The CFC Artist Circle offers a distinct and contemplative interpretation of the New Way of the Cross, as seen through the works of 14 of its member visual artists.
Titled “Via Crucis”, the Lenten exhibition ran from March 21 to April 4 at Galerie du Soleil in Brgy Ususan, Taguig City. The initiative was led by Danny Rayos del Sol, former head of the National Committee for Art Galleries at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, with the intention of creating a space for quiet reflection during the Lenten season. Participating artists included:
- Jherwen Mermonde
- Ovidio Espiritu Jr.
- Ronjo Solis
- PJ Sison
- Mer Amasa
- Aurelio Torres
- Louie Segismundo
- Lorielito Puserio
- Onat Laurilla
- KT Abaño
- Ros Aquino
- Row Bean Paz
- Ovidio Espiritu III
Each of the 14 featured works offered a visual meditation on Christ’s journey to the Cross. These artworks invited viewers to enter more deeply into the meaning of His suffering and sacrifice. According to gallery assistant Beth Arellano, the exhibit has become a regular venue for prayer, with groups such as the Catholic Women’s League visiting to conduct their Stations of the Cross.
Several visitors also shared how particular pieces drew them into deeper reflection, each encountering the Stations in a personal and unexpected way.
Nyra Portiles, a member of the Evangelization and Missions Group, noted her appreciation for Roy Bean Paz’s interpretation of Station XIII, Jesus is Laid in the Tomb. She pointed to the artist’s use of mixed media, an unconventional blend of materials that created a textured, almost earthen depiction of the tomb. The work’s raw and tactile quality, she observed, gave it a distinct emotional weight, as though the viewer was standing before the very place of burial.
For Aerol Arbues, a YFC Fulltime Pastoral Worker, the reflection took a more social dimension through PJ Sison’s Tayo sa Paanan ng Krus, an interpretation of Station XII, Jesus Dies on the Cross. He shared that the face of the crucified Christ, depicted alongside the faces of a child and an elderly, evoked the suffering of the marginalized. In this way, the piece became not only a meditation on Christ’s passion, but also a call to recognize His presence in the vulnerable and overlooked.
Meanwhile, Glendz Andrade of the Mission Support Group found herself drawn to KT Abaño’s interpretation of Station XI, Mary and John at the Foot of the Cross. The piece stood out for its top-view perspective echoing that of God the Father and offered a contemplative vantage point that recalled the emotional depth of scenes portrayed in the movie The Passion of the Christ.
In addition to the central exhibit, selected Lenten collections from participating artists were also displayed, further enriching the experience of reflection. Together, the works formed a setting where the convergence of art and faith can offer a contemplative pause amid the Lenten season’s call to repentance and renewal.
