Philippine Art History

I. Pre-Colonial Arts /
Ethnic Arts

Was there art before colonization?

In art chronicle terms, we imply
art a few times as of late the coming of
the essential colonizers as “pre -
triumph”. In expound terms, we
insinuate to it as natural thought thatour
forerunners, have been making art
without a doubt a few times as of late
colonization. It is also described in
cultural https://bit.ly/3i6nd0U

terms as “pre-colonial” as a term to use the general way of life before colonization. Although
the terms are interchangeable, it is also useful to keep these distinctions in mind when
studying the art of the past
In Pre – colonial Philippines, arts are for ritual purposes or for everyday use. Art of
the ancient Filipinos were woven into the fabric of everyday life. They do not refer to art as
we do today. That is, as an expression of an individual, and seen largely in galleries and
concert halls. They do not distinguish forms into different categories like music, theater,
visual arts, etc. Everyday expressions were all integrated within rituals that marked significant
moments in a community’s life, like planting, harvesting, rites passage, funerary, ceremonies,
weddings, among others. (crafted from: Faludette May Datulin et. al, 2016. Contemporary
Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 15)
Our ancestors, just like others in the world during those times, were hunter gatherers. The
forefathers hunted food that were shared among members of a community in a gathering
where they told stories about the hunt. They imitated the movement of animals andprey, and
the sounds that they made. But how do arts apply?
In this simple activity alone evolved ritual, music, dance, theater and yes even literature.
When they told stories about the hunt, this form of oral story telling marked the beginnings of
the literature. When they imitated movements of the animals they hunted, this marked the
early beginnings of theater or play acting. When they learned to add drum beating and
attachrhythm to their movements, they have given birth to music and dance
The pre- colonial peoples of the Philippines already possessed a varied and vibrant
musicale culture. The country’s indigenous cultures through the existence of ethnic musical
instruments such as pipes , flutes, zithers, drums, various string instruments like kudyapi a
three stringed guitar, the kulintang – an array bossed gongs, the gansa or flat gong, bamboo
percussion instruments, and the gong – large bossed gong.
The following are the native dance forms imitated from the movements of the animals:
1. Pangalay dance (Sulu) is mimetic of the movements of the sea birds
2. Mandaya’ Kinabua, Banog – banog (Higaonon & B’laan), and ma- manok
(Bagobos in Mindanao is imitated the movements of predatory birds.
3. Talip dance (Ifugao) that is used for courtship is mimetic of the movements of wild
fowls.
4. Inamo dance (Matigsalugs) and Kadaliwas dance (T’Boli) represent the comedic
movement of the monkey
5. Tinikling dance evocative of the movements of the crane, balancing itself on stilt –
like legs or flirting away from the clutches of bamboo traps.

Famous artworks during pre – colonial

1. Carving
 Bulul (Cordillera) a granary God that plays an important role in rituals
 Hagabi (Ifugao) a wooden bench
 Santos / sculptures of saints (Laguna and Pampanga)
 Okir (Tausug / Samal / Badjao) mythical sarimanok, the naga or serpent.
 Manunggul Jar discovered at Manunggul cave of Palawan

2. Weaving

 Textile weaving
a. Pis siyabit (Tausug of Sulu) a headpiece woven
b. Malong (Maranao of Lanao del Sur)

 Mat and basket weaving

a. Tepo mat (Sama of Tawi-Tawi) a double layered made of Pandan
leaves.
b. Ovaloid basket (Itbayat, Batanes) a head sling made of nito or
bamboo used to carry the harvests.
c. Bubo (Ilocos region) a sturdy bamboo strips used to trap the fish.

3. Ornamentation - representations of various ethnolinguistic groups.

a. Wearing gold jewelry (upper class Tagalog)
b. Tattooing (Visayan) it is believed to protect the individual from evil
spirits, it is also a sign of bravery and maturity.
 II. ISLAMIC ERA
(13 TH
Century to the Present)

How did Islam influence

art before the coming of Spanish
colonizers?
Islamic is characterized by geometric
designs and patter selecting focus
from the believers. Even before the
coming of Spanish colonizers,
Islam was already well entrenched
in SouthernPhilippines. Filipino
Muslimsrecognize that they belong
to an ummah or a community

