PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO (SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT)

Course Code: COREARTS

Course Title: CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE
REGION
Course Type: CORE
Pre-requisite: NONE
Co-requisite: NONE
Quarter: 2ND SEMESTER 1ST QUARTER
Course Topic: Integrative Arts as Applied to Contemporary Arts
CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Module: #1 Week: 1
Course Subtopic: Arts and Its Visual Elements
Function of Arts
Principle of Designs
Elements of Arts

Course Description: At the end of the course, the learner demonstrates:

appreciation of contemporary art forms, found in the
various regions by understanding the elements and
principles.

Course Outcomes (COs) and Relationship to Student Outcomes

Course Outcomes SO
After completing the course, the student must a b c d
be able to:
Identifies various contemporary art forms and
their practices from the various regions D DD

* Level: I- Introduced, R- Reinforced, D- Demonstrated

WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY ART?

Contemporary art is an important type of art that includes more than fifty
types of expressions that have emerged since the end of World War II. Achieving an
understanding of contemporary art requires the study of many theories that have
been presented over approximately six decades of art. The common denominator is
that artistic talent must be formally recognized by the art world. A lot of
contemporary art may be collaborative/participative, interactive and process
oriented, meaning that there is less emphasis on the finished product and a single
“author” or creator.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ART IN THE PHILIPPINES

The development of Philippine Art comes in three major traditions. These are
the Ethnic Tradition, Spanish Colonial Tradition, and the American Colonial and
Contemporary Traditions. Before colonization, the Philippines already has its
indigenous art. The ethnic art forms are primarily influenced by the geographical
location and the experiences of the Filipinos. For instance, the dances in the country
during pre-colonial times vary depending on the area where our ancestors thrive. In
the high lands, dance steps were imitations of the movements of certain animals like
birds while the choreography of the Filipinos near the sea were mimics of the
movement of the fishes.

In terms of visual arts, pottery, weaving, wood carving, and metal crafting were
dominant during the pre-colonial period making use of the available materials
surrounding them. About architecture, the early Filipinos used local materials such as
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anahaw, bamboo, cogon, cane, rattan, and other light materials in constructing
structures since these were the materials accessible in their area. Also, our ancestors
already have their folk literature which came in the forms of folk speeches, songs, and
narratives. This folk literature verbalized their experiences. Regarding theater arts,
tribal presentations and rituals were - the early theatrical performances depicting
their beliefs. In music, our ancestors also have their indigenous musical instruments
like bamboo flutes and brass gongs.

Then came the Spaniards who tend to replace the Philippine indigenous arts
with Western art forms. Religion and secularization greatly influenced art in the
Philippines under the Spanish regime. The friars were the ones supervising the
practice of arts in the country with their agenda of propagating Christianity and
maintaining the power of the colonizers. In the field of literature, the literary works
could be classified into religious and secular prose and poetry. In the area of theater
arts, secular and religious plays like the “komedya’ became popular. In choreography,
religious dances commonly performed to venerate patrons and saints proliferated.
There were also secular dances performed in social functions like the valse,
fandango, polka, and minuet, among others. In music, the Spaniards introduced the
piano and other Western instruments. Bands and orchestras multiplied as the
zarzuelas and operas became prevalent. In visual arts, Spaniards introduced painting
and sculpture which mostly depicted religious subject matters. In architecture, stones
and bricks were predominantly used in constructing buildings like churches, houses,
and government offices. Western Spanish influence was evident in architecture, the
exterior, and interior of the buildings was embellished with wood carvings or metal
works with intricate decorative designs. However, despite the strong influence of the
Spaniards, the arts in the country did not result in pure Western art but a mix of
Western and indigenous art. Filipino artists still put Filipino touches on their art
pieces. After more than 300 years of Spanish colonization, the Americans took over
the country which led to the declaration of independence on June 12, 1898. The
Americans brought about many changes in the politics, economy, education, and
culture of the Philippines.
In the area of education, there are Filipinos who went abroad to study, some
studied under the tutelage of American educators, and some learned through
observation and personal experiences. Those who went abroad to study came back to
the country carrying the concept of modern art. Modern Art refers to the practice of
art in the 1860s 1960s. It was during these years that the western world was
significantly developing. The urbanization, consumerism, rise of the middle class,
change in the political system, secularization, and the emergence of new technology
affected the way of art making in that period. Due to technological innovations, the
experimental approaches to developing art rose above traditional art practices and
methodologies. New forms of expression came which were avant-garde in nature.
Modern art continuously develops even after World War II, which led to the
contemporary way of art-making today. Contemporary art refers to the recent and
current practice of art ranging from the 1970s up to the present. It mirrors the
society and culture of the present times. It uses a combination of different methods,
‘materials, and ideas that transcend the traditional way of art making. All Philippine
art forms had a different twist as the American way of life became a part of the lives
of the Filipinos. The art forms and art practices in the country broadened. Artists
experimented with different materials and methodologies and produced non-
conventional artworks with a wide range of themes.

