Quarter 1 – Module 1: Contemporary Art Forms and Practices from the Regions

Contemporary Art
Defined Contemporary art is the art that springs out of the present-day events and passions of the society. It is the newest form of art,
amusing people from the middle to the late 20th century up to this very minute.
Authorities in the arts place the emergence of contemporary art sometime during the start of postmodernism in the west, around the late
1970s. This was the time when artists reacted to the previous art called modernism, whose idea of using a pure, simplified, and a streamlined
form and style was fundamental in creating something new at that time. This gave birth to the idea that “less is more.”

Contemporary Art vs. Modern Art

In grade 10, you have come across the different art forms of the Modern Era. You have learned about the movements, the artist and the
other by-products of the late 1800s up to the mid-20th century.
Perhaps the main distinction between modern art and contemporary art is the time period in which they have existed. Modern art
emerged in the late 1800s and continued to grow for more or less a century. It slowly waned in the middle to late 20th century when
postmodernism came to light. Postmodernism then give birth to what we know now as contemporary art. This art exists up to this day, and no
one knows when a new period will arrive to veil contemporary art in its shadow.

The Subject and Elements of Art

The Subject of Art

To create your own contemporary piece, you must fully understand what makes an artwork a true work of art. You must first explore the
subject of art.
In visual design, there are different ways or styles of depicting a subject. Get to know these styles through the works of art of various
Filipino contemporary artist
1. Realism
The first style is realism in which the subject is done the way it actually looks. An example of this is the painting of Araceli Dans, the
Bridal White.
2. Distortion
The artist uses his or her imagination and alters the subject according to his or her desire. A stylized work is a form of distortion like
Norma Belleza’s painting, the Fiesta.
3. Abstraction
The artist breaks a part a subject and rearranges it in a different manner. The paintings of the National Artist Vicente Manansala
belong to this category.
4. Non Objectivism
In here, there is no subject at all-just an interplay of pure elements, like line, shape or color, and so on. A good example of this is the
painting of Roberto Chabet which is on Acrylic paper.

Elements of Art
Art forms in the different regions vary in subject, theme, style, medium, and technique. However as you have learned in Grade 7, there
are certain characteristics that are common to all. The following are the elements of art:

1. Space
 Space in visual arts can be defined as a void, an emptiness which can either be positive or negative.
 Space refers to the area that is occupied by an object or a subject, as well as the area surrounding that object or subject. An illusion
of space can still be created in a two-dimensional surface using perspective. There are two types of perspective: atmospheric
perspective, which utilizes the properties of light and air in depicting the illusion of distance; and linear perspective, which involves
the use of vanishing points and receding hidden lines.
2. Line
 Line is the extension of a point, a short or long mark drawn or carved on a surface.
 This refers to a prolongation of a point or a mark on a surface. Solid lines can be used in order to define form while broken lines are
typically used to suggest hidden forms.
3. Shape and Form
 When the ends of a line meet, they form a shape. It can also be described as a figure separate from its surrounding area or
background.
 This element refers to an area with boundaries identified or drawing lines. A shape may be natural or living forms called an organic
shape and can be irregular or rounded. It may also be measured forms called geometric shape.

4. Color
 Probably the most striking art element that catches the eye is color. It is a sensation created by visible wavelengths of light caught in
a prism.
 This refers to visual perception that allows a person to differentiate objects due to the way various wavelengths of light are
reflected. Color is a very important element because it can communicate information and emotion to the viewer. These are the three
properties of color:
 Hue, which refers to the basic or pure color, and is represented in the color wheel.
 Value, which refers to the lightness and darkness of color. A light color or tint is the result of adding white to a hue, while a
dark color or shade results from adding black to a hue.
 Saturation, which refers to brightness and dullness of color. It is also referred to as purity of the color. A bright color can be
produced by adding more pigment to the same hue, while a dull color can be produced by adding gray or the color’s
complement to the pigment 16
  The color wheel is an arrangement of primary, secondary and tertiary colors. It is important tool to identify which colors can
work well if used in a certain artwork which is the color schemes or color relationships. These are some of the color
schemes:

5. Value
 In visual arts, value is the degree of lightness and darkness of a color.
6. Texture
 Texture is the surface of an artwork. A texture can be actual or tactile, meaning, it can really be felt by touch, or it can be simulated
or illusory, which mean it can only be seen, not felt.
 This element refers to the feel or appearance of a surface. Person may describe as actual or implied. Actual texture can be felt
tangibly based on the material that is used for the artwork while implied texture can be exhibited, for instance, in a painting of fur of an
animal.
7. Time and Motion
 Movement in the visual arts can either be an illusion or an actual motion. An illusion of movement is more common in two-
dimensional artworks. On the other hand, actual motion is easily seen in kinetic sculpture that moves with the wind or are vibrating
with the surrounding air

Philippine Art Forms in Modern and Contemporary Era in Various Regions

Artistic works produced in the period beginning in the 1860s and ended in the 1970s. On this module let us describe the two forms of arts in the
Philippines, the dance and the painting.

Philippine Arts in Modern Era

 It has evolved into a wide variety of expressions and medium turning the country into a situation of creative upheavals
 Modern Filipino Artists have more freedom to explore on his own.
 Their style is from cross-cultural exposures in the Eastern and Western world yet they have not forgotten their Filipino roots.
 Many of them use color for their emotional rather than intellectual values.

Contemporary Era

 It follows modern art, beginning from 1970s to now and ongoing.

 Contemporary artworks use a variety of materials and techniques, including new technologies such as computers, three-dimensional, live
elements and performances, etc.

