In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, people go about their day-to-day business without even bothering to stop and smell the roses. They are more concerned about survival and looking at or even appreciating nature, art, and history is the least of their priorities.

Gone are the days when people take time out to visit museums and galleries and indulge in the artistic pleasure derived from viewing and scrutinizing artworks by Filipino artists. Suffice it to say that most people would never go out of their way to seek art, much less allow art to assume its role in their lives.

The current trend is to bring art closer to the people. Art galleries have invaded the shopping malls so people can view artworks in between their shopping.

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), recognized as the premiere rail transit in the country, acknowledges that thousands of people every day spend time in the “riles,” from falling in line at the ticket booths to waiting for the arrival of the train.

With this in mind, the LRTA recently embarked on a new journey—an artistic journey that is—bringing with them the multitude of commuters as they explore the avenues where the rail system provides transport services. Called “Art Along the Riles,” the LRTA converted the Araneta-Cubao station of the LRT Line 2 into an art gallery to promote art while raising artistic awareness among its commuters.

“What better place could it (have been) set up if not where there is assurance of a captured audience? Indeed, it brings art to the people. It affords the commuters—the general public—the occasion to be in the presence of art… without having to go out of their way to experience it,” says curator Ma. Victoria Abano.

The spacious area was transformed into a welcoming art space where commuters can satiate their artistic curiosity and indulge in an intimate moment with the art pieces in sheer scale, all done in three by four feet canvas using oil or acrylic.

As an initial salvo, the Art Along the Riles opened the “LRT at ang Buhay Pinoy” exhibit, featuring the winning artworks and pre-selected pieces culled from the LRTArt 2009, a national painting competition. The 12 winning entries will be on display at selected LRT stations.

The exhibit illustrates the LRT world, showcasing the various facets of the train ride. The recurring subject among the paintings is the family life. The top prize “Sakay Na Rin Po Kayo,” oil on canvas painting created by Mario B. Panis, illustrates an innocent child with montage of train scenes.

Others show different personas either inside the train among the other passengers or in the platform waiting for the next train to arrive. Some have nationalistic icons as well as historical symbols, depicting the evolution of the transport system and the Philippine history.

“Looking at all the paintings, it is good to see the insights of each artist as they illustrate what we have done in the LRTA. The different artworks were a touching depiction of how LRTA has affected the lives of our commuters as they use the LRT everyday,” says LRTA administrator Mel Robles.