Source: https://bit.ly/2VqsfLY
of believers. Central to the Islamic faith is the doctrine of or unity of God. This belief emphasizes
the impermanence of nature and the incomprehensible greatness of the Divine Being.
In Islamic art we can observe how artist are influenced by the notion of the Tawhid,
we will find that the interior of mosques are covered with elaborate patterning in the form of
reliefs to draw the attention away from the concrete object, in other words away from human
forms and nature” toward the contemplation of the divine” ( source: Faludette May Datulin et.
al , 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 19)
Happenings during Islamic era
1. Sultanate of Sulu was established Sayyid Abbubakar
2. Qura or holy text was introduced
3. Building of religious school called Madrasah
4. Natives from Yakans , Basilan and Zamboanga were converted to Islam
5. Islamazation process In Mindanao became strong.
6. Islam became the religion and as a way of life of people in Mindanao (Tausug,
Maranao, Maguindanao, Yakan, Samal, Badjao).

(1521 – 1898)
What kinds of art
developed during Spanish
Colonization?
Art became a
hand maiden of religion,
serving to propagate the
Catholic faith and thus
support thecolonial order
at thesame time.
Religious orders
were dispatched to
convert the
natives to Catholicismas
part of the larger project
culturally as
https://bit.ly/
2VqsfLYl
SPANISH ERA
III.
religious art, lowland Christian art or folk art. During this period, cruciform churches
following the shape of the latin cross were built. In keeping with the prevailing, they were
characterized by grandeur, drama, and elaborate details that purposely appealed to the
emotions. The use of adobe, limestone or brick and the construction of thick buttresses or
wing like projections reinforce the church structure to make it more resistant to earthquake. In
other words, the result is a fusion of both native and European elements, prompting some art
historians to refer to the style as colonial baroque or Philippine or tropical baroque. (source:
Faludette May Datulin et. al, 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 31)
Important Happenings related to art during Spanish era
 Chinese artisans were engaged in making icons or saints made in wood or
ivory
 Colonial churches were built
 Western musical instruments were introduced, pipe organ, violin, guitar, and
piano
 Catholic liturgical music was introduced in 1742
 Choral music to boys were introduced and created the first Filipino composers
named Marcelo Adonay (1848 – 1928)
 Musical form based on Catholic faith have emerge in the Pasyon – the biblical
of Christ’s passion chanted in an improvise melody.
 Secular music was formed; the awit and the corridor – these were the two
musical forms based on European literature and history.
 Kundiman became a vehicle for conflict – the lyrics were that of unrequited
love, except that the love object was the Philippines who would be cleverly
concealed as beautiful woman.
 Mangyans made the baybayin script made of bamboo poles cut into smaller
nodes that are carved used to composed short poems, expressing one’s feelings
and other emotional concers.Pomp and pageantry of religious processions
were introduced.
 Zarzuela was introduced, it was an opera which features singing and dancing
with prosed dialogue which allowed the story to be carried out in a song.
 Severino Reyes and Hermogenes Ilagan were awarded as the most
distinguished playwrights as they wrote zarzuela in Tagalog
 Honorata “ Atang” dela Rama awardeded as the most celebrated leading
actress
 The first Senakulo was written in 1704 by Gaspar Aquino de Belen
 Komedya were also introduced; komedya de santo (it centers on life of Christ )
and Secular Komedya.
 Folk dances such as carinosa, pandango, polka , dansa and rigodon, habanera,
and tango were introduced.
 Visual arts, and paintings must be visual interpretation of biblical texts center
to Catholic devotion ex. Heaven Earth and Hell by Jose Dans ( 1850)
 Reprographic art of printmaking was introduced, Doctrina Christiana is an
example, the first printed book in the Philippines compiling song lyrics,
commandments, sacraments and other catechetical material.
 Juan Luna ( Spolarium) won gold medals and Felix Resurrection Hidalgo
(Virgenes christianas expuestas al populacho) won silver medals

Famous Artists and their artworks during Spanish era:

Visual Arts:
1. Damian Domingo – water color albums of tipos
2. Juan Luna – Spoliarium, Espana y Filipinas
3. Felix Resurrection Hidalgo – Virgenes christianas expuestas al populacho
4. Lorenzo Guerrero - The Water Carrier
5. Simon Flores – Portrait of the Quiazon Family
6. Jose Dans – Heaven , Earth , Hell
7. Esteban Villanueva - Basi Revolt
 Miniature painters Engraver:

1. Antonio Malantic 1. Francisco Suarez

2. Isidro Arceo, 2. Nicolas Engraver
3. Dionesio de Castro 3. Laureano Atlas
4. Justiniano Assuncion 4. Felipe Sevilla

Musician – Composer Theater artist:

1. Marcelo Adonay 1. Honorata “ Atang” dela Rama

Writers:

1. Severino Reyes - Zarzuela

2. Hermogenes Ilagan – Zarzuela
3. Gaspar Aquino de Belen - Senakulo

IV. AMERICAN ERA (1898

– 1940) to the Post war
Republic (1946 – 1969)

What were the changes

brought about by American
Colonization? How were they
differ from the religious forms
of the Spanish colonial period?
In the American regime,
commercial and advertising
arts were integrated into fine
arts curriculum. Moreover,
Americans favored idyllic
sceneries and secular forms of
arts. Because
https://bit.ly/3dwgqdi
the lingua franca of this period was English, poems and stories from books were
dramatize in classroom, to facilitate the teaching of the English language. Unlike, the
Spanish, the Americans passionate thought their language through an efficient public
school system.
In less than decade, Filipino playwrights began to write plays in English. In the
beginning of the 20th century, new urban pattern that responded to the secular goals of
education, health and governance was imposed. The new patrons of the arts included the
Americans who engaged in governance and education, business and tourism. The demand for
artists who could do illustrations in textbooks or graphic design to product labels thus
emerged. The inclination towards genre, still life and portrait paintings persisted. Landscapes
on the other hand, became cherished as travel souvenirs, especially those that captured the
exotic qualities of Philippine terrain. In 1909, a year after the establishment of the University
of the Philippines, its School of Fine Arts was opened. It also offered a course on commercial
design to fulfill the aforementioned demand. For some time, the academic ( a term referring to
the kind of art was influenced by European academies) tradition of painting and sculpture in
the manner of Amorsolo and Tolentino prevailed in the art scene.(crafted from: Faludette
May Datulin et. al , 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p.28 -29)
 Famous Artist during American era

1. Juan Abad – Tanikalang Ginto (Golden Chain) (1902)

2. Juan Matapang Cruz – Hindi ako Patay ( Iam Not Dead) 1903
3. Aurelio Tolentino – Kahapon , Ngayon at Bukas (Yesterday, Today and
Tomorrow )
(The above 3 artists emphasized their works a deep profound yearning for freedom.)
4. Lino Castillejo (author) – A Modern Filipina First Filipino written in
5. Jesus Araullo (author) – A Modern Filipina English
6. Daniel Burnham (architect) - He design Manila and Baguio
7. William Parsons – implanted Burnham Plan – an urban designed employed
Neoclassic architecture.
8. Thomas Mapua
9. Andres Luna de San Pedro Filipino architects who designed buildings
10. Antonio Toledo during the period
11. Fabian dela Rosa (naturalists Painter) – Planting Rice (1921), El Kundiman( 1930)
12. Fernado Amorsolo
 romantic painter – Dalagang Filipina, idyllic landscapes, historical
paintings
 graphic artist –The Philippine Readers (book) The Independent (
newspaper)
 logo designer - Ginebra San Miguel.
13. Guillermo Tolentino (sculpture ) – Oblation ( 1935) UP Oblation ( 1958 )
Bonifacio Monument ( 1933).

V. JAPANESE ERA (1941 – 1945)

Since the Japanese

advocated for the culture of
East Asia, preference was
given to the indigenous art
and traditions of the
Philippines. This emphasized
their propaganda in Asia.
Under the Japanese
occupation of Manila, the
Modern Art Project would
slow down in pace. Early
moderns and conservatives
alike continued to produce art
and even participated in
https://bit.ly/3g0A0Qw
KALIBAPI ( Kapisanan sa Paglingkod ng Bagong Pilipinas) sponsored art competitions.
Nevertheless, art production once again tilted to fulfill the agenda and demands of the
new colonial order. The Japanese forces led the formation of the greater East asia Co –
Prosperity Sphere, a propaganda movement that sought to create a Pan – Asian identity
rejected Western traditions. The productions of images, texts, nd music underwent scrutiny.
In music, the composer National Artist Felipe de Leon was said to have been
commanded to write AWIT SA PAGLIKHA NG BAGONG PILIPINAS. Declared as the
anthem specifically for the period, it conveyed allegiance to the nation reared in East Asia,
where Japan was actively asserting its political power.
Genre paintings were the most widely produced, particularly those that
presented a neutral relationship between Filipinos and the Japanese through works that
showed the normality of daily living. (crafted from: Faludette May Datulin et. al, 2016.
Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 15)
 Famous artist and their artworks during Japanese era

