Playing with Fire

In his first solo exhibition, Milo Naval uses the ancient art of yakisugi to reveal beauty, resilience, and harmony in nature.

Words Jewel Chuaunsu
Photos courtesy of APHRO and Milo Naval
July 30, 2026

Milo Naval is an accomplished interior designer with over 15 years of experience and a founding member of Movement 8, an alliance of Filipino designers dedicated to championing Philippine design on the global stage. In 1997, he established Evolve Designs, a company specializing in the design, manufacture, and international export of contemporary furniture and home accessories.

Renowned for his innovative use of indigenous materials, Naval transforms traditional resources into modern creations that have become his signature style. His work has earned international recognition and has been featured at leading design fairs and exhibitions, including Valencia, Spain; Maison & Objet in Paris; the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York; Salone del Mobile in Milan; and IMM Cologne in Germany.

While best known for his work in furniture and interior design, Naval wanted to explore another aspect of his creative practice through art. This led to his first solo exhibition at APHRO.

The exhibition came about after editor and columnist Luis Espiritu introduced Naval to Tina Fernandez, founder of Artinformal and APHRO, a space for art and design. “During that meeting, I found out that Milo was looking for a space that would launch his art. After our lunch, I asked him if he wanted to see APHRO. I felt that the space was the best setting to show what he’s been working on,” Fernandez said.

Artist Ling Quisumbing Ramilo happened to visit APHRO that day. Fernandez invited her to curate the exhibition, and Ramilo readily agreed. From there, everything naturally fell into place.

“It’s a privilege for people to get to know you beyond your furniture work,” Naval said. “I’m so grateful to Tina for trusting me to do a show in APHRO. It was a pleasure for me to come out here.”

Naval centered the exhibition on Yakisugi, which serves as both its theme and title. Often applied in modern architecture and interior design, yakisugi is a traditional Japanese method of preserving wood by partially charring its surface without combusting the entire piece. The technique protects the wood against natural elements such as rain, moisture, insects, fungi, and mold, making it much more durable without the use of chemicals.

Prior to the exhibition, Naval’s collections typically featured one or two statement pieces showcasing charred wood. “I love how this method brings out certain textures, cracks, and characteristics of wood. It took a while before others could understand and appreciate it. But I still used this technique for certain pieces as a point of conversation,” Naval said.

Yakisugi reflects the Japanese appreciation for wabi-sabi, a philosophy that sees beauty in imperfection, transience, and authenticity. The charred surface of the wood, with its unique texture and dark tones, fits perfectly within the wabi-sabi aesthetic.

“As a designer and artist, I am always finding ways to celebrate the natural world,” Naval shared. In Yakisugi, he worked with burnt wood, rattan, forged steel, galvanized iron, and glass to portray the various forces of nature. He wanted to utilize the materials not only to interpret the elements, but also to highlight the structure and geometry of nature, as well as the essential characteristics of the materials.

“I wanted to relate this process of charring wood with the elements—fire, rain, lightning, wind. My idea was the re-frame how we see these natural occurrences as forces that bring benefits,” Naval added. Though we may sometimes fear the immense power of nature—whether it’s forest fires, thunderstorms, or typhoons—the elements of nature have a purpose. Rain quenches the earth. Fire stimulates new growth. Wind is a source of energy.

“Earth grounds us. Water moves us. Air breathes life into us. Fire transforms us. I hope my work reminds viewers of our deep connection to nature and the beautiful harmony that allows us to exist,” Naval shared.

APHRO provides the perfect creative playground for Naval’s first solo exhibition. The show comes at the right time for both Naval and APHRO, as the gallery celebrates its tenth year.

“APHRO has become home to artists who want to play and create functional objects as a break from their serious artmaking. Then come the designers whom I’ve admired through the years. They are the ones who usually create one-of-a-kind or limited series of unusual objects. They all know that APHRO welcomes beautiful crazy ideas,” Fernandez added.

Milo Naval’s Yakisugi will be on exhibit at APHRO from July 21 to August 22, 2026. APHRO is located at The Alley at Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City. For updates, follow @aphroliving.

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