Artwork: Fr Jason Antiquera SSC
Last year’s ANIMA+L: Celebrating Care and Companionship with All Creatures was an international, spiritually grounded exhibition inspired by the legacy of St Francis of Assisi, who recognised animals as fellow creatures imbued with the breath of God. It was well-timed, since 2026 marks 800 years since the death of St Francis.
The exhibition, held at the San Damiano Café of the Franciscan Education Centre in Jeong-dong, Seoul, from August 11 - 23, 2025, was a collaborative work between the Art Ministry and Jan Radovan, a Filipino artist based in France and a former lay missionary.
Drawing from the Latin anima (soul) and life, the exhibition invited viewers to reflect on animals not merely as biological beings, but as living presences sharing in divine creation. Through diverse artworks centred on animals, the exhibit highlighted themes of dignity, compassion and ecological responsibility, echoing Catholic teachings on care for creation, as articulated in Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’.
The concept emerged from a desire to develop a theme closely connected to the Franciscan community that operates the gallery, grounding the project in Franciscan spirituality and ecological sensitivity. Likewise, the exhibition embodied the Columban mission’s current priority on biodiversity, calling for love and care to extend beyond humanity to all creatures.
This vision was realised through “The Arts on the Move”, an art ministry concept rooted in action, dialogue and engagement with contemporary social and ecological concerns, including subtle advocacy for migrants.
A total of 36 artists from Korea, the Philippines, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries participated, presenting 73 works in various media, including painting, digital art and photography. Inspired by the spirituality of St Francis of Assisi and the Church’s call to ecological conversion, the artworks offered visual reflections on humanity’s relationship with animals and the wider created world.
The official opening of the exhibition was held on Saturday, August 16, allowing broader participation from those working during weekdays. Attended by Columban missionaries, friends and the Consul General representing the Philippine Embassy, the event fostered a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. The program included welcoming remarks, a brief introduction to the exhibition and an interactive question-and-answer session between the artists and the audience. Coverage by a journalist from the Catholic Times of Korea further extended the exhibition’s reach. ANIMA+L stands as a living expression of the Church’s long tradition of engaging faith through beauty, imagination and reverence for creation. Rooted in the spirituality of St Francis of Assisi and resonating with the Church’s call to ecological conversion, the exhibition reminds us that care for all living creatures is not optional but integral to Christian discipleship. Through art, the faithful are invited to contemplate God’s presence not only in humanity but in every creature formed by the divine breath.
In continuity with the Church’s understanding of art as a pathway to encountering God, ANIMA+L transforms aesthetic experiences into spiritual reflections and moral responses. It gives voice to the voiceless, fosters compassion and deepens awareness of our shared responsibility for creation. As an act of faith, the exhibition affirms that to honour life in all its forms is to participate in God’s ongoing work of love and reconciliation, calling the Church to witness, through both contemplation and action, to the sacredness of our common home.
Columban Fr Jason Antiquera lives and works in Korea.
Listen to "Art, mission and care for all creatures"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - March/April 2026
