Various Contemporary Artforms in the Philippines

 Contemporary art as the art of today is more of the creative and critical self-
expression of the artist. Culture can contribute to the emerging art works that can
instil different perspective among the enthusiast and viewer of the art.
 Pre-colonial traditional art has religious symbols, every day activity such as
fishing, farming, etc., or a specific decorative art pattern to the community. It has
either the influence of local religion (animistic) or Islamic based.
 There is also an exchange of art aesthetics and art processes with Chinese and
other Asian countries that frequent as traders with our indigenous groups.

Philippine Pre-Colonial Arts

Old Stone Age (Paleolithic) Espinosa Ranch Shell Bracelets and Pendants (Neolithic)
Site, Cagayan 16000- 8000 BC The proof of Cagayan, Palawan, and Sorsogon 4854 BC
earliest man’s presence was recovered from a Shells were fashioned into tools, as well as
ranch site in Cagayan Province-two flake tools ornaments. The oldest known ornaments
dated about 9 million years, the oldest man- made from cone shells were found in the early
made object associated with the fossils of a 1960’s in the grave of an adult male in
proboscidean, a prehistoric elephant. Other Duyong Cave in Palawan. A shell disk with a
flake tools are recovered in Tabon Caves, hole in the center was found next to his right
Palawan and some stone tools in Bolobok ear and a disk with a hole by the edge was
Cave, Sanga-Sanga in Tawi-Tawi. found on his chest. The shell ornaments were
dated 4854 B.C
Lingling-o (2000 BC – 1000 AD) Duyong Pre-colonial traditional art has religious
Cave, Palawan, a kind of ear pendant symbols, every day activity such as fishing,
fashioned from green nephrite (jade) is the farming, etc., or a specific decorative art
characteristic trait of the Early Metal Age. One pattern to the community. • It has either the
of the finest jade ornaments found to date is influence of local religion (animistic) or Islamic
the double- headed pendant recovered from based. • There is also an exchange of art
Duyong Cave, Palawan. It is an example of the aesthetics and art processes with Chinese and
superb craftsmanship of ancient carving in other Asian countries who frequent as traders
jade. Manunggul Jar Burial jar excavated from with our indigenous groups. Baybayin is a
a Neolithic burial site in Manunggul cave of Tagalog ancient script also known in Visayan
Tabon Cave at Lipuun Point at Palawan dating as badlit. It is derived from Brahmic scripts of
from 890–710 B.C. India and first recorded in the 16th century. It
Other Pre Colonial Art: Pottery, Weaving, continued to be used during the Spanish
Tattoo, Jewelry, Carving, Metal Crafts colonization of the Philippines up until the
late 19th century
SPANISH COLONIAL ART PERIOD
Introduced formal Painting, Sculpture and Byzantine Painting Style: Attributed to
Architecture which was inspired by the Maître à la Ratière, Battle of Marignano, 1515
Byzantine, Gothic, Baroque and Rococo art Byzantine frescoes 11th–12th-century Church
styles. • Most artworks are Religious (Catholic) of Panayia Phorviotissa Cyprus. Langit, Lupa
based • Artworks bear the Philippine themed at Impierno Josef Luciano Dans ca. 1850
décor even with Spanish influence Byzantine art refers to artistic products of the
Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, as well as
the nations and states that inherited
culturally from the empire. These are more
Christian based art.
Baroque Aesthetics: Cathedral Church of Rococo Art originated in early 18th century
Saint Mary in Murcia, Spain Filipino Paris, is characterized by whimsical, curvy
interpretation: Miagao Church also known as lines and elaborately decorative style of art,
the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church whose name derives from the French word
Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines The Baroque is 'rocaille' meaning, rock-work after the forms
often thought of as a period of artistic style of sea shells
that used exaggerated motion and clear easily
interpreted detail to produce drama, tension,
exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture,
painting, architecture, literature, dance,
theater, and music
Gothic Art is the style of art produced in Uprising of the Philippine Artist In the
Northern Europe from the middle ages up formation of the elite Filipino class, the
until the beginning of the Renaissance. Ilustrado paved way for the rich locals to
Typically rooted in religious devotion. It is study abroad. In that case, a more “academic”
especially known for the distinctive arched and “western” approach has been learned. •
design of its churches, its stained glass, and The Filipino Classicism is formed that
its illuminated manuscripts borrows the Neoclassicism, Romanticism and
even a hint of Impressionism
Juan Luna y Novicio was a Filipino painter, Father of Filipino Painting:
sculptor and a political activist of the DAMIAN DOMINGO First Filipino to paint his
Philippine Revolution during the late 19th face, the first Self-Portrait in the Philippines •
century. • His Spoliarium won the gold medal Founder of the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura,
in the 1884 Madrid Exposition of Fine Arts. the first school of drawing in the Philippines
(1821) • One of the known artists of the
decorative art illustrations tipos del pais
watercolor paintings that depict local
costumes. It also became an album of
different native costumes.
AMERICAN COLONIAL ART PERIOD (1898-1946)
The American brought in Education and Popular Art Style during the Philippine
Values Formation, with both following the American Colonial Period Neoclassicism in
“American way of life” (Alice Guillermo, Sining Architecture: The White House Neoclassicism
Biswal, 1994, p. 4) • Art Illustration, in Philippine Architecture: Manila City Hall
Advertising and Commercial Design gained Art Deco in Architecture Chrysler Building Art
popularity and incorporated in Fine Arts. • Deco in Philippine Architecture Metropolitan
