Functions of ART: Compiled By: Angelica T. Ordineza

FUNCTIONS OF
ART
COMPILED BY:
Angelica T. Ordineza
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MESSAGE OF THE
ARTIST IN THIS MASTERPIECE?
Diego Rivera, Mexican, is a social activist through art.

FUNCTIONS OF ART
Ideally, one can look at a piece of art and guess with some

accuracy where it came from and when. This best-case scenario also
includes identifying the artist because they are in no small way part
of the contextual equation. You might wonder, "What was the artist
thinking when they created this?" when you see a piece of art. You,
the viewer, are the other half of this equation; you might ask
yourself how that same piece of art makes you feel as you look at it.
FUNCTIONS OF ART
These—in addition to the time period, location of creation,

cultural influences, etc.—are all factors that should be considered
before trying to assign functions to art. Taking anything out of
context can lead to misunderstanding art and misinterpreting an
artist's intentions, which is never something you want to do.
FUNCTIONS OF ART
The functions of art normally fall into three categories: physical,

social, and personal. These categories can and often do overlap in
any given piece of art. When you're ready to start thinking about
these functions, here's how.
FUNCTIONS OF ART- PHYSICAL
Tools and containers are objects which function to make our

lives physically comfortable. Functional works of art may be classified as
either tools or containers.
Tell whether the following is a tool or container.
1. a spoon -
2. a car-
3. a building-
4. a community -
5. a ceramic vase -
6. a chair.-
Tools and containers are objects which function to make our

lives physically comfortable. Functional works of art may be classified as
either tools or containers.
Tell whether the following is a tool or container.
1. a spoon - tool
2. a car- tool
3. a building- container
4. a community - container
5. a ceramic vase - container
6. a chair.- container
The physical functions of art are often the easiest to understand.
Works of art that are created to perform some service have physical
functions. If you see a Fijian war club, you may assume that,
however wonderful the craftsmanship may be, it was created to
perform the physical function of smashing skulls.
FUNCTIONS OF ART-PHYSICAL
A Japanese raku bowl is a piece of art that performs a physical

function in a tea ceremony. Conversely, a fur-covered teacup from
the Dada movement has no physical function. Architecture, crafts
such as welding and woodworking, interior design, and industrial
design are all types of art that serve physical functions.
1. Form and Function
The function of an object is generally
determines in the basic form that it takes.
A chair is so designed as to allow the seated
body to rest comfortably on it. The shapes,
sizes , and different parts are harmoniously
related to one another and integrated into
an object that fulfills and tells about their
particular purpose.
2. Architecture
The design of the building is determined primarily by its
operational function. What is the building for? Who
are going to use it? How many are they?
The design that a building takes is also adapted to the
climate of the region.
The architect must take the physical, psychological, and
spiritual needs of the family into account when he
designs a house.
3. Community Planning
A community is more than just a group of buildings. It is a group of
individuals and families living in a particular locality because of common
interest and needs.
Community planning involves the efficient organization of buildings, roads,

and spaces so that they meet the physical and aesthetic needs of the
community.
Community planning takes into consideration the assignment of
areas for proper land use. These are:
1. Residential districts
Special areas are assigned for residential purposes.
The present trend is to get away from overcrowded
downtown districts and the attendant problems and
settle in areas where it is possible to blend the charms
of rural living with the conveniences of urban living
2. Civic centers
A community governs itself; it therefore provides structures where the

functions of government can be efficiently carried out, and which would,
in appearance, be symbolic of community dignity and pride
3. Industrial and commercial areas
These areas are usually located near the
source of raw materials.
A commercial area can be a cluster of
small neighborhood stores, a shopping
complex in the suburbs, or a central downtown
district. It is usually situated where it can be
reached easily by car or public transport.
4. Parks, plazas, and malls
The need for a balance between man-made

structures and natural areas is answered in
the design of plazas and malls. These may
provide some relief from problems such as
air and water pollution, inadequate facilities
for recreation, and lack of parking space.
5. Streets and roads
Transportation must function with

reasonable ease and rapidity from
one areato another. Streets are
large or small according to their function.
4. Function and Beauty

