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BAGUIO CITY—There
is heart and soul poured into each artist’s rendition of
Jesus Christ—as brushes and paint are used to portray
visions that not only tell people about His life, but
also reveal the artist’s expression of faith.
This
Holy Week is especially filled with a spiritual sense as
many people commemorate the Life, Death and Resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
One such
person is painter Joey Velasco, a 41-year-old Filipino
ex-seminarian who pursued greatness in his craft in
order to give Christ the best fruit of the talent He has
given.
“Painting Christ is like praying,” the soft-spoken
Velasco told BusinessMirror as he narrated the journey
that led him to Christianity, and talked about the
importance of art in his life. “God is the hand that
inspires and guides my works, and it’s really healing
and soothing.”
With his
more than 40 huge oil paintings, Velasco’s artistic
spirit infuses not only Christ’s images but conjures up
His presence in the sad reality of Filipinos in society
today.
Currently, Velasco is said to be the hottest religious
and artistic phenomenon not just in the
Philippines
but also in Europe, Canada and the United States because
of his paintings, especially Hapag ng Pag-Asa—a 48 x
96-inch oil on canvas depicting the Last Supper, but
with impoverished street children in Metro Manila in
place of the 12 apostles.
This
artist prefers to be called “heartist” as his religious
works express more than religion.
“The
paintbrush moves by itself,” Velasco said, describing
the spontaneity he feels every time he paints. “I feel
the unconditional love of God.”
With no
formal training, Velasco said he started painting in
2005 “with the guidance of the Holy Spirit” that flows
within him during his down moments. That was the time
when he was helpless and suffering from kidney ailments.
Using his daughter’s art materials, he started to
scribble and later on painted his first giant painting
depicting the memories of his childhood.
“I was
then looking for life because I was in total confusion.
I saw new life when someone in my mind instructed me to
grab a paintbrush,” he recalled.
Since
then, he has touched countless lives. People find Christ
in his newfound talent in painting, as well as the
reality in the society.
Imitating Jesus
True
artists like Velasco imitate Jesus in His serving and
His storytelling. They pursue excellence in their craft
for a variety of reasons. This artist does not sell his
original paintings, but uses them to draw attention to
the plight of the poor and impoverished Filipinos—the
street children, abandoned and neglected elderly people.
Whatever donations he receives are given to charity.
“It is
not my idea to sell them. There is some kind of a
mission that I have to fulfill for His sake, and maybe
that is to bring closer His message of love to the
people,” Velasco said, admitting that he usually cries
every time he finishes an art work.
Even
Velasco’s wife, Queeny, was amazed when she discovered
her husband’s life-changing experience and newfound
artistic talent.
“I was
so stunned because he is not a born painter and then,
suddenly, he could make these fantastic paintings,” she
said. “Up to now we cannot explain how it happened.”
Holy art
for Holy Week
Working
in a style that is reminiscent of such masters as
Titian, Velasquez and Caravaggio, Velasco’s acclaimed
artworks has been viewed in various universities,
seminaries, convents and exhibition centers all over the
country.
It is
difficult to describe the impact of Velasco’s paintings
on people of all ages, but according to Baguio City
Bishop Carlito Cenzon, people who have seen them have
been moved by the messages they carried.
“Just by
looking at the paintings, we seem to experience a
religious happening in our lives. It’s really a gift
coming from above and I hope we can learn from this
man,” Bishop Cenzon said.
Twenty
of the most notable art works of Velasco are being
showcased at the Baguio Convention Center lobby starting
this Holy Week until March 30. The exhibit is dubbed
Heal Our Land: A Journey of Faith in Art.
The
centerpiece of the new series in his solo exhibit is the
48” x 56” oil canvas Father, Heal our Land, showing
Jesus holding a piece of cloth in one arm, which Velasco
describes as a Jewish symbol of love, respect and
reverence.
“I felt
disturbed by my own painting: do I hang my country
around my arms with love and reverence? We blame the
rich. We blame the poor.
Daily,
this wanton betrayal stares at us in every corner of our
land, but we no longer see it,” Velasco said, referring
to one of his precious paintings.
Other
notable paintings being shown in the exhibit are
Kaalagad, Cast All Your Cares, I Thirst, No Greater
Love, Mga Munting Sireneo, That We May Live, Thy Will Be
Done, Alay,Take Off Your Flag and Follow Me and He Is My
King, among others.
The
exhibit, which is open to the public free of charge, was
made possible through Baguio City Bishop Cenzon and a
Catholic devotee, businessman Orly de la Cuesta, who is
president and chairman of Victoria Sto. Tomas
Development Corp.
“I have
seen many paintings in the world, but these masterpieces
have significantly illustrated the love of Jesus to His
people,” de la Cuesta said.
For
Bishop Cenzon, the piece that literally takes his heart
away is Father Heal Our Land in oil. “It is the period
of Lent. Let us heal ourselves and let us fix our land
as we are all actors in democracy.”
Bishop
Cenzon adds: “Let us therefore hear and see the powerful
message of Jesus as we heal ourselves and pray for
guidance.”
He said
another painting, No Greater Love, shows a contemporary
crucifixion depicting a scene where Christ was crucified
on an electric post in a Manila street. Two children are
underneath with an attempt to imitate the outstretched
arms of their hero, offering sampaguita and a cup of
water to drink.
Indeed,
what a true and inspiring message from an artist who
shares Jesus Christ through paintings for the world to
see. His love for Jesus Christ is shown and powerful.
How awe-inspiring he is.
For
Velasco, he understands that true greatness is found in
the heart of the servant. |
