The exhibition runs at Arrupe Hall, 114 Mount Street, Mayfair, London, and is open Monday–Friday 9.00am – 8.00pm, and Saturday/Sunday 10.00am – 3.00pm until the 30th October. Our interview with Ruben Ferreira, included below, offers further insight into his inspirations and the stories behind these remarkable portraits.
The exhibition marks the 80th anniversary of the Second World War and offers a profound reminder of the extraordinary witness of those who gave their lives for their faith, standing firm in conscience and devotion in the face of unimaginable danger. Ferreira’s work is more than portraiture; it is a testimony to lives lived with courage and conviction.
Reflecting on the inspiration for the exhibition, he says simply:
“I’m sure the inspiration came from God.”
Speaking of the saints and martyrs he has painted, he reflects:
“If there is something that they teach us is that they are real people… farmers, lay people, consecrated, they didn’t sign up to be war heroes or members of the resistance and they did, person by person, moment by moment, they chose love.”
Among the figures depicted is St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan friar who, in August 1941 at Auschwitz, volunteered to die in place of a fellow prisoner, Franciszek Gajowniczek, who had been condemned to death by starvation. Kolbe's selfless act was accepted by the camp authorities, and he died on August 14, 1941. His remains were cremated the following day. Kolbe's sacrifice continues to inspire Catholics and non-Catholics alike as a profound example of Christian charity and courage in the face of evil.
The exhibition also calls to mind those who have sacrificed everything for their faith in recent years. Jesuit martyrs such as Fr Stan Swamy SJ, who died in custody in India in 2021 at the age of 84, remind us of the courage required to defend human dignity. A lifelong advocate for indigenous and minority communities, Father Swamy was arrested under controversial anti-terror laws and spent nine months in jail before his health deteriorated. He passed away on July 5, 2021, and Jesuit groups, including Jesuit Missions, continue to campaign for his name to be cleared, highlighting ongoing struggles for justice faced by many today.
Defiant Love is the latest in a series of powerful exhibitions supported by the Jesuits in Britain, following recent displays such as the Stations of the Cross exhibition at Arrupe Hall over Easter. In each case, art becomes a medium through which faith, history, and human witness intersect, offering visitors a space to reflect, pray, and be moved.
