National Artist for Visual Arts (2006)
(January 14, 1936 – December 16, 2014)
Abdulmari Asia Imao, the First Muslim National Artist, featured the artistic expression of Mindanao in his works. He is known for his extensive use of the sarimanok (the iconic bird based on Maranao folklore represented by the curvilinear motif ukkil). He is also a master sculptor: he developed brass-casting techniques in order to create works based on Islamic calligraphy, and he became the first Filipino metalcasting consultant in Asia. Though born in the context of the Islamic tradition of creating non-figurative forms in art, Imao did not limit his works in this religious belief. Instead, he created sculptures of human figures (even saints) and consistently reimagined Mindanaoan art motifs by infusing both Western and Asian influences in his works. Imao therefore elevated the art expressions of Mindanao from regional art to national art, opening avenues into looking at the regions in the forming of the national aesthetic.