“The church has been promoting art ever since its inception,” said Mangalore Diocesan Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza.

Speaking after inaugurating an exhibition of paintings on ‘Lord’s Last Supper’ at Orchid Art Gallery here on Saturday, he said that the 12 artists who contributed to the exhibition have actually contributed something valuable to Christian art.

Speaking on the occasion, Fr Muller Medical College Administrator Fr Dennis D’Sa said that Mangalore is experiencing a cultural revolution in the form of Karavali Utsav, Beach Utsav and others and added that it is a positive development.

He said that the timing of the exhibition is perfect, at the beginning of the holy week. Proprietor of the art gallery William Pais was also present on the occasion.

As many as 24 works of 12 artists of Mangalore and Udupi have been exhibited in the gallery as well as in the website www.daijiworld .com, where some of them will be auctioned.

Part of the proceeds of the auction will be donated to charity. The exhibition will go on till March 31.