CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

Subject Teacher: Sir Efraim Montoya Grade 12

Course Description: The subject covers various contemporary arts practices of the
region where the school is located. It aims to provide students with anappreciation of
a broad range of styles in the various disciplines with consideration on their elements
and principles, and engage them to an integrative approach in studying arts. Through
this subject, students will broaden and acquire the necessary creative tools that open
opportunities in pursuing their individual career goals and aspirations.

Contents:
Unit 1: Integrative Art as applied to Contemporary Art
Lesson 1 – Contemporary Art Defined
• Definition of Art
• Definition of Contemporary Art
• Evolution of Art
• Integrative Art
Lesson 2 – Elements of Visual Arts
• Line
• Color
• Shape and Mass
• Texture
• Value
• Space
• Time and Motion
Lesson 3 – Various Art Forms found in the Philippines
• Visual Arts
• Performing Arts
• Other Art Forms in the Philippines

Lesson 1 – Contemporary Art Defined

Art is defined in many ways and derived from different languages. The following are
some of the definitions of the term “art”:
1. It came from “ar” in “Aryan” which means “to join or put together”.
2. It came from the Greek word “artizein”, meaning “to prepare”.
3. It is “ars” or “artis” in Latin which means “ability or skill”
4. “Arts is the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects,
environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” (Britannica Online,
2017)
5. “Arts is the human ability to make things of beauty and things that stir us.” (Atkins
& Snyder, 2017)
6. “It is the result of man’s manipulation of talents and materials.” (Thesaurus, 2001)
7. “Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory, or performing
artifacts, expressing the author’s imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill,
intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power (Oxford, and
Merriam-Webster dictionaries).

Contemporary Art is the art of the “modern-day”, and the art of “now” since the artworks
are created in the present times.

Evolution of Art
Pre-Historic Art (40,000 - 4,000 B.C.)

Before the advent of written language, origins of art history can be traced in this age.
Some of the earliest artifacts came from the Paloelithic era, or Old Stone Age, where
rock carvings, engravings, pictorial imagery, sculptures, and stone arrangements
emerged. During this period, natural pigments and carvings were used to create
representations of their environment and rituals that proved the existence of such
civilization.

Ancient Art (4,000 B.C. – AD 400)

When written language first emerged, advanced civilizations from Mesopotamia, Egypt,
Greece, and the Americas created ancient art. Depending on the civilization that created
it, a work of art from this time period may have used a different medium, but most of
them served the same functions, such as telling stories, adorning practical items like
bowls and weapons, showcasing religious and symbolic imagery, and expressing social
status. Many literary works feature tales of kings, gods, and goddesses.

Medieval Art (AD 400 – AD 1400)

The Middle Ages, sometimes known as the "Dark Ages," were a time of declining
economic and cultural conditions after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. The
majority of the early work from this era, which is marked by hideous images and harsh
scenery, reflects that darkness. With time, religious buildings became more ornately
ornamented, with windows and silhouettes adorned with scenes from classical
mythology and the Bible.

Renaissance Art (1400 – 1600)

Natural elements, individualism, and realism defined this era. Produced artwork
displayed attention to detail and accuracy of the human anatomy. The Medici, a powerful
merchant family that ardently supported the arts and humanism, a variety of ideas and
philosophies that emphasize the human realm, were largely responsible for the
Renaissance's success in Florence, Italy.

Mannerism (1527 – 1580)

The emergence of mannerists obscured the significance of the subject matter with their
emphasis on style and technique. Instead of adhering to the traditional ideas of
harmonious composition and linear perspective utilized by their forebears, figures had
stylized features and exaggerated detailing.

Baroque (1600 – 1750)

The elaborate, extravagant visual arts and architecture of the Baroque era are its
defining characteristics. The beauty and wealth that were shown in the artwork revealed
the artistic complexity of the painters.

Rococo (1699 – 1780)

Lightness and elegance are key elements of the Rococo style, which also emphasizes
the use of organic shapes, asymmetrical patterns, and subdued hues.

Neoclassicism (1750 – 1850)

Artists attempted to replicate the great works of old art found in the archaeological ruins
of ancient civilizations in Athens and Naples during the Neoclassical period, which
inherited features of classical antiquity. This opened the door for a resurgence of interest
in the harmony, simplicity, and proportion found in classical art when it was combined
with modernity.
Romanticism (1699 – 1780)

Romantic artists disregard harmony, order, and reason, which were valued in both
Classical Art and Neoclassicism, whether in painting, music, or literature. An
appreciation for nature, which allowed artists to leave their dark studios and paint
outside, emphasizes the individual and imagination. Passion, emotion, and sensation
were prioritized in art over logic and reason.

Realism (1848 – 1900)

This era, which is regarded as the start of the modern art movement, was influenced by
the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, the development of journalism, and the
invention of photography, all of which sparked a renewed interest in documenting daily
life events more precisely. As a result, the subject matter was depicted in great depth
and lifelikeness in the artwork.

