Artist depicts life at the Monastery of the Transfiguration

MANILA, Philippines - In celebration of the 29th anniversary of the Monastery of the Transfiguration, a Benedictine community of monks in the hills of Malaybalay, Vicente Jr. R. Barretto mounts “Idyll,” which is on view until Sept. 9 at the Museum of the Transfiguration Monastery, San Jose, Malaybalay City.

The show depicts the life and activities of the monks, which Barretto describes as “visions of simplicity, peace, innocence, humility, and contentment in the monastery.”

“Intrinsic,” Barretto’s signature piece, shows a monk doing Lectio Divina or sacred reading, under the pine trees; “I Am the Lord’s Servant” shows a monk praying before the image of th e Blessed Virgin in the prayer room, while “My Joy and My Delight” presents the community of monks praying Matins, the daily 3:30 a.m. liturgical prayer. The early morning Mass being celebrated in the magnificent church, designed by the late National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, is captured for posterity in “Univocal Innocence.” Idyllic pastoral scenes are depicted in “Coherence” (monks working in the coffee farm), and “Pastoral Song,” showing a monk fishing in a nearby pond.

Dom Martin Gomez is the curator of the Museum of the Transfiguration Monastery.

Twenty-nine years ago (in 1983), Barretto painted the majestic “Transfiguration” mural for the inauguration of the old monastery church upon the request of its founder, Fr. Abbot Eduardo P. Africa, OSB.

Twenty-nine years later, Barretto now comes up with a series of 22 paintings in oil and acrylic depicting beautiful monastic scenes. He spent the last eight months making many visits to the monastery, joining the monks in prayer, and experiencing much silence in the 100-hectare property, which is now regarded as Malaybalay City’s most popular religious as well as tourist destination.

The exhibit, which opened last Aug. 6, was attended Philippine Educational Theater Association’s Cecilia “CB” Garrucho, National Commission on Culture and the Arts’ Nono Montalvan, Dr. Joy Tamin and Fely Bragat.

For inquiries, call or SMS Barretto at 0939-9236182, or MTM curator Dom Martin Gomez, OSB at 088-2212373, 09175105585 or e-mail dommartinosb@yahoo.com