Arts and Appreciation

List at least ten Filipino Artist that have greatly contributed to the culture of Philippine
arts.

1) Solomon Saprid
Solomon Saprid endeavors to protect our culture through his depictions and
figures. He gave the people pictures of Philippine old stories characters that made the
Filipinos realized that these fanciful creatures are not just an insignificant myth, but it is
more of a reality. He carved “Tikbalang”, a titanic animal with a horse-like head but
incorporates a human-like body. He too carved “Amihan”, the wind goddess. After some
time, these pictures had been so engraved within the public’s mind that the people
started to think that these animals may well be anyplace. He moreover carved the
“Gomburza” along Intramuros that made the people appreciated the things that the
three clerics have done for our nation. He didn’t just paint or shape craftsmanship that
revolves around the Filipino myths, but he moreover made pictures that touched our
culture. He painted “Mag-ina” that exemplified the delights of parenthood. He was able
to drag back the Filipinos to their roots and made them grasped their culture and
beginnings. Without a doubt, he is an artist who enriched the rich culture of a society.
Source: www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/may/16/yehey/life/20050516lifl.html

2) Ang Kiuko
When a painter paints, his feelings appear through the painted canvas. It
appears the diverse substances about life that move the people who viewed the
artwork. One individual was able to do this through his depictions, and he is known as,
Ang Kiuko. His early works of art were full of distinctive feelings that affected the
viewers’ sentiments. His audience seems effectively get the message of his depictions
since he utilized enthusiasm. He drew the Torturous killing of Christ that shown sadness
and discouragement. His favorite subjects for his canvases were apprehension and
outrage that are appeared in his works of art called “Payaso” and “Ina at Anak”. His
canvases were full of incongruity and questions. After a few a long time, he attempted to
re-create his fashion in craftsmanship by portraying happy pictures of Mother Nature
rather than portray pictures of quarreling swarms. He was able to input diverse points of
view of life in a little clear canvas. Indeed, he made a momentous effect on our society.
He re-created his art and thus, he has been able to influence the public’s views about
life.

Source: www.inq7.net/lif/2004/jun/07/text_2-2-p.htm

3) Napoleon V. Abueva
 Arts and Appreciation

The Philippines is very fortunate for having the multi awarded national artist,
Napoleon V. Abueva, as its father of modern Philippine sculpture. Abueva is the pioneer
in modern sculptures because he was the first artist who had creatively and successfully
moved out of the classic style to create his own abstract experimental modern art
pieces and paved the way for other young aspirants to follow his lead. He was the only
sculptor who is capable on working on all kinds of material in several styles from
representational to abstract. There is not one drop of classical style in all if his
masterpieces. Abueva has long been exposed in utilizing almost all kinds of materials.
These materials include wood, adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble, bronze,
iron, alabaster, coral, brass, molave, acacia, langka wood, ipil, kamagong, palm wood
and bamboo. One of his most celebrated works is his wooden form entitled “Allegorical
Harpoon” which is right now housed within the Social Center of the Philippines. Too
among his different works is the very familiar, “Sunburst”, which is a twelve-meter form
made up of twenty-one beams of the sun and thirty-three lances in copper, bronze, and
stainless steel that brightens the ceiling of the Manila Peninsula Manila. What sets him
separated from other artists is that he has the talent to bind together distinctive
materials and experiment with them. He may be an exceptionally inventive sculptor who
investigates the obscure but moreover tests its existence. Agreeing to Abueva, an
Abueva sculpture is known for its effortlessness with the most extreme expression of
craftsmanship. As the leading artist in contemporary Philippine sculpture, Abueva has
set a new standard that other artists have failed to copy.

Reference: The National Artists of The Philippine by: Visitacion R. de la Torre

4) Fernando Cueto Amorsolo

Dubbed as the grand old man of the Philippine art scene, Fernando Amorsolo,
has made the largest and solidest contribution to the Philippines through his numerous
paintings scattered around the Philippines and through his discovery of the natural light
in canvas. Patronized by many powerful figures in the Philippine society, Fernando
Amorsolo has done many portraits that include past Philippine presidents Manuel L.
Quezon, Manuel Roxas and Sergio Osmena Sr. Most of his works depict the beauty
and the splendor of our society during the late 1800’s until the 1950’s. Perhaps, his
greatest contribution to the Philippine art scene is the discovery of natural light that
comes out from his paintings making them seem very natural. This illusion of backlight
is the glow against which his figures stand out and develop a burst of light at one point
of the canvas. Amorsolo’s enthusiasm is clearly communicated in everything he painted.
The light for which he is celebrated communicates the adore he has for craftsmanship.
And all who have attempted to duplicate Amorsolo’s illusion of the light could be flattery
to him. Indeed, Amorsolo’s craftsmanship is spread equally within the 7,107 islands of
the Philippines. Much ability was given to him and in return, he has given this back to
his country and each of his works of art offers the wealthy culture and legacy of our
 Arts and Appreciation

nation. His brilliant strategies and contribution to Philippine craftsmanship have earned
him the title of national artist for painting.
Reference: The National Artists of The Philippines by: Quijano de Manila

