CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
ART – the product of human imagination and expression; the expression or application of human creative skill and
imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated for their beauty or
emotional power.
The Sources of Imagination: IDEAS, INSPIRATION, IMAGINATION

THE ARTS – the product of human imagination and expression, sourced out from ideas, inspiration and imitation of nature,
people or daily activities. Enhanced by how we define beauty.

STANDARDS OF ART:
“Everyone can do art, but only few can pass the standard.”
DE PAZ (1990) BLOOM
- Anyo - Artistry (Maganda ba?)
- Wika (refers to the message that was imparted) - Intellectual Value (May halaga ba sa isip?)
- Ekonomiyang Politikal (has a contribution to - Suggestiveness (May kurot ba sa puso?)
society) - Spiritual Values (May napupuno bas a pagkatao mo?)
- Moral (May aral ba?)
- Permanence (Kara bang tumagal?)

CLASSIC ART – the basis of every artwork; artworks that existed for a long time
- are artworks that are usually based on the surroundings.

PHILIPPINE ART – is a kind of art that shows the reality of life; it depicts the Filipino way of living
 Pangalay Dance – imitation of the waves of the ocean
 Tinikling by Fernando Amorsolo – painting that shows the Filipino way of living
 Hinilawod Epic of Panay – longest epic in the Philippines; Hiligaynon
 Macli-ing Dulag (1988) by Dennis Marasigan – was done during the Marcos regime
 Himala by Ishmael Bernal

CONTEMPORARY ART – “the art of today”; artwork which are globally influenced, culturally diverse and technologically
advanced
PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ART – an art that portrays the subject and the medium is in innovative and skillful ways,
reflecting the Filipino identity
 Ang Paglalayag ni Ihsan by Norman Ralph Isla
 Cultural Center of the Philippines (Architecture) by Leandro Locsin
 Spolarium by Juan Luna
 Modified Cultural Dress/Gown – used the Inaul textile of the Moros, T’nalak of the Tbolis and the Ibid (“lizard”) of the
B’laans

Principle of Arts
1. Appropriation – to properly adopt, borrow or recycle the existing form of art just like the imitation of the Classical art
to form new art
2. Space – the distances or areas around, between and within components of a piece
3. Hybridity – the mixing of uncommon materials to produce an artwork
4. Performance – the interpretation of various activities from the surroundings, from ordinary aesthetics such as Daily
Routines and Rituals
5. Technology – the involvement of technology in art form and art work

CHAPTER II: THE VISUAL ARTS

Visual Arts – “visus” meaning sight and “ars” meaning the application or expression of human creative skill and
imagination
- products primarily focuses in imaginative, aesthetic or intellectual content; we look at its physical appearance
Forms Examples
Drawing Apo Whang Od by May Laxamana
Painting Sabel by Benedicto Cabrera
Sculpture Death Mask of FPJ by Napoleon Abueva
Architecture Istana Nurul Iman by Leandro Locsin
Photography Kathryn B. by BJ Pascual
CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

1. Drawing – one of the major forms of expression within the visual arts; generally concerned with the marking of lines
onto paper/other material, where the accurate representation of the visual world is expressed upon a plane surface.
2. Painting – practice of applying paint, color and other medium to a solid surface (support base). The medium is
commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other uses knife, sponge, and airbrush.
Types:
i. Still Life – typically a placed object which is either natural (food, rocks, etc.) or man-made (glasses, books, vases, etc.).
These are usually arranged or planned.
ii. Photographic – refers specifically to a group of paintings that attempts to reproduce the image realistically
iii. Landscape – depiction of landscapes in art – natural sceneries such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers and forests. It
may be entirely imaginary or copied from reality. It serves as an escape from the real world thru portraying a “perfect
paradise”
iv. Abstract – visual language of shape, form, color, and line to create composition which may exist with a degree of
independence from visual references in the world. It is free in form.

Visual Arts Movements and Trends:

1. Realism – exact, ordinary, life as it is. Artists create something based on what’s real, nothing more or less.
2. Impressionism – plays with light, dreamy, reflection. Evokes audience response and reflection.
3. Pointillism – pixelated, principle of dots.
4. Dadaism – nonsense to sense; meaningless at first but will gain meaning eventually.
5. Expressionism – distorting for emotional effect
6. Fauvism – “fauve” meaning wild beast; uses bold brush strokes, vivid, strong colors and simplified forms
7. Cubism – dimensional, folded, 3d effect; follows geometrical patterns
8. Abstract Art – free, independent, non-figurative, non-objective
9. Surrealism – beyond reality; irrational juxtaposition of images, has no balance
3. Sculpture – “tangible piece of art,” a concrete art piece with 3 dimensions sometimes made of materials worked by
removal such as carving, assembled by welding and molded.
Types:
i. In-the-round – those sculptures that we can see on all sides (jewelry, crown, etc.)
ii. Free-standing – type ofsculpture which is independen, they can stand on their own and are usually used as house
displays
iii. Architectural – usually used to beautify establishments
 Bas-Relief – “low relief”; a type of sculpture wherein the carved surface is only slightly higher than the original
surface (outward)
 Mid-Relief – more heightened or defined carvings (deeper)
 High-Relief – sculptures where images are almost completely apart from the original surface
 Sunken-Relief – the carving is inward, unlike the first three
iv. Monumental – sculptures of a person who played an influential role in the society

