Paintings depicting issues in the society on display at SM Art Center

At least 12 oil paintings painstakingly done by Fr. Leonard Realiza, OSA are on display at the SM Cebu Art Center in SM City Cebu. (CONTRIBUTED)

Look beyond the art.

With a variety of issues hounding society, an Augustinian priest turned his thoughts to painting, hoping to help people understand the different faces of life.

At least 12 oil paintings painstakingly done by Fr. Leonard Realiza, OSA are on display at the SM Cebu Art Center in SM City Cebu.

His first ever solo exhibit, dubbed as Lens, focused on the medium of Baroque art using the dramatic play of light and shadow—an appropriate dashboard in exposing the problems of today’s world.

“The unifying theme is a Christian response to the signs of times or social issues. My paintings serve as lens that one may use to look into social issues of today,” Realiza told Cebu Daily News.

Fr. Leonard Realiza, OSA with one of his paintings on display at SM Art Center. (CONTRIBUTED)

Art, he said, is another way of propagating the faith.

“My paintings serve as lens that one may use to look into social issues of today. This is another way of reminding people to remain faithful in God. I usually preach in the Mass and so I consider my paintings as another form of evangelization,” said Realiza who is currently assigned at the Basilica del Sto. Niño in Cebu City.

Among the issues depicted in Realiza’s paintings were “institutional corruption, solidarity amidst internal tension, street children, abortive pills and life, and Tokhang and drug rehabilitation.

The exhibits was opened last March 22 and runs until March 31.