Sentro Artista – an organization formed for the benefit of the country's various painters, photographers, sculptures, musicians, actors and actresses – recently hosted the Up Close & Natural photography exhibit to promote mobile phone photography to captivate the beauty of nature at its finest.

Around 50 visual artists from all over the metro — 20 to 30 mobile photographers and junior photographers – flocked the Arton Strip by the Rockwell in Quezon City to showcase their works.

"We get to discover some new things and new aspects that are visible to the lens and even to the most simple mobile camera," said organizer Marjorie Ruiz.

Ruiz explained the objective of promoting the mobile photography is to connect the individuals who do appreciate visual arts particularly the environment and commune them with nature's best visuals.

"Through mobile phone photography, we see different realm. In sharing our work with one another, we form meaningful relationships regardless of status, beliefs and location," said Ruiz.

The event exhibit was graced by first district Quezon City Congressman Arjo Atayde and veteran journalist Jay Ruiz.

A room inside the Arton Strip, Ruiz explained, will highlight these arts that need to propagate and proliferate to reach the global stage just like what international artists do.

Ruiz and Atayde said that arts played a very crucial role to banish depression at the time of the pandemic, at the time of uncertainty, sorrow, where anxiety affected everything for more than a year.

Painter Rico Aunzo of Antipolo, 33, presented his masterpiece "Pedrong Masipag."

Also present were Mylene Quito and Jonathan Hilario as guest visual artists.

Quito specializes in contemporary art while Hilario is best known for his nature and rural scapes.

Sentro Artista aims to promote art and culture by exhibiting monthly different artists of different genres at the Arton Strip by Rockwell.