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Exhibition to Benefit HIV/AIDS Victims

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By Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Staff Reporter

The Oriental paintings by a Catholic priest will be shown in an exhibition to raise funds for a shelter for men living with HIV and AIDS in Seoul.

Catholic priest Father Leo, Yeon Je-shik's, solo exhibition will be held at the Pyonghwa Gallery, 1st floor Myeongdong Catholic Center in the Myeongdong Cathedral complex Sept. 5-11. The opening reception is on Sept. 5 at 4 p.m.

Father Leo is known for his Oriental paintings depicting the rural countryside of North Chungcheong province. He lives in a small village, where he works with farmers in the area.

For the past few years, he has already held 12 solo exhibitions, all of which have benefited the poor and marginalized sectors of society. His 13th exhibition will benefit the Little Light AIDS Shelter for Men, which was founded in 1997. All of the paintings on display are for sale for 1 million won each.

Sister Rosa Angelica Libron, the shelter director, said the shelter provides board and lodging for men who have been diagnosed with AIDS and HIV. Since most Koreans who are diagnosed with AIDS and HIV are shunned by their families and Korean society, they have nowhere to go and end up as homeless.

The shelter, which is currently run by the Seoul Catholic Archdiocese, helps rehabilitate men living with AIDS and HIV, and provide them with resources to find new jobs. She noted even if one is diagnosed with HIV and AIDS, one could still lead a productive life.

``The number of HIV and AIDS cases in Korea is estimated at 5,000 and the number is increasing. However, the problem is hardly recognized by Korean society, which still attaches a lot of stigma and discrimination to it. There is very low awareness and acceptance of the problem,'' she said.

While the Little Light AIDS Shelter would like to help more, it can only accommodate 12 men at present.

Oriental paintings by Catholic priest Father Leo, Yeon Je-shik will be displayed at the Pyonghwa Gallery at Myeongdong Catholic Center in Seoul.