Example of Contemporary Art in Some Regions in the Philippines

I. Dance
 A performing art that involves rhythmic body movement within a given space, choreographed based on musical beat. Performed
either in front of an audience or by everyone on a dance floor. Elements of Dance:

1. Theme – most basic element of a dance. It conveys the message of a dance.

2. Design – pattern of movement in time and space.
3. Movement – the bodily actions of the dancer that include his steps.
4. Technique – the skill of movement executed by the dancer.
5. Music – the auditory background to which a dancer moves.
6. Costume & body paraphernalia – properties worn by the dancer that help reflect the message, customs and beliefs.
7. Choreography – the figures and steps in dancing that enable the dancers to perform in an organized manner.
8. Scenery – the background or setting where the dance is performed to make it more realistic and enriching
II. Some Examples of Contemporary (Folk/Ethnic) Dance in Mindanao

A. Pangalay: A Tausug Dance

Pangalay is a traditional Tausug dance, from Jolo and Tawi-Tawi, characterized by elaborate body postures and gestures and the
graceful arm and hand movement of the dancer, amplified by the use of janggay or metal claws. The dance is performed to the
music of the kulintangan, gandang, agong and gabang. Commonly referred to as the fingernail dance, Pangalay is usually
performed during weddings and other festive celebrations.

Kulintang/Kulintangan Refers to a racked gong chime instrument played in the southern islands of the Philippines, along with its
varied accompanying ensembles.

Pangalay is a living link to the traditional dance cultures of Asia with closest affinity to the Indian, Javanese, Thai, Burmese and
Cambodian styles of classical dancing.

Pangalay is basically pure dancing. A sense of anti-linear time pervades the slow, refined, meditative, elegant and almost hypnotic
movements. The dancer’s serious face with downcast eyes creates a mask-like expression, matched by a countenance generally
refined, dignified but without stiffness.
 Postures and gestures suggest emotional metaphors and symbols that offer a broad range of expression. For instance: outstretched
palms and arms can stand for salutation, welcome or joy; or, as a symbol of things in nature such as a palm leaf, flowers, sea
waves, the wind, sea weeds, a bird and a flutter of wings.

The Pangalay Courtship is one of the versions of the dance wherein a pair of dancers imitate the graceful courtship dance of birds.
During wedding performances, it is a tradition that guests would tuck money between the fingers of the female dancer.

Pangalay has a number of versions including the Pangalay Linggisan, which is performed by a solo female dancer imitating the
movement of a bird in flight. According to Mr. Rapih Jairi, Director of the Ingat Kapandayan Performing Arts of the Notre Dame
of Jolo College, the Pangalay performed in Sulu is characterized by the graceful movement of the dancer's arms and hands
flowing in synchrony the gentle blowing of the wind. While in other parts of the Sulu Archipelago, including Tawi-Tawi and
Sabah, the movements of the arms and hands are more pronounced as they are imitating the waves of the Sulu Sea.

The Pangalay ha Patung is characterized by two men carrying two bamboo poles on their shoulders with a solo female dancer
keeping her balance on top of the two bamboo poles. This version of Pangalay paints a picture of a woman dancing on a sail boat.

B. Singkil: A Maranao Dance

The Singkíl originated from the Maranao people who inhabit the shores of Lake Lanao. It is derived from a story in the Darangen,
the Maranao interpretation of the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. The name of the dance itself means "to entangle the feet
with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path". It is a popular dance performed during celebrations and other
festive entertainment. Originally only women, particularly royalty, danced the Singkíl, which serves as either a conscious or
unconscious advertisement to potential suitors. A kulintang and agung ensemble always accompanies the dance. While often
erroneously referred to by non-Maranaos as a "Muslim dance", the Singkíl is in fact secular in nature, performed by the Ummah
communities of the Maranao and Maguindanao. Initially, the dance was performed with just one pair of bamboo poles, eventually
adopting the use of two criss-crossing pairs.

Costume Used in Singkil A Maranao costume is mainly worn in this form of dancing. In addition, the female lead dancer wears
an elaborate dress of a princess and holds “decorated fans” in both hands, while the male lead dancer holds either handkerchiefs
in both hands and in some cases a sword and a shield.

III. Painting
 Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support").The
medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and airbrushes, can be used.
 In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action (the final work is called "a painting"). The support for
paintings includes such surfaces as walls, paper, canvas, wood, glass, lacquer, pottery, leaf, copper and concrete, and the painting may
incorporate multiple other materials, including sand, clay, paper, plaster, gold leaf, and even whole objects.
 Among the famous artist in the field of painting is Fernando Amorsolo. Below is one of his paintings.
Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972) was a dominant figure in the visual arts of the Philippines during the decades before the Second
World War and into the post-war period. The ‘Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano, Exhibits the happiness across from the difficulties
in planting rice. The Filipino Villagers in their bright clothes and straw hats plant together with a fresh and green landscape of plenty.
Behind the Filipino villagers is the peaceful flume of steam.
Quarter 1 - Module 2 Contemporary Arts in the Philippines

Principles of Design

Design is the overall structure of an art form. It is a plan for order. It is the means by which artist indicates and demonstrate the ideas and
feelings they wish to convey. Here are some principles of design found in the arts:

1. Harmony
• This refers to the wholeness of the design, the pleasing arrangement of parts, and the agreement between parts of a composition,
resulting in a united whole.
2. Variety
• It pertains to the assortment or diversity of a work of art.
3. Rhythm
• It is the regular, repeated pattern in the elements of art. It is a flow, or feeling of movement, achieved by the distribution of visual
units in time.
4. Proportion
• Elements in a work of art should have a relationship with one another. This relationship is called proportion.
5. Balance
• Pertains to the even distribution of weight. It is the principle that deals with equality.
6. Movement
• This is a fundamental principle in choreography and the theatre arts.

Various Art Forms Found in the Philippines

Pre-Colonial Art

Through migration and trade during Pre-Colonial Period, there was a lively cultural interchange between the Philippines and other Asian
countries. This helped Philippines to develop their own way of living, their own culture such as pottery, weaving, wood carving, jewelry, etc.
That they could use for their everyday living.

I. Paintings
➢ Introduced by Spaniards during 16th century. They use paintings as religious propaganda. Painting refers to the process of applying
color on a flat surface. Forms can be created using a wide variety of materials such as watercolor, acrylic, ink, oil, pastel, and charcoal.
Surfaces for painting include wood, canvas, cardboard, and paper. Painting is considered two-dimensional; meaning it only has height
and width.
Forms of Painting:

1. Easel Painting
The easel painting is perhaps the most common form of painting which involves applying color to a board or canvas
that is fixed on an upright support called an easel. These are meant to be framed and hanged on a wall after creating
them.

