For his first solo exhibition, designer Milo Naval turns to earth, water, air, and fire, transforming everyday materials into works that celebrate the beauty of the natural world.

There are some marks only nature can make. The grain revealed by fire, the texture shaped by time, and the quiet imperfections that make every surface one of a kind. It's this kind of beauty that defines YAKISUGI, Milo Naval's first solo exhibition at APHRO.
Known for furniture that balances thoughtful design with sustainability, Naval is stepping into a new creative chapter. The exhibition brings together years of material exploration through works inspired by the four elements that sustain life: earth, water, air, and fire.

Rainforest

Named after the traditional Japanese technique of preserving wood through controlled charring, YAKISUGI builds on a process Naval has long explored in his design practice. Instead of hiding the marks left behind by fire, he lets them become part of the work, revealing grain, texture, and details that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
"My artwork is a celebration of the four natural elements," Naval shares. "Through my art, I want to show the balance and beauty of these forces."
That idea comes to life through charred wood, glass, galvanized steel, and wicker. Fire leaves its imprint on wood. Glass catches light like rain. Steel recalls changing seasons, while woven forms suggest the movement of air. Together, the materials create works that feel both grounded and quietly alive.

Guides

Purification

Kidlat

Late at Night

For Naval, the technique began as a search for a more natural way to preserve wood without chemicals. What kept him coming back was something less tangible. Every burn revealed new textures and patterns that couldn't be planned, allowing the material to shape the final piece as much as the designer did.
"I love how this method brings out certain characteristics of wood," he says. "It became a point of conversation."
The exhibition found its home at APHRO, where founder Tina Fernandez saw an immediate connection between Naval's evolving practice and the gallery's community of artists, designers, and makers. Mixed-media artist Christina "Ling" Quisumbing Ramilo later came on board as curator, bringing another layer to the exhibition's vision.

Tina G. Fernandez

Christina Quisumbing Ramilo

More than introducing Naval as an exhibiting artist, YAKISUGI offers a different way of looking at the materials around us. Burn marks aren't flaws to erase, and weather isn't something to resist. They're reminders that change leaves its own kind of beauty behind.
Milo Naval's YAKISUGI is on view at APHRO, The Alley at Karrivin, 2316 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, until August 22, 2026.
For updates follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aphroliving/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@aphroliving</a>
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF APHRO&nbsp;

The Natural World Through Milo Naval's YAKISUGI

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