Many things remain the same in shape throughout the years because their
functional requirements do not allow for greater
variations in their form. Time has proved
that their designs best enable them to
accomplish their purpose
FUNCTIONS OF ART- SOCIAL
Art has a social function when it addresses aspects of (collective) life as opposed
to one person's point of view or experience. Viewers can often relate in some
way to social art and are sometimes even influenced by it.
For example, public art in 1930s Germany had an overwhelming symbolic

theme. Did this art exert influence on the German population? Decidedly so, as
did political and patriotic posters in Allied countries during the same time.
Political art, often designed to deliver a certain message, always carries a social
function. The fur-covered Dada teacup, useless for holding tea, carried a social
function in that it protested World War I (and nearly everything else in life).
Additionally, satire performs social functions. Spanish painter Francisco Goya

(1746–1828) and English portrait artist William Hogarth (1697–1764) both went
this route with varying degrees of success at motivating social change with their
art. Sometimes the possession of specific pieces of art in a community can elevate
that community's status. A stabile by American kinetic artist Alexander Calder
(1898–1976), for example, can be a community treasure and point of pride.
Arts perform a social function when:

1. Influences Social Behavior
It seeks or tends to influence the collective

behavior of a people. (Guernica by Pablo Picasso)
Arts perform a social function when:

2. Display and Celebration. It is created to be seen or
used primarily in public
situation.
ONE FUNCTION OF SCULPTURE AND PAINTING IS THE
COMMEMORATION OF IMPORTANT PERSONAGES IN SOCIETY.
THE STATUES OF NATIONAL HEROES THAT GRACE OUR PARKS AND
PLAZAS ARE COMMEMORATIVE WORKS AS ARE THE
COMMISSIONED PAINTINGS OF LEADERS OR RULERS. OFTEN
THEY SERVE TO RECORD IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS, OR
REVEAL THE IDEALS OF HEROISM AND LEADERSHIP THAT THE
COMMUNITY WOULD WANT THE YOUNG TO EMULATE
3. SOCIAL DESCRIPTION
It expresses or
describes social or
collective aspects of
existence as opposed to
individual and personal
kind of experiences.
Romana Carillo by Justiniano Asuncion (1875)

Additionally, satire performs social functions. Spanish painter Francisco Goya

(1746–1828) and English portrait artist William Hogarth (1697–1764) both went
this route with varying degrees of success at motivating social change with their
art. Sometimes the possession of specific pieces of art in a community can elevate
that community's status. A stabile by American kinetic artist Alexander Calder
(1898–1976), for example, can be a community treasure and point of pride.
ACTIVITY 2
List at least five (5) Filipino Modern

Artists and two (2) of their works.
REFERENCES
https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=E210US91215G91319&p=functions+of+arts
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-the-functions-of-art-182414#:~:text=%20Functions%20of%20A
rt%20%201%20Physical.%20The,There%20are%20many%20types%20of%20personal...%20More%2
0
https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_p-images.search&ei=UTF-8&n=60&x=wrt#id=8&iurl=https%3A%2F
%2Fi2.wp.com%2Fantique-collecting.co.uk%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F06%2FFijian-war-club-
Vunikau.jpg%3Fresize%3D800%252C508%26ssl%3D1&action=click

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FUNCTIONS OF

Diego Rivera, Mexican, is a social activist through art.

Ideally, one can look at a piece of art and guess with some

These—in addition to the time period, location of creation,

The functions of art normally fall into three categories: physical,

Tools and containers are objects which function to make our

Tools and containers are objects which function to make our

A Japanese raku bowl is a piece of art that performs a physical

Community planning involves the efficient organization of buildings, roads,

A community governs itself; it therefore provides structures where the

The need for a balance between man-made

Transportation must function with

4. Function and Beauty

For example, public art in 1930s Germany had an overwhelming symbolic

Additionally, satire performs social functions. Spanish painter Francisco Goya

Arts perform a social function when:

It seeks or tends to influence the collective

Arts perform a social function when:

Romana Carillo by Justiniano Asuncion (1875)

Additionally, satire performs social functions. Spanish painter Francisco Goya

List at least five (5) Filipino Modern

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