Impressionism (1865 – 1885)

Impressionist painters concentrated on capturing the feeling of a specific moment. They

painted depicting everyday life with brief, rapid brushstrokes and an unfinished sketch-
like quality. Impressionists prefer painting contemporary settings like dance floors and
sailing competitions over historical and mythological occasions.

Post-Impressionism (1885 – 1910)

Instead of abstracted views of the outside world, post-impressionist painters focused on

subjective visions and symbolic, personal meanings.

Art Nouveau (1890 – 1910)

This time period, sometimes known as "New Art," sought to build a movement that was
entirely original and free of any resemblance to other movements. It centered on the
natural environment, which is marked by long, sinuous lines and curves, and was
influenced by applied arts, graphics, and illustration.

Fauvism (1900 – 1935)

Highlighted the expressive use of bold surface design, intense color, line, and
brushwork, as well as flat composition.

Expressionism (1905 – 1920)

This time aimed to express concerns and raw feelings through the artists' works that
reveal form distortion and bright colors due to the growing disagreement in worldviews
and lack of spirituality.

Cubism (1907 – 1914)

This time period's artwork is distinguished by flat, two-dimensional surfaces, geometric

shapes or item cubes, and contrasted perspectives.

Surrealism (1916 – 1950)

During this time, art defied logic and attacked reason. It was often considered that
surrealists attributed such thinking to experiences that caused people to suppress their
imaginative thoughts.
Abstract Expressionism (1940s – 1950s)

This era opted to abandon established methods in favor of spontaneity and improvisation
in order to produce abstract artwork that was too large to be displayed on an easel and
instead required canvases to be placed directly on the ground.

Op Art (1950s – 1960s)

This time frame, often known as "optical" art, was highly impacted by advances in
science and technology as well as a fascination with optical phenomena and illusions.
The fundamental concept during this time is for artists to employ shapes, colors, and
patterns to create images or patterns that seem to be moving or blurring; these images
or patterns are typically generated in black and white for maximum contrast and are
supposed to both confound and excite the eye.

Pop Art (1950s – 1960s)

During this time, artists used common items to produce avant-garde works of art with
vibrant and strong colors that questioned consumerism and the media.

Arte Povera (1960s)

Arte Povera, which is literally defined as "poor art," began incorporating everyday
materials into artworks to question modernist and contemporary structures.

Minimalism (1950s – 1960s)

Through the use of pure shapes, order, simplicity, and harmony, minimalist painters
encourage viewers to concentrate on what the artwork actually depicts rather than
making interpretations that go beyond one's emotions and reality.

Conceptual Art (1960s – 1970s)

There is no specific style or shape at this time because the emphasis is on ideas and
notions. The preceding periods of art, in which artists prioritized ideas over visual
elements, were utterly discarded by conceptual art.

Contemporary Art (1970s – Present)

Postmodernism, feminist art, neo-expressionism, street art, appropriated art, digital art,
and other minor movements were explored during this time. A multidimensional,
technologically advanced, and culturally varied global environment

Integrative Art

It is an interdisciplinary work of art that brings together two or more art disciplines, such
as opera – a mixture of music and drama, or contemporary visual art – which is a mixture
of folk art and western art. This is most commonly used in contemporary art.
 Lesson 2 – Visual Elements of Art
• Line
This element of art is used for outlines, and usually marks the distance between two
points. Lines sometimes evoke meanings: horizontal line depict distance, stability, and
calmness; vertical lines show strength and height; diagonal lines suggest movement or
lack of stability; zigzag lines convey action, excitement, restlessness, and anxiety, and;
curved lines convey feelings of comfort and ease, as well as sensual quality as in
human body.

• Color
This refers to visual perception that allows people differentiate objects due to way various
wavelengths of light are reflected.

Properties of Color
Hue – pertains to the basic color that we see, such as red, yellow, blue, green, etc.
Saturation – refers to the color’s brightness or dullness of a color. Brightness of color is
achieved when adding more pigment of the same hue, and dullness is achieved by
adding grey or color’s complement to the hue.
Value – the lightness or darkness of color. Light colors are added with white, a darker
shade results from adding black to a hue.

Color Schemes
Monochromatic – involves using the same hue but with different gradients of value.
Analogous – use of three to four adjacent colors in the color wheel.
Complementary – use of colors that are opposite with one another.
Split-Complementary – use of two colors adjacent to the opposite of first color
Triadic – use of three colors that are of equal distance with each other
Tetradic – use of two pairs of complementary colors

• Shape and Mass

This refers to the areas bound with lines. Shape are two-dimensional figures, and can
be organic shape or geomatric. Mass refers to the solid portions of a three-dimensional
figure.

• Texture
This refers to the feel or appearance of a surface, and the smoothness or ruggedness
of an image. Actual Texture can be felt with the touch of hand based on the material
that is used for artwork. Implied Texture can be exhibited when we see an image of a
pebble.