2. Murals
A mural is described as a huge wall-sized painting used to impart messages to the public. A new form of. Mural which
is a portable mural, was developed in order to prevent the mural from being erased from the wall which was created by
using bold strokes in applying bright colors on pieces of cheesecloth or canvas.

3. Telon Painting
A telon is describes as a backdrop or background for the stage which are used for komedya, sarswela, and sinakulo, the
popular forms of theater in the country.

4. Jeepney and Calesa Painting

The calesa is typically painted using one color. The borders of the calesa are decorated with geometric patterns,
repetitive patterns, and/or thin lines. Jeepney painting evolved from calesa painting. In a typical jeepney, a logo,
number, or painting is covered near the driver’s seat, as well as near the seats adjacent.to it.

5. Collage
This refers to a form of painting that involves combine images in a single artwork. This entails cutting and pasting
materials such as paper, fabric, tin foil and other relatively flat materials onto a board or canvas.
II. Dance
➢ Refers to the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given space, for the purpose of expressing an
idea or emotion, releasing energy, or simply taking delight in the movement itself.

Types of Filipino Dance

a. Banga
➢ Illustrates the grace and strength of women in the Kalinga tribe of Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR). Women
performing the Banga balance heavy potson their heads while dancing to beat of wind chimes.
b. Lumagen or Tachok
➢ It is performed to celebrate happy occasions. When Lumagen is performed, it is meant to symbolize flying birds and is
musicallypaired to the beat of gongs.
 c. Salisid
➢ It is the dance to show courtship. In the Salisid dance, a male and a female performer represent a rooster attempting to
attract a hen.
d. Malakas at Maganda
➢ It is a national folklore dance. It tells the story of the origin of the Filipino people on the islands.
e. Binaylan
➢ The Binaylan dance, tells the story of a hen, the hen's baby, and a hawk. In this dance, the hawk is said to control a tribe's
well-being, and is killed by hunters after attempting to harm the hen's baby.
f. Tinikling
➢ Take two long bamboo sticks rapidly and in rhythm, clap sticks for dancers to artistically and daringly try to avoid
getting their feet caught between them.
g. Singkil
➢ In this dance, there are four bamboo sticks arranged in a tictac-toe pattern in which the dancers exploit every position of
these clashing sticks. It is identifiable with the use of umbrellas and silk clothing.
h. Pangalay
➢ It is a traditional Tausug dance, from Jolo and Tawi-Tawi, characterized by elaborate body postures and gestures and the
graceful arm and hand movement of the dancer, amplified by the use of janggay or metal claws. The dance is performed to
the music of the kulintangan, gandang, agong and gabang. Commonly referred to as the fingernail dance, Pangalay is
usually performed during weddings and other festive celebrations.

III. Weaving
➢ Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a
fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp
and the lateral threads are the weft, woof, or filling. (Weft is an old English word meaning "that which is woven"; compare leave and
left.) The method in which these threads are inter-woven affects the characteristics of the cloth.

Weaving Method

1. Textile Weaving
 This refers to the process of creating cloth by interweaving a series of parallel vertical threads with another series
of horizontal threads at right angles.
2. Mat Weaving
 This refers to the art of “plaiting strips of organic fibers into mats”. These mats, locally known as banig, are cool,
light, and portable compared to fixed beds

3. Basketry
 This refers to the art of creating containers by weaving, plaiting, or braiding materials into hollow
threedimensional shapes that can either be used for carrying, storage and trapping animals.
4. Kalakat Weaving
 The process used on the oil palm fronds into finished product is thru pruning the green stalk, then splitting and
cleaning the fronds, drying, weaving and cutting or trimming the edges.

 Kalakat sheets are primarily used as a cheap but durable construction material. It is a preferred material for
housing and resort cottages because of its cool and insulator characteristic. It is environment friendly as it utilizes
basically an agricultural waste material.

 Kalakat is famous in Mindanao that is useful in many ways like ceiling and walling in a traditional house of the
Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Nowadays, it is used not only by the IPs but the common residents as well

IV. Sculpturing
➢ From the transitional carving of anitos to the santos to Christ and down to the saints, Filipinos find it rather not difficult as they are
already familiar with the ways of the wood.
➢ It is a branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sculptural processes originally
used carving and modelling; in stones, metals, ceramics, woods and other materials but, since Modernism, there has been an almost
complete freedom of materials and process. In contrast to painting, sculpture has three dimensions – height, width, and depth. It is
created by either carving, modelling, or assembling parts together

General Kinds of Sculpture

1. Free-standing
 This is a kind of sculpture that can independently stand in space. It has a flat horizontal base. All its sides contribute to the overall
form of the sculpture
2. Relief
 This kind of sculpture does not have a flat horizontal base. The form is projected from a flat surface. There are two types of relief
– low relief or bas-relief which is slightly from the flat surface; and high relief. Cagayan de Oro’s Legendary River Monster is an
example of relief sculpture
3. Assemblage
 This sculpture is formed by putting together materials such as found objects, pieces of paper, sponges, wood scraps, and other
materials. A good example of this is Lamberto Hechanova’s Man and Woman.
4. Kinetic Sculpture
 This is considered as a sculpture in motion because the entire sculpture or some parts of the sculpture are moving with the wind or
are vibrating with the surrounding air.
5. Welded Sculptures
 Creating these sculptures involve the process of. connecting sheets of metal together by using an acetylene or electric torch
6. Use of Glass
  A kind of sculpture where the medium of expression used by the artist is glass.
7. Symbolic Sculpture
 It is a kind of sculpture in which an abstract idea is represented by means of allegory and personification

Forms of Sculpture Wood

Carving
➢ In Southern Philippines, the Maranao and Tausug of Mindanao are known for their okir, ornate curvilinear designs and motifs applied to
wood carving. The principal okir designs are the sarimanok, the naga, and the pako rabong.