5) Hernando Ocampo
Hernando Ocampo’s masterpieces had a huge commitment to full understanding
and mindfulness of social substances within the Philippines. He made depictions
reflecting economic and mental separation within the nation brought by World War II, a
time of broad destitution, starvation, and wretchedness. His works moreover portrayed
protest against the dissimilarity between wealthy and destitute. One distinctive outline
depicting the protest in social imbalance is his painting, The Contrast, which pictures a
poor person eating before a mansion. As a visual craftsman, he moreover envisioned
coming up with perfect works of art appearing a explore for Filipino soul. His other major
work of art incorporates Ina ng Balon, Calvary, Ghetto Tenants, Naked with Candle and
Bloom, Man and Carabao, Angel's Kiss, Palayok at Kalan, Predecessors, Isda at
Mangga, The Revival, Fifty-three "Q", Background, Celebration.
Source: Pamana: The Jorge B. Vargas Art Collection
Author: Santiago Albano Pilar
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/culture&arts/profile/natlartists/visual-arts/ocampo.htm

6) Victorio Edades
Victorio Edades, Father of Modern Philippine Painting, made works that were dim
in color and gave pictures of Filipino masses as the topic. One of his awesome works
delineating Filipino masses is The Builders, the foremost controversial portray. It is dim
in color and made of overwhelming surface which pictures men working in a quarry.
Besides, his works were exceptionally distinctive from Amorsolo’s shining, sunny,
cheerful tints however his inventiveness in craftsmanship made way for wall painting
and modern paintings to be known within the Philippines. He does not only set up
advanced canvases into the Philippines but moreover, interface this innovation to the
issue of national identity. A few of his masterpieces were The Craftsman and the Show,
Representation of the Teacher, Japanese Young lady, Mother and Girl, The Wrestlers,
Poinsettia Young lady, The Outline.
Sources: Pamana: The Jorge B. Vargas Art Collection
Author: Santiago Albano Pilar
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/culture&arts/profile/natlartists/visual-arts/edades.htm

7) Diosdado Lorenzo
 Arts and Appreciation

Diosdado Lorenzo is one of the foremost famous modernist painters in the

Philippines. He is one of the pioneers who presented the modern 20th-century frame of
craftsmanship which is more grounded and more engaging to the eyes than those of the
conventional works of art made by Fernando Amorsolo. To create the modernist
approach in paintings, Lorenzo destroyed the ancient viewpoint of conventional
paintings to create a way for the modern styles in painting. Lorenzo’s fixation with the
country’s scene and individuals empowered him to undertake diverse shapes of works
of art such as painting with lights, Chinese expressions, watercolors, etc. He attempted
these sorts of canvases as it were to discover out that his heart was not truly into it.
After which, he investigated Filipino “Still Life” utilizing objects such as fruits and
vegetables as its show. He inclines toward utilizing watercolors than oil because he
considers watercolor craftsmanship to be more important. His watercolored “still life” is
considered to be one of the leading within the nation. The modernism found in his works
formed a new basis for the reassessment of Philippine paintings.
Source: Philippine Daily Express

8) Vicente Rivera
Vicente Rivera, a master in Philippine paintings, he is commonly underrated due to the
irregularity of his works. During his early years in education, he has gotten a silver
award after taking two head studies. He got different nominations and grants within the
field of painting. Obscure to everybody, he is one of the authors of U.P. School of Fine
Expressions. His popular work, Supplication, portrays a picture of a lady stooping down
on the nailed feet of Jesus on the cross. The portray contains a dramatic background to
clearly express the frantic state of the lady. It may be a celebrated illustration of a stylish
and an organized approach in Philippine depictions. Rivera’s organization in paintings
made it more engaging to the subject, in this way, motivating painters to put more
energy in their portray instead of painting to create names for themselves.
Source: Pamana: The Jorge B. Vargas Art Collection
(by Santiago Albano Pilar; published on 1992 by Committee on Arts
and Culture,Vargas Centennial Celebrations, and the University of the Philippines)

