National Artist for Visual Arts (1999)
(May 22, 1924 – June 10, 1999)
J. Elzalde’s Navarro’s paintings showed his command of color and intelligent application of geometric patterns by harnessing different influences in his works. These include the Japanese aesthetic of shibui (simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty), the charm of the tropical Balinese landscape, and the Western art technique of pointillism (the practice of applying small strokes or dots of color to a surface so that from a distance they visually blend together). His illustrations complemented Philippine literature as covers or supplemental visuals in the 50s and 60s. Aside from being a printmaker, he also made mixed media assemblages and sculptures, and incision paintings on wood (technique where the panel is painted over after etching lines on the surface). While Navarro’s vibrant works include both the figurative and abstract, the defining feature in his ouvre is what Emmanuel Torres called “lust for life”, for Navarro always bring out the zest from everyday scenes that makes the ordinary extraordinary.