Purposes:
a) Religious Purpose – used in worship and as divine symbols
b) Power – symbol of wealth, economy and politics
c) Aesthetic – used as design/display

4. Architecture – a general term to descrive buildings and other physical structures. The art and science of designing
buildings. It is a process and product of planning, designing and constructing buildings or any other structure.
Architectural works, in the material form of buildings are often perceived as status symbols.
What does it take for an “architecture” to be an architecture?
Vitruvius: “Firmitas! Utilitas! Venustas!” or “Katibayan, Mapakinabangan, Kaluguran”; a building must be durable,
useful/purposeful and must offer comfort.
Henry Wolton: “Structural adequacy, functional adequacy, beauty.”
Louis Sullivan: “Form follows function”; some buildings are formed even without having a purpose
Nunzia Rondanini: “Don’t forget aesthetics (beauty) for it promotes values and social development (status)”
Types of Architecture (according to History)
 Neolithic – mud, stone, bricks (Stonehenge in England)
CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

 Vernacular – native and used materials like wood (Igbo House in Africa, Norweigan House, Mexica House, Bale in
Ifugao)
 Ancient
o Mesopotamia – Hanging Garden of Babylon
o Greek – “old stronghold” or the most durable; Parthenon, Acropolis
o Egyptian – one of the most durable; The Great Sphinx
o Romans – usually domes with many windows; Coloseum, Governor’s House
o Byzantine – the marriage of Islam and Christianic Design; Hagia Sophia Museum
 Islamic – has a moon and/or a central dome (Taj Mahal in India, Pink Mosque in South Cotabato)
 Asian – light, spiritual and contained roofs which are designed in such a way that they appear to hug the heavens
(Tian an Men Square, Pagoda of Fogong Temple, Kinkaku-ji or Golden Temple in Japan, Gyeongbokgung Palace in
Korea, Khajuraho Temple in India)
 Pre-Columbian – community temples
o Inca – homey feeling; Machu Picchu
o Aztec – “stairway to heaven”; used birds as inspiration
o Mayan – used snakes as inspiration
 Medieval – “castles and walls”; used big walls to protect themselves from invaders
o Romanesque – roman-like; considered as one of the weakest type of architecture; Notre Dame de Paris
o Renaissance – rebirth of Perspective in math and science; St. Peter’s Basilica
 Modern – innovations based on our abstract imaginations and our surroundings; Bosjes Chapel in South Africa,
Lotus Temple in India, Cultural Center of the Philippines

CHAPTER III: National Artists of the Philippines

Insignia of the Order of the National Artist
Insignia – medalyang sumisimbolo sa titulong iginagawad sa mga nagiging pambansang alagad ng sining (mga
mamamayang Pilipino na may malaking ambag sa larangan ng sining)
Mga Simbolo:
1. Theatre – face of man in character
2. Dance – hand/kumintang
3. Film – camera
4. Literature – baybaying ng “pa” (panitikan)
5. Architecture – statue/figurine
6. Visual Arts – textile
7. Music – gong
Requirements:

1. Manlilikha ng sining na nagging mamamauan ng bansa (Pilipinas) sa loob ng sampung taon bago manomina. Kasali
na rin ang mga namatay bago nagawa ang mga gantimpala na ito noong 1972 subalit sila ay nararapat na
mamamayang Pilipino bago sila namatay.
2. Nakatulong sa pagiging makabayan ng mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng nilalaman ng kanilang mga likhang –sining.
3. Nakilala sa pamamagitan ng pagsisimula ng panibagong anyo ng isang malikhaing likha o istilo na may malaking
ambag sa mga susunod pang henerasyon ng mga manlilikha.
4. Nakagawa ng likha na may halaga o nagpapakita ng kahusayan sa lahat ng pagkakataon sa kanilang kategorya at
pinapaulad ang kanilang malikhaing istilo.
5. Nakatanggap ng mga karangalan at gantimpala sa loob at labas ng bansa, nakritik at/o nabigyan ng paglilimi ang
kanilang likha, nirerespeto at pinahahalagahan ng kapwa manlilikha sa kanilang kategorya.