action, Mr. Degasperi said the recent use of colour represented his spiritual growth through an "angry" period to when he began to realise the full joy of the salvation message.
The artist observed it was appropriate that the street joining the two Cathedrals in Liverpool should be named "Hope Street". His work will be on view until October 21, sponsored by the Cultural Department of the City of Vienna.