9) Juan Luna
Luna created works within the sentimental and early impressionist styles, accomplishing
extraordinary acknowledgment in Europe. Juan Luna traveled to diverse parts of
Europe, learning different strategies in painting and in the long run coming back to the
Philippines to advance sustain his gifts. He won awesome praise as wells as numerous
prizes for his works. His accomplishments made a difference to motivate other Filipinos
to think of themselves as a rise to the Europeans. Juan Luna’s most noteworthy
masterpiece is “The Spoliarium”. This won him a gold award at the National Exposition
of Fine Arts held in Madrid. The Spoliarium portrays the 19th-century frightfulness
 Arts and Appreciation

encounter of the Filipinos. It emphasized the infringement of Human Rights by the

colonizers of Spain. Juan Luna communicated his patriotism by portraying one such
showstopper to edify the Filipinos out of abuse. This painting showed great impact and
influence on the Filipino people, truly something that not all artists can possess. He is
certainly a very influential artist and has indeed a painting style of his own making him
without a doubt one of the most renowned national artists.
Source: The National Artists of the Philippines
http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=Spoliarium/v=2/SID=w/l=IVR/SIG=12ihsevf1/EXP=
1127103704/*-http://www.columbretis.com/Paintings_the_wordless_wonders.html

10) Guillermo Tolentino

Oblation, which can be found at the lobby of the College of Fine Arts at the University of
the Philippines. The Oblation, a popular point of interest within the University of the
Philippines, has gotten to be an image of scholastic freedom. It is a figure of a naked
man with arms outstretched and looking distant past the skyline. The first Oblation is
made of concrete and measures three and a half meters symbolizing the three and a
half a long time of Spanish rule within the Philippines. The stones on which it stands
speak to the numerous islands within the nation. In addition, Guillermo Tolentino
included clusters of katakataka found at the foot of the figure, which symbolize the
bravery of the Filipino individuals. The Oblation is a great representation of how one
contains a thirst for flexibility and energy to offer his entirety self for the nation. He
transformed the country’s aspiration and hope for a freer country into this amazing
sculpture. Another celebrated sculpture of Guillermo Tolentino is the Bonifacio
Monument found in Caloocan City. The landmark commemorates the common legend,
Andres Bonifacio and his progressive bunch called “Katipunan” to begin with experience
with the Spanish warriors on Admirable 3, 1896. The Bonifacio Landmark is a
persevering image of the Filipinos’ cry for freedom. In these two perfect works of art,
Guillermo Tolentino effectively depicts what Filipinos long for and what they need to
realize amid the time of the Spaniards. Since of this, he is considered one of the
foremost known national artists within the Philippines.
Source: The National Artists of the Philippines
http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=Oblation/v=2/SID=w/l=IVR/SIG=121unc7tb/EXP=1
127103632/*-http://www.up.edu.ph/oar/gallery/gallery.html
 Arts and Appreciation

1. State Filipino personhood that describes its own masterpiece of arts. Cite at least
5 examples of these arts.
Filipinos have a lot of commendable characteristics and one of those is that they are
very hardworking people. In fact, the Filipinos are known and praised for being
hardworking not just in our country but in the whole wide world. With resourcefulness
comes hard work. Filipinos are very determined and persevering in accomplishing
whatever they set their minds to. Even if they feel tired and exhausted they still continue
the work that they started. They work efficiently and Filipino are easy to be with. Since
the inspirations of the Filipinos are their family’s future and needs they have a heart of
willingness to learn, and consistency in terms of working hard. This characteristic
motivated some artists in the Philippines thus, Filipinos being hard-working was
depicted in many artworks.
And one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines,
Fernando Cueto Amorsolo, happened to portrait this characteristic in some of his
paintings. One example of the painting of Amorsolo that portrays the character of being
hard-working of the Filipinos is his artwork called “Afternoon Meal of the Rice Workers.”
It depicts the everyday scenarios in the rice field where the hardworking farmers will
finally get to have their meal after a long day of planting rice. Similarly, the artwork
entitled, "Days End, Washing the Carabao" shows that at the end of the tiring workday,
the farmers need to take the carabao to the water for washing and feeding. These
paintings will serve as an opener for all of us that the farmers work really hard for us to
have rice served on our plates. Another one is the “Palay Maiden,” a smile-holding
woman which shows that Filipina women are also working hard in the rice field to help
their country and their families improve. Moreover, the painting entitled, "The Fruit
Pickers Under the Mango Tree," represents how Filipinos can be so hardworking and at
the same time happy about what they are doing. Lastly, the painting named "Returning
fisherman" is an ideal representation of what life can be, for a fisherman spending his
whole day catching fish. But what makes it fulfilling for them is that at the end of the day
they will return to their inspiration, their family. Indeed, Filipinos being hardworking is
truly influence the artwork of famous artists like Armosolo.
Source:https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1372/a-small-collection-of-fernando-
amorsolos-paintings