Title: “Ever Praise” Valued: $78, 000 Medium: Oil on Canvas Size: 305cm x 176cm Edward A Lutaakome was born in Uganda in 1959, studied fine art at Makerere University Kampala, became a permanent resident in South Africa in 1995, and lives in Thaba Nchu in the Free State province, South Africa. He comments: My painting is an expression which shows God’s given talent, being able to open my inner most thoughts by laying a solid mark to the most dramatic episodes in the spiritual art depiction of calling God in my prayers to give us freedom, the gospel of peace, health, prosperity and an environment with the breastplate of righteousness in place. According to Peter Lacey in his book ‘The History of the Nude’: “Every artist is a missionary. He communicates the awaresome presence of truth and beauty. He discovers in the world around him” (Lacey 1964: 130). My painting serves and presents a fascinating subject matter, “The jubilation/welcoming the holy father to Africa” (Pope John Paul II), with some spiritual passages of honour and respect which resulted from the tradition of religious belief and happy scrutiny against the struggle/suffering brought about by the rulers, authorities, power of dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Furthermore, the painting displays the symbolic aspect of our prayers, seeking God’s world, our survival/living beyond the grave, in our life eternal as it displays itself in our aesthetic consciousness, which may arouse our human senses like that of joy, sorrow, love or hate. Finally, the holy father prays for all God’s people, forever peace and serenity to be with us all.