Lesson 3 - Hand outs

Contemporary Philippine Arts form the Regions (CPAR)

Learning competency: Discusses various art forms found in the Philippines

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At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define the meaning of contemporary art,
2. Discuss the elements and principles of contemporary art, and
3. Explain the difference between contemporary art and traditional art.

Hundreds of years have passed, and art has gone a long way. We can say that the art we are experiencing
nowadays is so different from the art where artists perfected their craft the traditional way – practicing “mimesis” or imitating
the model exactly as it is. After World War II, emerged the newest form of art called contemporary art.

This lesson describes the characteristics of contemporary art. How does it differ from traditional art?

Traditional Art and Contemporary Art

Traditional Arts

The Philippines is home to various traditional arts. These are the arts that have been handed or passed down from
the master craftsmen to their apprentices. Most are learned informally and usually produced in indigenous communities,
reflecting history and culture.

The term “traditional” and “folk” may be used interchangeably to refer to those aspects of learned behavior (culture)
that are transferred through word of mouth and/or by following an example set within a cultural group. Traditional art is
learned from family or community members and is passed along through generations, with each artist remaining true to
time-honored methods or techniques, yet free to add personal creativity to the process. Folk or traditional artists are
highly trained, and it is the manner of their training that earns them the designation of “folk”. (Alabama Craft: Tradition
and Innovation, Classroom/Support Materials by Cathy Wright).

Animism is the usual theme of traditional arts. To depicts something of the people’s gods and goddesses is the
main intention, thus, resulting in the creation of abstract symbols of animistic figures like the sun, the moon, and the
other human images. One best example of this is the Bulul of Ifugaos. Other examples are the woven basketry of the
Mangyans, the t’nalak tapestry woven by the T’bolis in South Cotabato, the pissyabit (Head cloth) of Mindanao, and
the embroidered jusi and piña cloth of Lumban, Laguna.

Philippines traditional art is also rich in songs and dances that are handed over by nameless master craftsmen to
their younger generations. Throughout the years, the sounds, words, and choreography have remained the same.

Contemporary Art

Traditional art is different form contemporary art. Traditional art is culture bound, while contemporary art is not
bounded by any rule or standard. Contemporary art revolves around the feelings and thoughts of the artist, and
messages to his/her audience. It uses a wide variety of materials, media, techniques, and styles. It is characterized by
being conceptual, innovative, expressive, and experimental compared to traditional art. In addition, it allows the viewers
to participate in the experience and urges them to validate their own beliefs.

As mentioned earlier, contemporary art emerged after World War II. Some experts say that its emergence took
place sometime during the start of postmodernism in the West, at around late 1970s. This was the time when artists
reacted to the previous period of art called modernism. It was the time that gave birth to the idea that “less is more,”
and the time when artists adored the idea of purity and simplicity. A stream-lined form and style was fundamental in
creating something new at that time.

Contemporary art, unlike traditional art, can be found anywhere like schools, side streets, train or bus stations,
shopping centers or parks.

Contemporary art challenges tradition. If traditional artists’ art considered of portraits, landscapes, still life and
human interest, mostly as naturally as possible, the contemporary artists’ artistic works are expressions of freedom,
experimentation and exploration of patterns, figures, objects, and a combination of mixed styles, materials, techniques,
and concepts.
 Studying contemporary art is very important because you are surrounded by art in our everyday life, in mass media
and even in social media. However, seeing or hearing them is not enough. You really must deepen your understanding
of what they mean and how they affect your life. Since it has become a collaborative process, and the audience plays
an active role in reacting and constructing meaning about the works of art you have to question yourselves many times
if everything you see and hear pleases you. It is very important to learn how to sift through the diverse sights and
sounds to find out their worth. Discriminating between good and bad art is an important talent that artists should have,
for what is truly beautiful is in understanding the arts.

In addition, the J. Paul Getty Museum defines contemporary art as “art made and produced by artists living today.
Today’s artists work in and respond to a global environment that is culturally diverse, technologically advancing, and
multifaceted. “With this definition, you can picture out the kind of art created by today’s contemporary artists as art that
has a world view and is sensitive to the changing times. Contemporary art today is not restricted to the individual
experience of the artist but is reflective of the world that we live in. In this kind of art, you might see how events in
different countries (e.g., in Europe or Africa) might influence a Filipino living in Naga or Tagbilaran.

ELEMENTS/ PRINCIPLES OF CONTEMPORARY ART

The fact that art is produced by people and people are influenced by time, contemporary art is a continuing practice that
has evolved with the following new elements or principles:

1. Appropriation
When you see T-shirts with the image of Jose Rizal wearing shades or the walls on Intramuros in canvas
bags, existing artworks are “appropriated” to form another artwork. The use of these prints, images, and icons to
produce another art form is a feature of contemporary art that combines the past with the present. By appropriation,
the contemporary artist revives interest to existing forms of art.
(e.g. A shirt that features William Shakespeare, who is considered by many to be the greatest writer in the English
Literature, Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting Girl with a Pearl Earring is given a modern take with the selfie)

2. Performance
Performance of contemporary artists has evolved to “emphasize spontaneous, unpredictable elements of
chance,” according to the Walker Art Center. Performance artists have tried to interpret various human activities,
from ordinary activities such as chores, routines, and rituals, to socially relevant themes such as poverty,
commercialism, and war.
(e.g. International Filipino performance artist Marilyn Arsem playing a dead person at the Philippine international
Performance Art Festival, Yuan Moro Ocampo performing The Shadow in Denmark)

3. Space
How art transform a space is now an occupation of contemporary artists. Have you encountered a flash
mob or sculpture installations in malls and parks? These are examples of site-specific art forms wherein the art
form is performed and positioned in specific spots, especially in public places. Here are some examples of site-
specific art forms.
(University students forming a star to celebrate their institution’s centenary, A random 3D street art forms)

4. Hybridity
Contemporary artists are now as innovative as ever. In traditional painting, only a few materials are of
conventional use. Contemporary visual artists on the other hand, may opt to use coffee for painting or carve
miniature sculptures using crayons. Hybridity in contemporary art is the mixing of unlikely materials to produce an
artwork.
(e.g. A painting by Karen Eland using coffee as medium, Crayons are engraved meticulously to create sculptures,
Mona Lisa was made using a typewriter)

5. Technology
Technology is a reality in the present-day world, and contemporary artists have used technology in the
creation and dissemination of works of art. When MTV first went into the airwaves in 1981, video became part of
the human interaction. The video phenomenon was further pushed by the debut of YouTube that allowed everyone
with Internet connection to post and share videos. Contemporary artists have used video and the Internet as a way
of propagating art.
(e.g. Philippine Madrigal Singers singing “Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka” on YouTube)

A recorded performance of the Philippine Madrigal Singers singing a hit OPM song. Through video posting,
sharing, and even live streaming, people from all over the world can share and enjoy art.

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Prepared by: Joseph Belonio, MT 1
Jory Ramos, T 2
CPAR Teachers, PassiNHS