Sarimanok
➢ It is the legendary bird or “artificial cock” that has become an ubiquitous symbol of Maranao art. It is depicted as a fowl with wings and
feathered tail, holding a fish on its beak or talons. The head is profusely decorated with scroll, leaf and spiral motifs

Naga
➢ It has form of an elaborate mythical serpent or dragon with vigorous Scurve

Pako Rabong
➢ It is a stylized growing fern with a broad base gracefully tapering upwards

V. Pottery
➢ Is one of the oldest and most widespread of the decorative arts, consisting of objects made of clay and hardened with heat. The
objects made are commonly useful ones, such as vessels for holding liquids or plates or bowls from which food can be served.
➢ Pottery is a general term for decorative and useful objects made from clay and set off at high temperatures. This is frequently
interchanged with “ceramics”. However, it is important to note that application of ceramics is wider and even includes industrial use.

Types of Pottery

1. Earthenware or Terracotta This type of pottery is made from clay and is usually fired at 1,700- 2,100 ᵒF.
2. Stoneware This type of pottery is made from clay and feldspar.
3. Porcelain This type of pottery is made from kaolin, a special type of clay that is extra fine, white and feldspar.

In the Philippines, there are some famous pottery in various regions:

1. Manunggul Jar
 The Manunggul Jar is a secondary burial jar excavated from a Neolithic burial site in the Manunggul cave of the Tabon Caves at
Lipuun Point in Palawan. It dates from 890–710 B.C.[2] and the two prominent figures at the top handle of its cover represent the
journey of the soul to the afterlife.
 Manunggul Jar displayed at Philippine National Museum of Anthropology
 The Manunggul Jar is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest Philippine pre-colonial artworks ever produced and is
considered a masterpiece of Philippine ceramics. It is listed as a national treasure and designated as item 64-MO-74[3] by the
National Museum of the Philippines. It is now housed at the National Museum of Anthropology and is one of the most popular
exhibits there. It is made from clay with some sand soil.
2. Burnay Jar
 Burnay jars are commonly used for storage of water or grains, as well as for fermenting of Vigan’s local Basi wine and bagoong
(fermented fish). It is said that burnay jars are much harder than the typical terracotta pots used in gardening.
 Established in 1922, its origin goes way back to the pre-colonial era when Chinese immigrants learned about the abundant source
of clay in the lands of Vigan, and settled to start the industry of pagbuburnay or jar making.
 The materials for burnay jars only consists of clay, water, and sand. Its process starts with kneading of clay to warm it up and
remove sharp objects that may ruin the clay.
 Once it is ready to be molded on the wheel and kiln, it will be tempered with sand to prevent the clay from sticking to the surface
of the table. The jar will be air dried for three long weeks to harden, after which, it will be put in a furnace to cook for one day
and one night at 1,370 or 1,500 degrees centigrade.
3. Maitum Anthropomorphic Burial Jar
 The Maitum anthropomorphic burial jars are earthenware secondary burial vessels discovered in 1991 by the National Museum of
the Philippines' archaeological team in Ayub Cave, Barangay Pinol, Maitum, Sarangani Province, Mindanao, Philippines. The
jars are anthropomorphic; characterized by a design that suggests human figures with complete or partial facial features of the
first inhabitants of Mindanao. Furthermore, they give emphasis to the Filipinos’ popular belief of life after death.
 According to Dr. Eusebio Dizon, head of the archaeological team, this type of burial jars are "remarkably unique and intriguing"
because they have not been found elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Thus, many archaeologists from Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia,
Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Indonesia gained interest on this initial find and a number of archaeological – either government or
privately sponsored – excavations have been conducted to recover these artifacts

VI. Islamic Art

 Islamic art is characterized by designs of flowers, plant forms and geometric designs. It is used in calligraphy, architecture,
painting, clothing and other forms of fine arts. In the 13th century, traders and missionaries have introduced the religion of Islam
in the Philippines. Islamic art meshed with ethnic culture and produced a Filipino Muslim Art that reflects the ethnic background
and Islamic identity of the people.

Calligraphy
 ➢ It is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a broad-tipped instrument, brush, or other writing
instrument.

 Philippine Muslim homes represents their identity, therefore Islamic art is seen in their houses. These houses usually contains
framed calligraphy of Qur’an passages in its walls. These ornaments usually are made from Muslim dominated countries like
Malaysia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia brought home by overseas Filipino workers as mementos of their pilgrims.

VII. Architecture
➢ Architecture is considered to be one of the most functional branches of the visual arts. We can freely see architecture in our
surroundings because architecture involves designing the form of a building while allowing the building to serve its function. It is
considered to be the “art to inhabit.”
➢ Throughout Philippines history, both foreign and Filipino architects introduce innovations when it comes to creating buildings and
large structures. Even though the design of buildings and homes are still Western-inspired, architects started to appreciate Filipino
social traditions and cultural values. In fact, local materials were used by architects like Francisco Mañosa, a Filipino architect
considered as one of the most influential Filipino architects of the 20th century, in designing homes and buildings. In addition to that,
they sought ways to express these traditions and values in architecture

Forms of Contemporary Architecture:

Domestic Buildings and Houses

1. Apartment
This refers to a building composed of many residences called units. This is usually built in populated urban areas. Nowadays, in order
to maximize the use of space and because of the increased buying power of the population, condominiums were developed. These
condominiums are larger offshoots of apartments.

2. Bahay na Bato
The bahay na bato is considered to be a residence of. the wealthy. A typical two-storey bahay na bato generally has a ground floor that
is made of brick or stone, and has a wooden upper level. The windows and the level have grilles, while the windows at the upper level
have sliding shutters. The roof of a typical bahay na bato slants on four sides.

3. Barong-barong
The barong-barong are houses of the landless poor that are built on any land or area. These are usually found near the esteros,
riverbanks, and bayshores; spaces along high walls, railroad tracks; spaces near abandoned buildings, and garbage dumps; or any
vacant lot. Some of these barong-barong are built under bridges.

4. Bungalow
This refers to one-story house with a wide front porch and large windows. It may also have a terrace, which may be roofed or not.

