When visual artist Al Perez was in first grade, he took a thick pencil and a grade 1 pad paper and decided to draw Barasoain Church, an unusual subject for a six-year-old. ManilaBulletin
When visual artist Al Perez was in first grade, he took a thick pencil and a grade 1 pad paper and decided to draw Barasoain Church, an unusual subject for a six-year-old. Little did he know that his sketch of the historical church would be the first of the thousands of churches he would draw and paint years later and that it would come full circle in an exhibit of his works entitled “Obra,” at Museo ng Republika ng 1899, which is housed at the convent of the Barasoain Church in Malolos.
“My advocacy is to paint the great heritage and culture of the Philippines through its glorious churches,” says Perez. “The churches that were destroyed by earthquakes, typhoons, fire, and other calamities were immortalized so that the next generation could appreciate them even through a painting. The portraits of old churches are the legacy I hope I will leave behind for this country.”
A well-traveled artist, Perez has toured and shown his works in key cities in the world such as New York, Chicago, Honolulu, Tokyo, Seoul, and the Vatican.Perez shares that he should personally see a church in order to paint it. That’s his trick in giving each painting its own story and personality. He would also interview priests about the church’s history or even the Pope, if he could, whom he had been privileged to have seen in both Manila and the Vatican.
“My favorite will always be the historical Barasoain Church. It already has different versions because it has been restored many times because of fire,” says Perez. “I also love painting Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte. It has a wonderful Borobudur architecture. I also love the limestone of Miag-ao Church in Iloilo and the Morong Church in Rizal. And I would never get tired of painting San Agustin Church. I’ve painted it so many times.
“Artists give joy and beauty to the world. Everything you see around you is art,” ends Perez. “I was able to travel the world through it and it feels great when people appreciate your art. My world opened up when I started painting churches. More importantly, it taught me to be patient.”
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