PHILIPPINE MODERN ART

Art gives us meaning and helps us understand our world, when we create art, we
elevate our mood, we improve our ability to problem solve, and open our minds to new ideas.
Art appreciation improves our quality of life and makes us feel good.
Philippine Modern Art is marked by the conflict between the rules and views of the
Academy and the innovative methods of the Modernists. It is notable that when modernism
was introduced in the Philippines in the late 1920’s, the practice of figurative painting using
pigments on a two- dimensional surface was just over a hundred years old. Philippines modern
art represents subject matters that were about social and economic life of the Filipinos. It
depicts contemporary issues, conditions, aspirations, and dreams of the Filipino masses. Some
of the Filipino modern artists presents a theme dealt with poverty, slums, injustice,
exploitation, unfair labor practices, inequality, abuse of political power, oppression, and among
others.

The Philippine modern art permits the possibilities of exploring either subject or
medium in art to express the Filipino sense of self. The culture and customs of the Philippines
are reflected in its art. For instance, Philippine modern visual art includes murals, where you
can see a lot that reflects social issues or social injustices that is happening here in the
Philippines. There are also murals that gives us a sense of being a Filipino as it displays our
culture, customs, and traditions.