Sustainability is one of the most important advocacies that more and more organizations are integrating into their operations as the pressing issue of caring for the environment demands the action of both corporations and individuals alike.
With art being a medium that can serve as a platform for advocacies to reach a wider audience and have their message be known, health and beauty retailer Watsons has staged the second edition of its Sustainability Art Competition with the theme “Reimagine, Recycle for a Better Future.”
Featuring the artworks of 31 local artists who utilized recycled materials like paper, steel, plastic bottles, empty sachets, and many more, the competition aimed to inspire Filipinos to make more sustainable choices and become more conscious of the environmental footprint of their daily routines.
Noli Española’s winning artwork was his Alay sa Inang Kalikasan piece, which featured a painting of a hand holding onto a budding plant as an offering in front of a patch of land with a bird soaring up ahead. The artist notably used empty plastic bottles for the piece, with one serving as a pot for the plant and another being the body of the bird.
“When people look at my painting, I want them to think about how I conceptualized and utilized the plastic bottles from Watsons,” Española told Manila Standard Life.
“We have this habit of throwing away bottles after using them, sometimes giving them to junk shops. If you think about it, you can do a lot of things with those bottles, like the one I did with the plant. You can hang it up, put in some soil, and you can grow your vegetables,” he added.
Taking the runner-up spot was A Cinderella Story by Sven Wilbur Lim, a detailed statue of a woman in a ball gown made entirely from paper and resin. Lim shared that he wanted to showcase how the fictional character’s story of “rags-to-riches” can be likened to the competition’s aim of turning waste into art.
As the competition’s grand winner, Española took home a cash prize of P100,000 and P10,000 worth of Watsons products from its Sustainable Choices line. Meanwhile, Lim received a P50,000 cash prize and P8,000 worth of Watsons products.
The competition was judged by multi-awarded artist Caesar Sario and surrealist painter Roland Rosacay. Drybrush Gallery founder Jojo Liao expressed how rewarding it was to partner with Watsons for the event.
“The diverse range of artworks created from recycled materials not only showcases the talent of our local artists but also highlights how creativity can drive progress in sustainability,” said Liao.
The competition is part of Watsons’ efforts to foster sustainability with an action plan that revolves around focusing on the planet, the people they work with, and the communities they serve, as well as continuously innovating their products and providing more sustainable choices for their consumers.
“Through this initiative, Watsons aims to encourage our customers to make recycling a regular part of their lives by showcasing innovative ways to transform waste into something beautiful and functional,” said Watsons Senior AVP for Marketing, PR & Sustainability Sharon Decapia.
“We know that art and sustainability have always been interconnected because art can move, evoke emotions, drive people to take action, and ignite conversation,” she said further, adding that the event served as a venue for artists to help in educating and driving the conversation on how to help save the environment.
All of the artworks from the competition are available to view and purchase at https://drybrush.com/exhibitions/reimagine-recycle-an-art-competition-for-a-sustainable-future, with the proceeds going back to the respective artists.
