The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) invites the public to 'MANA', a contemporary art exhibition organized by the Silaw Artist Collective at the NCCA Gallery in Manila from May 7 to 30, 2026. Curated by Eghai Roxas, the show features works by 15 artists including Melvin Culaba, Henri Cainglet, and Derick Macutay, exploring the tension between commodification and environmental conservation, with a focus on the Masungi Georeserve landscape.
The exhibition matters because it uses visual art to provoke critical discourse on biodiversity loss, natural resource stewardship, and the consequences of short-term exploitation versus long-term preservation. Held during National Heritage Month, 'MANA' positions contemporary artistic practice as a catalyst for environmental awareness and public consciousness, reinforcing the role of culture in addressing urgent ecological realities in the Philippines.