CONTEMPORARY ARTS FROM THE REGION

ART – it is the expression or application of human creative skills and imagination, producing works to be
appreciated primarily for their beauty and emotional power.

ARTS IN HISTORY

• Prehistoric • Medieval • Neoclassic

• Civilization • Renaissance • Romantic
• Continental • Baroque • Modern

MODERN ART
• (1860’s – 1960s/1970s)
• Modern art is more on styles and techniques.

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 late 1960’s or early 1970s up to this very minute. This art
functions in a global society that is culturally diverse and technology oriented.
• It has become a collaborative process and the audience plays an active role in reacting and
constructing meaning about the work of art.
• It is essential to you not only because it belongs to your time but it also serves a form of
expression of the people’s present feelings and longings. Contemporary works communicate
their sentiments.
• Is more on practices or a wide range.

ARTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Philippines has diverse art forms from its different regions. The development of the Philippine Arts came
from three major tradition.

• Ethnic Tradition
• Spanish Colonial Tradition
• American Colonial

ETHNIC TRADITION - art from this tradition are primarily influenced by geographical location and the
experiences of the Filipinos (Luzviminda & Sayseng, 2016). In this time, the purpose of arts is integral to
life. Arts reflected the pagan beliefs and practices, everyday activity such as fishing and farming, and
specific decorative art pattern to the community.

• Manunggul Jar – is found in Manunggul Cave, Lipuun point, Palawan in the early 1960s.
Manunggul Jar is a burial jar which signifies the belief of early Filipino in life after death.
• The Angono Petroglyphs – is situated in Binangonan, Rizal. It was discovered by the national
artist, Carlos “Botong” Francisco, in 1965. There are 127 human and animal figures engraved in
the rock wall.
 • Banga – literally means pots. The Banga or pot dance is a performance of Kalinga of the
Philippines. This dance shows the elegant grace of Igorot tribe and the skill and strength of
women.

SPANISH COLONIAL TRADITION (CHARACTERISTICS/FEATURES) – art forms where primarily influenced

by religion and secularization. In this time, Spaniards used arts to propagate the catholic faith.

• Langit, Lupa, at Impyerno by: Joseph Dans – this painting by Joseph Luciano Dans will be found
in St. James the Apostle Church in Paele, Laguna. This painting was dated 1850 and depicts the
heaven, crucifixion of Christ, earth, Adam and Eve, and hell, sinners with different transgression.
• St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral is located in Burgos, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. The original structure
was built in 1574 and replaced as a Church in 1641. The Cathedral follows a Baroque
architectural design.

AMERICAN COLONIAL (CHARACTERISTICS/FEATURES)

• Modern Arts – refers to the practice of art from 1860s to 1960s. The main theme of art works in
this time is national identity.
• Contemporary Art – refers to the practice of art from 1970s to the present.
o Cinco Marias (Tres Marias Series) – by Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, he was born in Santa
Cruz, Manila. Cinco Marias (Tres Marias Series) depicts the variety of domestic activities
(Guillermo, 2007).