Ethnic Houses
1. Bahay Kubo
The bahay kubo is considered as an ethnic house of Christian peasant families living in the lowland areas. Thisis typically owned by
families belonging in low income groups.

2. Houseboat
The houseboat is basically a boat that also serves as dwelling. The Badjaos or Sama Laut typically reside in houseboats.

3. Tsalet
The Philippine tsalet refers to a suburban house that has one story, a two-story house with living quarters on the upper level, or an
elevated one-story house. The term tsalet came from the term “chalet” which refers to a peasant house in Switzerland that has upper
levels jutting over the lower levels, a steep roof and a decorated gable.
Quarter 1 – Module 3: Contemporary Art Forms and their practices from the various regions

Integrative Art to Philippine Contemporary Art

The art are classified in distinct forms: architecture, visual arts, literary arts, dance, dramatic arts, cinema and broadcast arts, and new media.
However, the arts in the regions have evolved and have taken a new form. They are no longer what they were several years ago.

The arts in the regions have combined to create integrative art. Because of this, there is now an interconnection among the arts, resulting in the
combination of arts.

Contemporary art forms in the regions now include the following: choreography, musical instruments, literary and music composition, visual
design, theatrical performance, and cinema. Try to analyze these integrated contemporary art forms in the regions.

Choreography

Choreography is an arrangement or design for dance movements usually accompanied by music. It is the art of dancing that is composed of a
series of dance steps and movement to create a story. It has become an integrated art, for it incorporates both dance and music. In the regions,
there is a minimal number of contemporary dances because the traditional dances are still being widely practiced. However, the choreography of
these traditional dances have varied through generations. Modifications are done to adapt to contemporary times.

Contemporary choreography are mostly seen in the productions of street dancing for regional festivals.

Musical Instruments

A musical instrument is any tool or device that produces sound. It consists of an array of shapes and styles from the simple to the complex. One
interacts with a musical instrument in a way that it produces a sound, like a guitarist plucking the strings of his guitar or a drummer beating his
gong. Examples of traditional musical instruments in the Philippines are the kulintang, gangsa, and the kutyapi. Integration of arts is seen
through the intricate design of musical instruments, representing visual arts; and their functions, which is primarily to create music. A musical
isntrument alone is an example of integrated art.

One notable Filipino, National Artist for Music Lucresia Kasilag, infused the sounds of naive instruments on new forms, such as theater and
pictures. Some of her remarkable works are Orientalia Suite for Piano and Chamber and Philippine Percussion Instruments, and Improvisations
No 3 and 4 for Moslem gamelan and tipaklong.

Literary and Musical Compositions

Literary works are written works meant to be read, sung, or delivered in a play. They can be written in prose or in poetry form. Musical
compositions, on the other hand, are not written but notated (represented by muscial symbols). Since they use symbols particular to their field,
they must be learned.

These two types of compositions are some of the easisest art forms to integrate with another form. Literary pieces, such as novels, short
stories,and epics are the most common bases of other forms like theater and cinema. A theater without a playwright is nothing; so is a cinema
without a scriptwriter.

In the contemporary times, the most common examples are the movie adaptations of some well-known literary pieces, such as “Bata, Bata,
Pa’no ka Ginawa?” and “Dekada ‘70,” novels by Lualhati Bautista that were turned into films by Chito Roῆo; and Mars Ravelo’s comics
“Darna,” “Captain Barbell,”and “Dyesebel,”which were adapted into numerous movies and TV programs through time.

It is the same with musical compositions. Anotated work must be performed to be appreciated. Aside from recitals, compositions are now being
enjoyed in dance, theater, cinema and broadcast arts, and even in new media.

Visual Design

Visual Design is a composition or layout of lines, shapes, and color to form patterns on paper; textile, or any piece for that matter. It can be
found in either twodimensional works like painting and drawing; or three-dimensional works like installation and sculpture.

Integration of arts in visual design happens in several hybrid art forms like installation videos and the like.

Theatrical Performance

The staging and execution of a production, like drama, opera, festivals and the like fall under the form called theatrical performance. It pertains
to a public presentation of a dramatic or musical entertainment. It involves a lot of teamwork that includes the producer; the director, the cast,
and the crew of workers. Technology, wether traditional, digital, multimedia, innovative, or alternative, is a vital part of any performance.

Contemporary theatrical performance is experimental , innovative, controversial, and interdisciplinary, going beyond theater and other art forms,
like puppetry, cinema, and sculpture. It also goes out to other disciplines like psychology, and the social and political sciences.

One specific example of a contemporary theatrical performance is PETA’s Rak of Aegis, a musical tribute to the Filipino 90s band, Aegis. It
used the integration of music, theater, and dance to create a hybrid piece of art.
Cinema

The cinema is the most popular of the art forms; yet, it is the youngest of all. It appeared only in early 1900s in Manila and later spread in the
regions. It has gained public acceptance since then. The characteristics of the cinema is similar to the theater; except that it is not a live
performance and the action is seen in a flat screen.

However, in the advent of technology, even the theater- known to produce live performances-has been brought to the cinema. One recent
example is the 2012 12 comedy-musical, I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila! a movie tribute to the prized trio of the 80s, the APO Hiking
Society.

A lot has happened in the contemporary art scene since its onset in the 70s. In the regions, art forms are now collaborative and community-
based, fostering values of camaraderie, cooperation, team-building, and pride of place.
Quarter 1 – Module 4: Contemporary Arts in the Philippines (Significant Contemporary Artists from the Regions)

Lesson 1 Philippine Contemporary Artists

Philippine Contemporary Arts Filipino artists play a role in presenting and educating the public about our history, culture, society, and identity.

As a rule, the Filipino artist’s role is four-fold: the personal, the social, the physical, and the immaterial.

First, the artist expresses what he or she feels. Then, the artist expresses what he or she sees around him or her. Also, the artist finds a need to
create something useful but also pleasing to look at. Finally, the artist gives form to the immaterial, the hidden truths of the universe and the
spiritual force that inhabits the world. Because of these roles, the artist is able to refine us and to elevate our sense of what is beautiful and
sublime.