1. Fernado Amorsolo (painting)

 Harvest scene, 1942
 Rice Plating, 1942
 Bombing of the Intendencia (1942)
 Ruins of Manila Cathedral (1945)
2. Sylvia La Torre (song)
 Sa kabukiran
3. Levi Celerio (composer)
 Sa Kabukiran
4. Felipe P. de Leon (composer)
 Awit sa Paglikha ng Bagong Pilipinas
5. Crispin Lopez (painting)
 Study of an Aeta (1943)
6. Diosdado Lorenzo (painting)
 Atrocities in Paco
7. Dominador Castaneda (painting)
 Doomed Family (1945)

VI. MODERN ERA (Neo

Realism, Abstraction Modern
styles)

What is Modern Art?

Modern art is quite different from
contemporary art especially when in
terms of history and styles.
Modern era in the Philippine art
began after World War 2 and the
granting independence. Writers and
Artists posed the question of national
identity as the main theme of various
art
forms. https://bit.ly/2NAlIdi
It is referred to as “traditional compared to contemporary art. The styles of modern art
for example are now part of art and curricula and have become academic.
The most well- known proponent of Modern art painting is Victorio Edades whose
work were initially rejected and misunderstood but later on his modernist sensibility was
shared by several artists. In this era artists explored various mediums, techniques and themes
that were at that time considered “new”.
There was an exploration of subject matter, content, and form. Using modernists
figuration, many of the artists explored folk themes and also crafted commentaries on the urban
condition and the effects of the war.
Modern artists do not aim to copy and idealize reality; instead, they change the colors
andflatten the picture instead of creating illusions of depth, nearness and farness. They depict
what might be thought of as “ugly “and unpleasant instead of the beautiful and pastoral.
Another strand of Modern art is abstraction. It consists of simplified forms, which
avoided mimetic representation. It is sometimes referred as nonrepresentational or non-
objective art as it emphasizes the relationship of colors, line, space or the flatness of the
canvas rather than an illusion of three dimensionality. (crafted from: Faludette May Datulin
et. al, 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 15)
 Modern famous artists and their artworks
 Neo Realists Artist
1. Manansala – The Beggars (1952), Tuba Drinkers (1954),
2. Legaspi – Gadgets II (1949), Bad Girls (1947)
3. HR Ocampo – The Contrast (1940), Genesis (1968)
4. Ramon Estella
5. Victor Oyteza
6. Romeo Tabuena
 Abstractionist Artists
1. Constancio Abenardo
2. Lee Aguinaldo
3. Jose Joya
4. Fernando Zobel
5. Arturo Luz – Street Musicians (1952)
6. Nina Saguil - Cargadores (1951)
Modern Architectural structures:
1. Church of Holy Sacrifice (1955)
2. Church of the Risen Lord
3. Chapel of Saint Joseph the worker

VII. CONTEMPORAR
Y ART.

What is
contemporary
art? Is it similar
to Modern art?
What are the
general
characteristics of
contemporary
art?
Contemp
orary art is much
different from
Modern art as
itsaid earlier
modern art is
referred
“traditional”
compared to
contemporary
art. How would
that be? An
example is the
work of
 Fernando
Amorsolo, he
painted his
painting
“Harvest Scene
in 1942. At that
time, the
painting was considered contemporary. Today, we refer to that work as an example of
Modernart produced during Japanese era. But some of the artists continue to produce
work ‘til todayand in that sense their works can be describe as contemporary by
virtue of being of the present.
What contemporary really is? Contemporary art is an art of today
produced by artists living of today. It is a fluid term, and its use can change
depending on the context.
Philippine Contemporary Art was an offshoot of social realism brought
about by Martial Law. Arts became expression of people’s aspiration for a just,
free and sovereign society.
Artists use mixed media. Their artworks are site specific, process -
based and they integrate various art forms.
Contemporary art has the following characteristics;
a. collaborative / participative
b. interactive
c. Process - oriented (meaning that there is less emphasis on
the finished product and a single author or creator. There is
a wide range of strategies, media and techniques)
d. Site specific (they cannot be experienced in the same way
if we remove from their original place.
Contemporary art is distinguishable from Modern art in historical, stylistic,
and cultural terms. (crafted from: Faludette May Datulin et. al , 2016.
Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 15)