ELEMENTS OF ART
1. Line - an element of art that is used to define shape, contour, and outliner, also to suggest mass
and volume. It may be a continuous mark made on a surface with a pointed tool or implied by the
edges of the shapes and forms. Line may come in two characteristics: Form and Direction.
Characteristics of Lines:
a. Horizontal Line – creates an impression of serenity and perfect stability.
b. Vertical Line – an impression of strength and perfect stability.
c. Diagonal Line – creates an impression of action.
d. Curved Line – creates an impression of gradual change of direction.
e. Circular Line – creates an impression of abrupt change of direction.
2. Shape – is an area that is enclosed by a line or lines. Shapes are two-dimensional figures with
height and width.
a. Geometric Shapes – are circle, squares, rectangles, triangles, and other geometric shapes.
b. Organic Shapes – are shapes found in nature and are free flowing, informal and irregular
(abstract shapes).
c. Positive Shapes – are solid forms in a design.
d. Negative Shapes – are the space around the positive shape.
e. Static Shape – are shapes that appears stable and resting.
f. Dynamic Shape – are shapes that appears moving and active.
3. Color – are the way we see light reflected from a surface or refracted through a prism. Colors we
see in nature are reflections of light on the surfaces around us. We can classify colors into primary
colors, secondary colors, and warm colors (cold colors).
a. Primary Colors – red, blue, yellow
 b. Secondary Colors – are resulting colors when the two of the primary colors are mixed.
Purple, green, and orange.
Red + Blue = Purple
Yellow + Blue = Green
Red + Yellow = Orange
c. Warm Colors – are colors that give the feelings of warmth. The warm colors are yellow,
amber, orange, vermillion, red, and magenta.
4. Space – refers to distance or areas around, between, or within components of a piece and refers to
the arrangement of objection the picture plane (two-dimensional). In visual space may either be
positive or negative space.
5. Texture – is the element that appeals to our sense of feel on things, rough or smooth, bumpy or
slippery. It is the character of the surface of an artwork.
a. Real Texture – is the actual texture of an object.
b. Implied Texture – made a piece of art to look like a certain texture.
6. Value – pertains to the lightness or darkness of a color in a given artwork. Value can be changed by
adding white or black to a color and these described as tint and shade.
a. Tint – pertains to the lightness of a color.
b. Shade – pertains to the darkness of a color.
7. Form – is the three-dimensionality of an object, it has dimensions of height, width, and length.

ELEMENTS/PRINCIPLES OF CONTEMPORARY ART

1. Appropriation – combines past and from present. Revives interest to existing forms of art.
2. Performance – evolved to “emphasize spontaneous elements of chance”. (Walker Art Center).
Activities such as chores, routines, and rituals to socially relevant themes such as poverty,
commercialism, and war.
3. Space – art transforming space. For example, art installations in malls and parks and flesh moos.
4. Hybridity – usage of unconditional materials, mixing of unlikely materials to produce an artwork.
5. Technology – usage of technology in the creation and dissemination of art works.

ARTS DURING SPANISH COLONIZATION

• (1521 – 1898)
• Religion (Catholicism)
• Architecture (Plaza complex); municipio, church, and settlers.
• Hispanic Baroque Churches – San Agustin Church in Manila, Morong Church in Rizal, Paoay
Church in Ilocos Norte, Sto. Thomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo

BAROQUE CHURCHES ARE RESISTANT TO EARTHQUAKES.

They use:

• Adobe
• Limestone
• Brick
• Construction of thick “buttresses”
SANTOS OR SAINT DURING SPANISH
• Painting
• Sculpting
• Engraving

Santos or saint are displayed in a decorative altar niche called “Retablo”.

Via Crucis – refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and
resurrection.

Music during Spanish Colonization

• Violin
• Guitar
• Piano

Archbishop Juan Rodriguez Angel – established a singing school at the Manila Cathedral taught by
Western Church music.

Santo Domingo and San Agustin – convents teach choral music to young boys and would soon to create
Filipino composers like Marcelo Adonay (1848 – 1928).

Kundiman – and the Balitao, balitao – sentimental love songs and lullabies.

Baybayin – a writing believed to be an invocation for a safe journey by sea.

- may not have chronicled a pre-colonial history, but they do however, provide evidence of
the presence of pre-colonial writing system.

Baybayin Script – used to compose short poems that tells of courtship and other emotional concerns.

ISLAMIC COLONIAL (13th century)

• Rajan Baguinda
• Princess Piramisuli
• Sayyid Abbubakar

When Rajan Baguinda dies, Abbubakar lead the throne and established the sultanate of Sulu.

He also;

• Introduced the book of Quran

• House of Prayer or Mosque
• He was recognized for building religions schools known as Madarasa during 16th century.
• Facilitate training Arabic from natives of Zamboanga and Yakans from Basitian were converted to
Islam.
• Strengthened Mindanao in during force from Spanish Colonization.