An artist reflects the time and culture of his period but seen in a different light. In this way, he or she gets to influence his reader, viewer,
listener, intentionally or unintentionally.

The artist is a crusader, attempting to sway the viewer to his or her side. In the past decades, there has been a rise in national fervor. The Filipino
artist has become a social critic, exposing the inequalities of life, the effects of urbanization, globalization, and neocolonialism, evident in most
contemporary works today. The artist has also become What is It 33 an advocate for what he or she believes in. he or she creates an artistic
controversy, thereby becoming an agent of change.

The Filipino artist is versatile. He or she creates, not only to realize his or her personal fulfillment, but also express a point of view. He or she is
a storyteller, narrating everyday life of extraordinary events: presenting cultures in different lights, and recording and preserving history for
future generations to see.

National Artists of the Philippines

There are many significant Filipino artists who have made a mark for the development of Filipino society.

Many of them have made significant contributions in their own fields, earning them the Order of National Artists. It has been established by
virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1001 s. 1972 and aims “to give appropriate recognition and prestige to Filipinos who have distinguished
themselves and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters.” The Order of National Artists is the highest award conferred by
the President of the Philippines to the nation’s artists.

The categories for the Order of National Artists are music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, film and broadcast arts, and architecture or allied
arts.

The awarding of the Order is administered by the Order of the National Artists Secretariat – NCCA and CCP- and is conferred by the President
of the Philippines every three years. Cultural organizations, educational institutions, and private foundations and councils may submit
nominations for the Order once the Secretariat announces the opening of nominations. The Secretariat then screens and deliberates the
nominations before submitting a list of recommended nominees to the President. After this, the President will decide the final list of awardees
and will then issue a proclamation, conferring the rank and title on the awardees.

The Order of National Artist (ONA) [Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining] is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals
who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts. It aims to recognize:
a. Filipino artists who have made significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the country;
b. Filipino artistic accomplishment at its highest level and to promote creative expression as significant to the development of a
national cultural identity; and
c. Filipino artists who have dedicated their lives to their works to forge new paths and directions for future generations of Filipino
artists.
The Order of National Artist shall be given to artists who have met the following criteria:
a. Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination and at the awarding, as well as those who died after the
establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death.
b. Artists who through the content and form of their works have contributed in building a Filipino sense of nationhood.
c. Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus, earning distinction and making an impact on
succeeding generations of artists.
d. Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of works and/or consistently displayed excellence in the practice of
their art form thus, enriching artistic expression or style.
e. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through:
e.1 Prestigious national and/or international recognition, such as the Gawad CCP para sa Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists Award,
and NCCA Haraya Awards (Alab and Dangal)
e.2 Critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works
e.3 Respect and esteem from peers.

LIST OF NATIONAL ARTISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Fernando Amorsolo
National Artist for Visual Arts
(May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972)
The country had its first National Artist in Fernando C. Amorsolo. The official title “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art” was bestowed on
Amorsolo when the Manila Hilton inaugurated its art center on January 23, 1969, with an exhibit of a selection of his works. Returning from his
studies abroad in the 1920s, Amorsolo developed the backlighting technique that became his trademark were figures, a cluster of leaves, a spill
of hair, the swell of breast, are seen aglow on canvas. This light, Nick Joaquin opines, is the rapture of a sensualist utterly in love with the earth,
with the Philippine sun, and is an accurate expression of Amorsolo’s own exuberance. His citation underscores all his years of creative 36
activity which have “defined and perpetuated a distinct element of the nation’s artistic and cultural heritage”.

Among others, his major works include the following: Maiden in a Stream(1921)-GSIS collection; El Ciego (1928)-Central Bank of the
Philippines collection; Dalagang Bukid (1936) – Club Filipino collection; The Mestiza (1943) – National Museum of the Philippines collection;
Planting Rice (1946)-UCPB collection; Sunday Morning Going to Town (1958)-Ayala Museum Collection.

Levi Celerio
National Artist for Literature / Music (1997)
(April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002)

Levi Celerio is a prolific lyricist and composer for decades. He effortlessly translated/wrote anew the lyrics to traditional melodies: “O
Maliwanag Na Buwan” (Iloko), “Ako ay May Singsing” (Pampango), “Alibangbang” (Visaya) among others.

Born in Tondo, Celerio received his scholarship at the Academy of Music in Manila that made it possible for him to join the Manila Symphony
Orchestra, becoming its youngest member. He made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the only person able to make music using just
a leaf.

A great number of his songs have been written for the local movies, which earned for him the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Film
Academy of the Philippines. Levi Celerio, more importantly, has enriched the Philippine music for no less than two generations with a treasury
of more than 4,000 songs in an idiom that has proven to appeal to all social classes.

Fernando Poe, Jr.

National Artist for Cinema (2006)
(August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004)

Ronald Allan K. Poe, popularly known as Fernando Poe, Jr., was a cultural icon of tremendous audience impact and cinema artist and
craftsman–as actor, director, writer and producer.*

The image of the underdog was projected in his films such as Apollo Robles (1961), Batang Maynila (1962), Mga Alabok sa Lupa (1967),
Batang Matador and Batang Estibador (1969), Ako ang Katarungan (1974), Tatak ng Alipin (1975), Totoy Bato (1977), Asedillo (1981), Partida
(1985), and Ang Probinsyano (1996), among many others. The mythical hero, on the other hand, was highlighted in Ang Alamat (1972), Ang
Pagbabalik ng Lawin (1975) including his Panday series (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984) and the action adventure films adapted from komiks materials
such as Ang Kampana sa Santa Quiteria(1971), Santo Domingo (1972), and Alupihang Dagat (1975), among others.

Poe was born in Manila on August 20, 1939. After the death of his father, he dropped out of the University of the East in his sophomore year to
support his 37 family. He was the second of six siblings. He married actress Susan Roces in a civil ceremony in December 1968. He died on
December 14, 2004.

Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA)

The Philippines also honors artists who are engaged in folk or traditional arts and who have reached a high level of technical skill and artistic
excellence. The award is called the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or National Living Treasures Award.

The categories for GAMABA are folk architecture, maritime transport, weaving, carving, performing arts, literature, graphic, and plastic arts,
ornament, textile or fiber art, pottery, and other artistic expressions of traditional culture.

This award was institutionalized by 1992 Republic Act No. 7355, with the NCCA in charge of its implementation. The process or awarding a
Manlilikha ng Bayan is similar to that of the Order of the National Artists. However, only NCCA’s ad hoc panel of experts and reviewers will
screen and review the nominations. They will then submit the list to the President of the Philippines for proclamation.

First awarded in 1993 to three outstanding artists in music and poetry, the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan has its roots in the 1988 National Folk
Artists Award organized by the Rotary Club of Makati-Ayala. As a group, these folk and traditional artists reflect the diverse heritage and
cultural traditions that transcend their beginnings to become part of our national character. As Filipinos, they bring age-old customs, crafts and
ways of living to the attention and appreciation of Filipino life. They provide us with a vision of ourselves and of our nation, a vision we might
be able to realize someday, once we are given the opportunity to be true to ourselves as these artists have remained truthful to their art.

As envisioned under R.A. 7355, “Manlilikha ng Bayan” shall mean a citizen engaged in any traditional art uniquely Filipino whose distinctive
skills have reached such a high level of technical and artistic excellence and have been passed on to and widely practiced by the present
generation in his/her community with the same degree of technical and artistic competence.

How Does One Become a Manlilikha ng Bayan?

To become a “Manlilikha ng Bayan”, the candidate must possess the following qualifications:

1. He/she is an inhabitant of an indigenous/traditional cultural community 38 anywhere in the Philippines that has preserved indigenous
customs, beliefs, rituals and traditions and/or has syncretized whatever external elements that have influenced it.
2. He/she must have engaged in a folk art tradition that has been in existence and documented for at least fifty (50) years.
3. He/she must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period, works of superior and distinctive quality.
4. He/she must possess a mastery of tools and materials needed by the art, and must have an established reputation in the art as master and
maker of works of extraordinary technical quality.
5. He/she must have passed on and/or will pass on to other members of the community their skills in the folk art for which the community is
traditionally known.

A traditional artist who possesses all the qualities of a Manlilikha ng Bayan candidate, but due to age or infirmity has left him/her incapable of
teaching further his/her craft, may still be recognized if:
1. He/she had created a significant body of works and/or has consistently displayed excellence in the practice of his/her art, thus
achieving important contributions for its development.
2. He/she has been instrumental in the revitalization of his/her community’s artistic tradition.
3. He/she has passed on to the other members of the community skills in the folk art for which the community is traditionally known.
4. His/her community has recognized him/her as master and teacher of his/her craft.
Quarter 1 – Module 5: Elements and Principles of Contemporary Art

Elements or Principles of Contemporary Art

Appropriation

Existing artworks are appropriated to produce another artwork. Usage of prints, images, and icons to produce another art form. Combines past
from the present. Revives interests to existing forms of art.

Performance

Performance evolved to “emphasize spontaneous elements of chance”. Interpreting various human activities such as ordinary activities such as
chores, routines and rituals, to socially relevant themes such as poverty, commercialism and war.

Space

Arts transforming space. For example, flash mobs, art installations in malls and parks. Art form that is performed and positioned in a specific
space such as public places.

Hybridity

Usage of unconventional materials, mixing of unlikely materials to produce an artwork. For example, coffee for painting; miniature sculptures
using crayons.

Technology

Usage of technology in the creation and dissemination of art works. Video phenomenon from MTV to Youtube. Recording performances, video
posting, sharing, live streaming.

Contemporary Art Forms

Painting

A painting is an image (artwork) created using pigments (color) on a surface (ground) such as paper or canvas. The pigment may be in a wet
form, such as paint, or a dry from, such as pastels.

Weaving

The art of making cloth with yarn or thread is known as weaving. The pattern is made by pulling the threads together on a loom. The threads are
locked at right angles to form the fabric. The horizontal threads are known as warp and the vertical threads are known as weft.

Dance

Is a performing art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of human movement. This movement has aesthetic and symbolic value,
and is acknowledged as dance by performers and observers within a particular culture.
Quarter 1 – Module 6: Significance of Art Forms from the Regions

Spoliarium (Juan Luna)

The painting features a glimpse of Roman history centered on the bloody

carnage brought by gladiatorial matches. Spoliarium is a Latin word referring to
the basement of the Roman Colosseum where the fallen and dying gladiators
are dumped and devoid of their worldly possessions. At the center of Luna’s
painting are fallen gladiators being dragged by Roman soldiers. On the left,
spectators ardently await their chance to strip off the combatants of their metal
helmets and other armory. In contrast with the charged emotions featured on
the left, the right side meanwhile presents a somber mood. An old man carries a
torch perhaps searching for his son while a woman weeps the death of her loved
one.

Planting Rice (Fernando Amorsolo)

Truest Philippine culture, this is the theme that composes most of Fernando
Amorsolo’s artworks. Rice planting is among those that depicts the real Filipino
tradition that is still applicable until the present time. The painting is set on the
rice field wherein farmers, regardless of their gender, are on with their usual work
under a bright sunny day. Its visual weight is light because the colors used were
mostly pastel in nature. No dark colors were used to produce a feeling of calm and
peace. It was an ideal picture of provincial life like most of his paintings.
He painted the details as to how it might look in real life. However, faces of the
farmers were not vividly detailed because their Buri hats covered them.
Supposing that the sun was on its peak.

Tinikling

What is It It is a traditional folk dance which originates from the Spanish colonial era. The dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds as
they dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Dancers mimic the tikling bird’s grace and agility by dancing between large bamboo poles. The
tinikling is one of the oldest dances from the Philippines, and originated in the islands of Leyte in Visayas. According to the legend, the
Tinikling was started by people who worked in the paddies and farms of the Philippines.

