Elaine Roberto-Navas’ latest solo exhibition at MO_Space is a gathering of paintings of palettes of other artists: Yasmin Sison, Geraldine Javier, Pardo de Leon, Ariel Navas, Mariano Ching, Jonathan Ching, Luis Santos, and Bernardo Pacquing. Presented in varying sizes, some of which are accompanied by the actual palettes on which they are based, Roberto-Navas’ Painting Palettes / Palette Paintings, reaffirm her adeptness at capturing likeness, combined with her highly expressive handling of paint. Rendered in her signature lush impastos, the works are at once intense, uninhibited, and tender representations of painters through the objects and tools of their practice.

The palette is a quintessential symbol of the painter that has long been explored by other artists. In Roberto-Navas’ works, they are presented as unique identifiers or portraits of the individual artists whose idiosyncrasies and distinct personalities are suggested by their particular choice of colors, as well as the variety of implements and surfaces they use to hold and mix paint. One can also view a palette as an object that embodies a universe specific to itself; seen side by side with its painted version however, it becomes part of an extended dialogue between the subject and the object, the real and the illusion.

Roberto-Navas has previously exhibited portraits of other Filipino artists, beginning with her first solo exhibition entitled About Face at the Ayala Museum in 1997, which featured portraits of her fellow artists from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts (UP CFA) such as Nilo Ilarde, Juni Salvador, Ronald Achacoso, Jonathan Olazo, Jet and Joy Melencio, Trek Valdizno, Katya Guerrero, and Pardo de Leon, alongside their mentor Roberto Chabet. She also painted the succeeding generation of artists from UP CFA who became part of Chabet’s expanding circle, like Geraldine Javier, Yasmin Sison, Jayson Oliveria, and other artists from the group Surrounded By Water in the early 2000s. In 2009, she also mounted Drawn Paintings, a collection of artists’ portraits including Chabet, Danny Dalena, Joy Dayrit, Poklong Anading, and MM Yu, rendered using charcoal on paper, which was a departure from her customary, thick oil paint. All three exhibitions were curated by Chabet, who was also the subject of Roberto-Navas’ most recent exhibition, After Sir, mounted earlier this year at Finale Art File, which commemorated the artist through large-scale paintings of his works and familiar objects.

The idea behind Painting Palettes / Palette Paintings was in fact suggested by Chabet, who is recalled in this exhibition. More than a year after his sudden passing in 2013, he is still very much present in the contemporary art scene, particularly among his former students who continue to regard him as a motivation and inspiration for their works. The various homages and tribute shows that have been mounted following his death serve as a testament to his significance that has not diminished in any way, but can only gain wider relevance.

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