Painting themes still largely favored Genre Theater Art Nouveau in Architecture Old
Paintings, Landscapes and Still Life. Portraits England building built in Art Nouveau style.
are reserved for high ranking officials with a Musée des instruments de musique –
more academic approach to make the subject Bruxelles Art Nouveau in Philippine
more formal. Architecture Uy Chaco Building.
NOTABLE ARTIST: FABIAN DELA ROSA • NOTABLE ARTIST: FERNANDO AMORSOLO
The brightest name in Philippine painting after • A portraitist and painter of rural landscapes.
Luna and certainly the leading Master of He is best known for his craftsmanship and
Genre in the first quarter of the century. • His mastery in the use of light. • His art styles:
nephews are artists as well, Pablo and Impressionism, Luminism, Realism with
Fernando. subjects inspired by Philippine genre and
NOTABLE ARTIST: GUILLERMO historical, nudes and society portraits • First
TOLENTINO • Won The National Artist awardee of the National Artist Award in 1972.
Awards for Sculpture in 1973 • He is consider
as the "Father of Philippine Arts" because of
his great works like the famous "Bonifacio
Monument" symbolizing Filipinos cry for
freedom and "The Oblation" in UP signifying
academic freedom.
POST COLONIAL PERIOD (1946-1986) PHILIPPINE MODERN ART (1946-1970)
The study of determining what is Philippine Philippine Post Modern Art (1970 – 1980s)
Contemporary Art Period is still being The support of the Philippine Government for
determined since it has been used loosely even the arts via the creation of the Cultural
during the American Colonial Period. However, Center of the Philippines during 1969 gave a
some Philippine art historians/critics have venue for all artists to experiment and explore
always been a follower of the Western Art Style different art medium tying closely to the Post
and its trends at that point and thus, Modern Art Period of the West with Pop Art,
suggested that this was actually the point Installation Art, Performance Art, dominating
where Philippine Modern Art Period started the scene. In contrast, social realism became
but went only full swing only after the war. a heavy theme by most Filipino Artist as a
This is set by the creation of the Art social commentary of the problem brewing in
Association of the Philippines (AAP) that in a the Philippine political and social landscape.
way has a strong leaning with the Modernist
than the Conservatives (the traditional art also
termed as the Amorsolo School).
Modern art is characterized by the artist's Postmodern art is a body of art movements
intent to portray a subject as it exists in the that sought to contradict some aspects of
world, according to his or her unique modernism or some aspects that emerged or
perspective and is typified by a rejection of developed in its aftermath. In general,
accepted or traditional styles and values. movements such as intermedia, installation
art, conceptual art and multimedia,
particularly involving video are described as
postmodern.
CONTEMPORARY ART’S CHARACTERISTICS
Contemporary art as the work of artists who are living in the 21st century.
• Contemporary art mirrors contemporary culture and society, offering the general audience a
rich resource through which to consider current ideas and rethink the familiar.
• The work of contemporary artists is a 14 dynamic combination of materials, methods,
concepts, and subjects that challenges traditional boundaries and defies easy definition.
• Diverse and eclectic, contemporary art is distinguished by the very lack of a uniform
organizing principle, ideology, or ism. “In a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and
technologically advancing world, contemporary artists give voice to the varied and changing
cultural landscape of identity, values, and beliefs.
• Contemporary audiences play an active role in the process of constructing meaning about
works of art. Some artists often say that the viewer contributes to or even completes the
artwork by contributing his or her personal reflections, experiences and opinions.
Altermodernism is an attempt at contextualizing art made in today's global context as a
reaction against standardization and commercialism.
• Artists are looking for a new modernity that would be based on translation. Today, the
translation of cultural values of cultural groups and the connection of those values to the world
network are very essential. This “reloading process” of modernism according to the twenty-
firstcentury issues could be called altermodernism, a movement connected to the creolisation
of cultures and the fight for autonomy, but also the possibility of producing singularities in a
more and more standardized world.
• Altermodern can essentially be read as an artist working in a hypermodern world or with
“supermodern” ideas or themes.
CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS CLASSIFICATION:
1. Visual Arts

Forms perceived by the eyes

Known as spatial arts because it is an art form that occupy space
Includes: Painting, Sculpture and Architecture
a. Graphic Arts
Visual art forms with length and width known as two-dimensional arts (2D Art)
Flat art can be seen on flat surface example: billboards and

advertisement in magazine and print ads (commercial arts), painting,

printing, drawing, sketching, mechanical processes, computer
graphics and photography

b. Plastic Arts
Visual arts with length, width and volume known as three-
dimensional arts (3D Art)
Example: Sculpture, Architecture, Landscape Architecture,
City Planning Design, Set Design, Theater Design, Industrial
Design, Crafts and Allied Arts.

2. Audio-Visual Arts
Art forms perceived by both ears (audio) and eyes (video)
Known as performing arts
Examples: Music (vocal, instrumental and mixed), Dance (ethnological,
social and theatrical), Drama (tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, farce,
melodrama, etc.)

3. Literary Arts
Art forms that are presented in the written mode and intended to be
read
Example: prose (short stories, novels, essays and plays) and
poetry(narrative poem, lyric poems and dramatic poems)