At The Gallery in Greenbelt 5, art takes on a mission. PROTEGERI, from the Latin word for “protection,” brings together Filipino artists Leeroy New, Vito Selma, and Solenn Heussaff for a two-week exhibit that redefines what it means for art to do good. Partnering with Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) and OFF!, the show transforms discarded materials into messages of hope while raising funds for the education of children from Makati and El Nido, Palawan.

Here’s how the artists used creativity, community, and compassion to make art that protects and empowers.

1. Turning Waste into Wonder

Sculptor and designer Leeroy New transformed waste into what he calls “modern talismans of protection.” His series, El Nidos (The Nests), features plastic flowers made by high school students in Palawan.

“Waste to me is a strange thing,” New says. “For some, it’s trash. For me, it’s something that excites me. Working with kids reminds me that it’s not about us. We’re there to learn together and create something that helps them thrive.”

Each piece becomes a reminder that discarded materials can take on new life when reimagined through collaboration and purpose.

2. Crafting Beauty from the Everyday

Furniture designer Vito Selma reimagined the humble vase in Ploreras, combining paper rings from old Yellow Pages with plastic flowers made by elementary students. Each bloom bears the name of its young creator.

“I think any material can be turned into something beautiful,” Selma shares. “It’s about giving people the opportunity to reimagine what they have and to make sure that whatever we create also goes back to the community that surrounds us.”

The result is a piece that connects generations, merging craftsmanship, sustainability, and care.

3. Weaving Collaboration and Connection

Selma also joined forces with Leeroy New and Solenn Heussaff in Hinabing Tabing, a woven abaca tapestry printed with the trio’s artworks using 200 upcycled OFF! sachets. The piece serves as both a literal and symbolic fabric of unity, showing how design, art, and advocacy can come together to create lasting impact.

4. Celebrating Renewal through Nature

Heussaff’s Birds of Freedom and Second Life explore sustainability, femininity, and rebirth. The paper flowers made by women from the Kasilawan Cooperative in Makati emphasize renewal and the potential found in what’s often overlooked. Her works reflect how beauty and meaning emerge when creation meets compassion.

5. Sailing Toward a Sustainable Future

The centerpiece of the exhibit, Vinta, is a collaborative piece by New, Selma, and Heussaff. It reimagines the traditional boat as a spacecraft inspired by Palawan’s fishing communities. Made with bamboo, plastic bottles, and spray bottles, it symbolizes protection, progress, and imagination taking flight.

“If I were to protect something,” says New, “it would be to equip people with the means to protect themselves, to create systems where they can thrive.”

Every bid on a PROTEGERI artwork contributes to children’s educational programs through the exhibit’s auction site protegeri.astbury.club. Creativity, when guided by purpose, becomes a tool for change.

Catch PROTEGERI at The Gallery, Greenbelt 5 until October 28, 2025, and see how art can move communities forward.