Field Review | Artist Interview Series
In conversation with
Juan Javier F. Garchitorena
Dr. Juan Javier F. Garchitorena is a dedicated public health practitioner and medical leader whose career is defined by a deep commitment to rural health administration and emergency management in the Philippines. He began his academic journey at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) - College of Science, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2013, before earning his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2017 at the UST - Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. He later obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the University of the Philippines Manila in 2021.
Dr. Garchitorena’s professional trajectory highlights a strong focus on public service and grassroots healthcare. In 2019, he joined the Department of Health’s (DOH) Doctors to the Barrios Program, immersing himself in the challenges of underserved communities. Eventually, he was appointed as Provincial Health Officer I for the Province of Dinagat Islands.
Expanding his expertise into disaster response, Dr. Garchitorena later served for two years as a Medical Officer IV within the DOH Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB), specializing in crisis management and emergency preparedness. Currently, he has returned to Caraga Region to serve as the Development Management Officer V and Provincial Head of the DOH in the Province of Dinagat Islands, where he overseas strategic health development and policy implementation for the province.
From:
Philippines
Artist Statement
Dr. Juan Javier F. Garchitorena is a multi-disciplinary visual artist whose creative journey bridges the worlds of medicine and fine arts. While his artistic practice spans several years, his formal foray into oil and acrylic painting began during his Art Appreciation class at the University of Santo Tomas - College of Science. This pivotal moment launched a highly recognized painting career, earning him numerous accolades on both local and global stages.
Throughout the 2010s, Dr. Garchitorena’s paintings consistently caught the attention of international and national jurors. He was recognized as a finalist in the Department of Foreign Affairs ASEAN National Painting Competition (2013) and secured second place in the National Painting Competition of the Venezuelan Embassy in the Philippines (2014). His distinct style earned him the prestigious title of Laureate at the UNESCO Troyes International Art Competition across multiple years (2015, 2017, and 2018). Furthermore, he won second place in the Art Category of the Nasser Bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Award in the Kingdom of Bahrain (2018) and received an Honorable Mention at the 1st Robinsons Land National Painting Competition that same year.
A profound shift in his artistic medium occurred in December 2021, following the devastation of Typhoon Odette (Rai) in Dinagat Islands. Responding to the landscape's transformation, Dr. Garchitorena began reclaiming fallen trees, pivoting his practice toward wood carving and breathing new life into the debris left by the storm. This eco-conscious evolution into sculpture quickly gained critical acclaim, leading him to be named a Semi-Finalist in the Sculpture Category of the prestigious Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE) awards in 2023.
Today, Dr. Garchitorena maintains a diverse and evolving contemporary practice. He continuously pushes his creative boundaries by exploring and fusing multiple disciplines, including painting, printmaking, woodcarving, and assemblage.
Tell us about yourself and your artistic background.
I am a public health physician and a multi-disciplinary visual artist. My serious foray into painting began unexpectedly during my senior year at the University of Santo Tomas - College of Science.
This pivotal moment led to a decade of recognition in both local and international art competitions, including accolades from the UNESCO Troyes International Art Competition and the Nasser Bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Award in Bahrain.
My artistic practice took a profound turn in December 2021 after Typhoon Odette (Rai) devastated Dinagat Islands. Witnessing the destruction firsthand, I began reclaiming fallen trees and branches and shifted into woodcarving.
Today, my contemporary practice centers on continuous exploration of different forms of art.
How would you describe your artistic practice?
My artistic practice is an evolving, multi-disciplinary dialogue between narrative-driven two-dimensional mediums and the tactile demands of physical, found materials.
What themes or ideas are most important in your work?
The core of my work explores the deep, complex relationship between the human experience and the environment we inhabit, focusing primarily on the interplay between social reality, sceneries, and landscapes. Heavily informed by my parallel career as a public health physician, my art serves as a visual narrative that documents the everyday truths, struggles, and quiet endurance of communities.
What inspires your creative process?
Living and creating in Dinagat Islands, my art is how I process the world around me. My creative process is fueled by a mix of our raw, powerful nature and the real, everyday stories of the people in my community. I don't just want to make something beautiful. I want my work to reflect our social realities, both the struggles and the resilience. Because these messages are complex, I constantly push myself to experiment with different media and local materials, letting each story dictate how it needs to be told.
Can you tell us about a recent artwork or project?
I recently conducted a rubbercut print workshop here in Dinagat Islands. Rubbercut is simple and hands-on, making it the perfect way to share my art. It wasn’t just about teaching a skill, it was about connecting with my community and making art together.
Moving forward, I plan to conduct more of these workshops. Beyond just learning a craft, I want these spaces to serve as a way for people to relax, unwind, and support their mental health through the grounding process of creating.
What challenges have influenced your development as an artist?
Managing the emotional and time demands of being a public health physician while pursuing contemporary art is a constant balancing act. Processing community suffering and systemic hurdles requires immense cognitive space, but it ultimately infuses my work with deeper purpose.
What role does art play in your life today?
Today, art serves as my vital space for decompression, a necessary counterweight to the intense, highly structured, and often emotionally heavy world of public health management. When you spend your days dealing with health crises, budgets, and systemic challenges, the mind needs a place to unplug and process.
Art provides that relaxed, meditative boundary. When I am carving wood, pulling a print, or mixing paint, the immediate pressures of my medical responsibilities quiet down. It gives me a sanctuary of complete creative freedom where there are no strict protocols to follow, allowing me to slow down, recharge, and return to my healthcare work with a clearer, more grounded perspective.
What are you currently working on?
Right now, my creative focus is entirely centered on an open-ended, continuous exploration of materials and mediums. Instead of confining myself to just one discipline, I am actively pushing the boundaries of how different art forms can interact, currently working on mixed-media assemblages that merge my background in painting with printmaking, woodcarving, and found objects.
What are your future goals as an artist?
My primary future goal as an artist is to continuously push the boundaries of my self-improvement and evolution. Rather than settling into a comfortable signature style, I want to keep refining my technical skills across all the disciplines I touch, deepening my mastery of woodcarving, expanding my techniques in printmaking, and discovering new ways to manipulate paint and assemblage. For me, the ultimate goal is growth; I want to ensure my visual language never becomes stagnant.
Alongside personal improvement, I aim to create art that speaks with greater depth. I want to further elevate how I translate the profound social realities, landscapes, and community resilience I witness into my work. Ultimately, I envision my future practice as a lifetime of learning and experimentation, constantly evolving as both an individual and a creator, so that each piece I make becomes a stronger, more honest reflection of the human spirit.
Where can readers follow your work?
Instagram - @juanchotorena
