GED108-A13

The Analysis on Vicente Manasala’s Pila sa Bigas

Over the years, it has been observed how art changes the world and how it has
become a powerful phenomenon that ever exists. One can say that art just represents
visual imagery that comprises of various elements and principles, but it is also about the
intended and desired message of the artists before, during, and after creating the
artwork. However, some art is open for interpretations that challenge human critical
thinking in analyzing one. In classifying the meaning of art, the proper analysis of
subject matter is important as well. The majority of the art, mostly paintings, has a
distinct subject matter that defines what art is or what the art is trying to illustrate. Thus,
it would be failed if a person cannot distinguish the focused subject matter especially if
the art has intended meaning. According to Dr. Karen Davers (2014), in analyzing the
subject matter of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, some considerations must
be observed such as if the referent is recognizable in the natural world; if the art is
derived only from the imagination of the artist if the abstraction is used to employ the
referent, and if the art is non-objective. Furthermore, Pinzarrone (2015) mentioned
some points to be considered also to create a powerful analysis of art; observation of
the art based on how each element exhibited, description of art, in a nutshell, evaluation
of the art, and the synthesis of all these ideas. Therefore, these guidelines will be
applied to the painting of Vicente Manansala in 1972, which is entitled “Pila sa Bigas” to
create a more accurate interpretation that is not solely based on personal opinion.

Upon observing the painting, it depicts the natural reality wherein the entire
representation in the painting is recognizable in the natural world. It is noticed that the
referent in this painting is the people, which is related is more perceived as real
representation. It is indeed that people in the painting is what an actual person looks like
in real-world such as the color of the skin, the shape of the face, the structure of the
body, the color of the hair, and other biological features, proving that it was not derived
from the imagination of Manansala. Besides, other physical features such as clothing of
the people in the painting that is the same as with the features of real people: the
wearing of slippers/shoes, and long dress and talukbóng. The plastic or the bayong that
appear to be transparent also exists in reality that is used to carry things easily.
Moreover, it is observed as well that it does not embody abstraction since it is clearly
illustrated what the painting wants to show, and it is not difficult to analyze since
Mansala had painted a detailed representation of various people. Likewise, the painting
does not contain other distinct colors to emphasize the referent, as the colors in the
painting acknowledging each other already that is enough to focus the referent. Overall,
this painting is an objective one with a referent to the natural world.
 The next basis for analysis is how each element of art applied in the painting.
First, the lines in the painting are contour lines, mostly vertical, emphasizes the clothes
of the people as well as to the volume and area of their bags. Besides, the shape in this
painting is geometric as seen from their bags entailing its length and width. Also, the
value in this painting shows that the light is focused on their backs (right side), showing
that they are facing the darker side (left side). Furthermore, the greatest element of art
that is valuable in this painting is the color. Looking at it, there is a balance on the color,
where it can be observed the degree of dark colors in the left side of the referents, as
with the light colors in their right side; it is seen as well how the artist used local colors
to make it appear in reality. Moreover, there is also a color of a mixture of brown and
red attached to the clothes and skin of the people in the painting, which can be depicted
as dirt or bruises. Thus, these elements of art shown in the painting have significant
roles in determining the meaning of the art.

Moving on to the nutshell analysis part, my description of this painting, in a

nutshell is that it reminds me of an aftermath. I think that this scenario represents
several people who were affected by the typhoon or other natural disasters that yields to
the insufficient stock of goods. Moreover, it reminds me of an after-war event since the
subjects, the people, look devastated and damaged, as they experienced a long
duration war. In the effectivity part of the painting, I think Manansala has successfully
engaged the elements of art in this painting that result in a beautiful representation of
the title of the painting. It shows what the actual image looks like as represented by the
people who are falling in line and carrying empty bags for the rice that will be given to
them.

In addition to the mentioned bases, the biography of the painter could also
contribute to the accurate interpretation of the painting. Manansala is known for its
depictions of the contemporary life of Filipinos, wherein he addressed the issues that lie
within the culture and poverty in the country (Artnet, 2020). This information gives more
support to the interpretation of the painting, as it justifies the possibility that the painting
could be a representation of Filipino culture and poverty in the Philippines, which
emphasizes the underlying reason why the title is Pila sa Bigas.

With all the aforementioned supporting ideas, I think this painting of Manansala
depicts referents of this art as the Filipino people who are falling in line to claim the rice
that would be given by the government after a disastrous event that happened in the
country. This has been the culture in the Philippines that is conducted and expected
every after devastating events especially typhoons, which justifies the concept that it
represents a natural situation that exists in the real world. However, it seems that
people are waiting for nothing or maybe waiting for delayed support as seen from their
emotions and status: some look tired, angry, disappointed, and hopeless, which sum up
their miserable condition, representing a natural emotion of people who are patiently
waiting for help; some stated elements of design also suggest that the scenario
illustrates a sad atmosphere. Thus, Manasala’s Pila sa Bigas shows the actual scenario
of some affected people after a disaster in the Philippines, wherein the incompetence
and insufficient service of the leaders are revealed through the means of painting, which
is one of the purposes of art. In reflection of this analysis, it is indeed that several bases
are important in analyzing the art because every piece of it embodies unique features
and characteristics that create the accurate meaning and interpretation of the art.
Personal opinion may matter also, but it is better to use a series of bases to properly
and rationally analyze one.

References

 Karen, D. (2014, June 24). How to analyze the subject matter of a work of art
[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIvzDTsaEPg

 Pinzarrone, E. (2015, March 5). Write an a+ essay about art in 4 steps! [Video].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9dBsbtmPnM

 Artnet. (2020). Vicente Silva Manansala. Retrieved from http://www.artnet.com/

artists/vicente-silva-manansala/