• Value
This refers to the gradual change of lightness and darkness of color in an artwork. It
creates highlights and shadows to show depth.

• Space
This pertains to the area occupied by an object or a subject. The illusion of space can
be identified to either atmospheric perspective or linear perspective. Atmospheric
Perspective utilizes the properties of light and air depicting the illusion of distance.
Linear Perspective involves the use of vanishing points to determine how much an
object’s apparent size changes with distance.

• Time and Motion

This refers to the movement in the visual arts. It can be either an illusion or an actual
motion. This is usually seen in kinetic sculpture.
 Lesson 3 – Various Art Forms Found in the Philippines
Phillipines and its art is very rich and diverse. In this lesson, we will discuss and
differentiate some of the art forms found in the Philippines. Art forms are divided into
two classifications: Visual Arts and Performing Arts.

Visual Arts
These art forms are perceived by our sense of sight, hence the name. This includes
Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, and Contemporary Art Forms.

• Fine Arts
These art forms are primarily created for its appearance and ability to stimulate the
intellect rather than its functional value.
Examples are:
- Drawing - Graphic Art
- Painting - Calligraphy
- Sculpture - Architecture
- Printmaking

• Decorative Arts
These art forms are created because of its aesthetic design and practical use. Makers
of these art works starting from the Renaissance period up to the 20th century were not
considered as artists but they were called craftsmen.
Examples of this art are:
- Textile Art - Floral Arrangements
- Glassware - Metal Crafts
- Jewelry - Pottery
- Furniture and accesory furnishing - Tapestry
- Earthenware - Interior Design
- Book Illustration - Fashion Design
- Embroidery

• Contemporary Art Forms

These are defined as artworks that can be produced using new art techniques. These
are considered as a special type of art that cannot be easily categorized as fine arts or
decorative arts because of the newly conceived art styles and techniques that did not
exist in the first two art forms.
Examples are:
- Assemblage - Digital Art
- Collage - Land Art
- Installation - Conceptual Art
- Performance Art

Performing Arts
This is an art form where artists use their voices, body movements, or non-objects to
express one’s emotions and feelings. Performing arts are meant to be performed in front
of a live audience to provide entertainment in theatres or opera houses, open air stages,
on stages in tents such as circuses, and on the street.

• Theatre Arts
It involves performers who act out stories that are based on reality or imagination using
a combination of speech, gesture, music, dance and visual arts as props to convey the
story in front of an audience.
Common examples used:
- Mime - Opera
- Puppetry - Musical Theatre
- Tragedy - Traditional Theatre
 • Dance
It is defined as regulated or deliberated order of body movements. It also refers to the
human movements that have aesthetic value and often performed with music
accompaniment.
Examples are:
- Ballet - Folk Dance
- Ballroom Dance - Improvisational Dance
- Belly Dance - Hip-hop Dance
- Break Dance - Modern Dance
- Contemporary Dance - Traditional Dance

- Music
This art form combines different elements such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, and
texture to create sound. It is performed using musical sounds from various musical
instruments, or using the human voice with style or technique, or a combination of both.
Example genres of music are:
- Art Music - umbrella term used to refer to music that stems from Western Classical
Music
- Popular Music - accessible and commercially available to the public, and played
through mass media outlets
- Traditional Music - musical forms that are community and culturally based. It is
diverse with one community or group often having a different form from another.

Painting
It is a two-dimensional image or artwork created using pigments or color on a ground
such as canvas, cardboard, paper or wood.
Forms of Painting:
- Easel Painting - involves applying color to a board or canvas that is fixed on an
upright support called an easel.
- Mural Painting - huge-sized painting usually created on a wall that aims to convey
a message to the public.
- Telon Painting - artwork synonymous to a backdrop or background for a stage
usually used in popular forms of theater arts.
- Jeepney and Calesa Painting - an artwork that is created on the famous
transportation of the country. In jeepneys, artists usually paint religious images,
logos, or colorful images, and repetitive patterns of shapes and thin lines are
painted on a calesa.
- Collage - combination of different images to form an artwork.

Sculpture
It originated from the Latin word “Sculpere” meaning to carve. It refers to the creation of
three-dimensional figures, forms or designs from a single block mass of materials.
Kinds of Sculpture:
- Relief Sculpture - kind of sculpture that does not have a flat horizontal base, and
usually attached to a surface or a background.
o Low Relief - slightly higher from the flat surface, like in coins. The figures has
clear contour lines that are noticeably attached to any surface.
o High Relief – when the form of sculpted figure is clearly visible because many
elements are completely detached from the background.
- Free-Standing – also known as full-round sculptures, which is a kind of sculpture
that can independently stand in space.
- Kinetics and Mobiles – moving three-dimensional figures, and are suspended on
air. These are either moving with the wind or is vibrating with the surrounding air.