Maglalatik

It is an indigenous dance from the Philippines in which coconut shell halves that are secured onto the dancers’ hands and on vests upon which
are hung four or six more coconut shell halves. The dancers – all male – perform the dance by hitting one coconut shell with the other –
sometimes the ones on the hands, sometimes, the ones on the body, and sometimes the shell worn by another performer, all in time to a fast
drumbeat. Originally performed in Binan, Laguna as a mock-war dance that demonstrates a fight between the Moros and the Christians over the
prized latik or coconut meat during the Spanish rule, the dance is also shown to pay tribute to the town’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador.

The Oblation

The Oblation is a concrete statue by Filipino artist Guillermo E. Tolentino which serves as the iconic
symbol of the University of the Philippines. It depicts a man facing upward with arms outstretched,
symbolizing selfless offering of oneself to his country. The statue’s height of 3.5 meters symbolizers three
and a half centuries of Spanish colonial rule, while its pose of self-offering represents Tolentino’s interpretation
of Rizal’s second stanza above – in particular the “unknown heroes who fell during the night”. Furthermore,
its base is a stylized representation of the Philippine archipelago, with rocks from Montalban Gorge to
highlight its cultural and historical significance.
Quarter 1 – Module 7: Different Contemporary Art Techniques and Performance Practices

I. Materials

Filipino artists have devised alternative materials from classical art forms. They have
rediscovered existing indigenous tools and instruments for their use. An example is a
national artist, Levi Celerio who was fond of using a leaf in humming music. Several
musical bands use unconventional musical instruments made of bamboo.

There is a crossover or hybridization of materials, using local and traditional ones to

create a new style.

II. Techniques

There are different techniques that artists use to execute their art.

Choreography Techniques:

It involves human movement and form within the elements of time, space and shape. It also involves energy in nonverbal and emotional
context. Planned gives no opportunity of the dancers to be creative. On the other hand, improvisation gives freedom for the dancers to interpret
their own movements.

a) Mirroring- dancers face each other doing the same techniques

b) Retrograde- reverse performance of a series of dance steps
c) Canon- dancers performing similar steps in a successive manner
d) Levels- varying positions of dancers
e) Shadowing- a dancer is standing behind another while doing the same steps
f) Unison- unanimous performance of steps

Acting Techniques

The actors learn techniques like movement, pace, pause, silence, voice, eye contact,
positioning and timing. There are also innovations in acting due to the widespread
birth of theatre and theatre groups.

Cinematic Techniques

It revolves around screenplay, cinematography, special effects and editing. Some of

the film directors who excelled in showing these techniques are none other than our
National Artists- Lamberto Avellana, Gerardo P. de Leon, Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal
and Eddie Romero. Have you watched a movie done by one of these directors? What
have you noticed in the techniques they used?

Literary Techniques

Filipino writers use different genre and different language. The contemporary writer,
has remained a social realist while exploring new ideas. They also practice
unconventional grammar in arranging their thoughts by injecting Filipino slang.

Techniques in Visual Design

Look back and study the works of the different arists you already know. Browse the
internet and closely observe their paintings. You will see how varied and creative their
materials and techniques are. They also improvise, using indigenous materials,
innovative and techniques for their artwork.

The use of techniques is personal and is developed gradually. Material is used to

create artwork while technique is the method in which materials are put together. By
developing and experimenting with the materials and techniques, the artists develop
their own style.
Quarter 1 -
Module 8
Promotions of
Arts from the
Regions
Quarter 1 -
Module 8
Promotions of
Arts from the
Regions
Quarter 1 -
Module 8
Promotions of
Arts from the
Regions
14
6) Art Fair Philippines
Art Fair Philippines is the premier
platform for exhibiting and selling the
best in modern
and contemporary Philippine visual
art. The fair aims to mirror the
vibrant local art
scene and continue to generate support
for Filipino art practitioners
(Dumandan, 2019).

7) ManilART
ManilART is the Philippines' premier
international art fair. It showcases the
best in
contemporary visual arts for the
development and promotion of Filipino
art and culture
locally and internationally. ManilART
elevates the standards and celebrates the
dynamic
Philippine art scene through various
art exhibitions connecting world class
artists,
institutions, and the community. It
reinforces the awareness of and the
appreciation for
Philippine visual arts by merging it with
other disciplines through lectures,
workshops,
demonstrations, and other activities
with the support from both local and
foreign
exhibitors (Dumandan, 2019).
8) Finale Art File
Finale Art File is considered as a
premier gallery institution in the
Philippines. It
showcased hundreds of exhibits by
some of the most talented names in
contemporary
visual arts. It has successfully
balanced the demands of a commercial
establishment
and an artistic venue. This gallery
occasionally features experimental
works that push
artistic boundaries and challenge
audience expectation (Dumandan,
2019).
9) Kublai Art Gallery and Davao
Contemporary Art Gallery
The Kublai Art Gallery and Davao
Contemporary Art Gallery is a
unique cultural
expression of Davao’s visual artists. The
gallery showcases various works by
Mindanao’s
famed artist Kublai Ponce-Millan, as
well as different artists from the city
(Dumandan,
2019).
10) Thirteen Artists Awards
The Thirteen Artists Awards mark the
turnings in and of Philippine
contemporary art,
to update its modernizing potential and
to assess how artists today engage with
other
forces in the art world (Dumandan,
2019).
These authorities, institutions,
markets, galleries, and award-giving
bodies are
not the only ones who may promote arts
of the Philippines. As a Filipino and a
student,
we can also promote Philippine arts in
our own little ways. We may visit art
exhibits and
seminars about the artistic treasures of
the Philippines. We may share the
artworks of
Philippine artists through our social
media. Also, appreciating Philippines
arts in its
original context and using it in defining
and describing Filipino identity are also
ways to
promote arts existed in our country.
There are different ways to promote
or support
Philippine traditional and cultural arts
and these ways root in our
nationalistic and
patriotic ideology. Hence, as a student
in this contemporary time, it is a
great act to
contribute in holding a responsibility of
promoting Philippine arts.
Week 8– Module 8:Explicates the use of availablematerials and the application oftechniques