FUNCTIONS OF ART
Art serves several functions which are corollary to its purposes. These functions
include but are not limited to the following: personal or individual, social, economic,
political, historical, cultural, religious, physical, and aesthetic:

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•Personal or Individual Function.

Artists have their personal reasons for indulging in art. The English poet
Robert Browning expressed his love to Elizabeth Barrett-Browning in the form of a
poem entitled “My Last Duchess”; Elizabeth did the same by means of the poem
entitled “How Do [| Love Thee?” Another poet, Edwin Markham, wrote the poem “The
Man with the Hoe” because he was inspired by the painting of a farmer that he had
seen earlier. Similarly, the composer of the song “Vincent” was inspired by Vincent
van Gogh's painting, “The Starry Night”. Others do their thing because of their passion
for their respective art forms. For instance, Gary Valenciano renders concerts for free
because he loves singing; Geleen Eugenio provides free dance instructions because
she enjoys dancing.

•Social Function.
Man is a social being and as such he associates with his fellow beings. This
association is evidenced by the choral singing and group dancing in religious rites
and other practices. Oftentimes, houses are constructed by groups of men for the
smallest social groups in a society, the families. Churches are built for communal
worship. A drama is performed by a group of performers called the cast before a
group of viewers known as the audience. Oral and written literature are handed from
one generation to the next and enjoyed by people of various races and ages.

• Economic Function.
Many people believe that it does not pay to be an artist. However, this belief is
negated by these facts. Joanne K. Rowling, the author of the best-selling Harry Potter
series, became one of the most highly-paid women in British history. Elvis Presley
and Michael Jackson take millions for their best-selling records. Paintings of great
painters such as Da Vinci and Buonarroti are worth millions of dollars now. GMA. 7
spent millions of pesos for the set of “Indio” and “Encantadia” and the Costume of
Richard Gutierrez in “Captain Barbel”.
• Political Function.
When Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, a patroness of the arts, became the Governor
of Metro Manila, she promoted her political programs by means of the arts. Part of
her beautification program was the painting of murals along national roads and busy
streets frequented by motorists. She was responsible ‘for the building of edifices in
the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) Complex; these include the PICC
(Philippine International Convention Center), FAT (Folk Arts Theater, now known as
Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas), and the Film Center. Likewise, part of the Marcos
administration’s image-building program for the so- called New Society (Bagong
Lipunan) was the writing of compositions inculcating the virtues of self-discipline,
industry, unity, and cooperation.
•Historical Function.
Paintings, sculptures, architectural works, and other art forms serve to record
historical figures and events. Paintings of French kings, sculptures of Philippine
heroes, tombs of rulers (Pyramids of Egypt and Taj Majal of India), and religious
plays, for example, the cenaculo (passion play), not only commemorate but also
celebrate historical greats.
•Cultural Function.
Buildings, furniture (chairs, tables, etc.), clothes, and the like form part of the
country’s material culture, while music, dance, and language, which is incorporated in
oral and written literature and drama, form part of its non-material culture.
Therefore, paintings, sculptures, architectural works, songs, dances, dramas, and
literary pieces are embodiments of a nation’s culture.
•Religious Function.
Almost all, if not all, art forms evolved from religion. People in the olden times
worshipped their gods in the form of songs and dances. The earliest dramatic forms
were religious in nature. The first Greek paintings and sculptures were those of gods
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and goddesses. The first great architectural works were built for religious purposes:
the pyramids were built to entomb the pharaohs, the mausoleum of Rome served as a
cemetery, and the churches and mosques were constructed for religious worship.
• Physical Function.
House and other buildings are constructed to protect their occupants and all
the others inside them. At times, paintings serve to protect the walls and ceilings of
some buildings, while sculptures serve as columns of some buildings as in Greek and
Roman Architecture. Many people claim that dance is one of the best forms of
exercise, while music is a form of therapy. Moreover, a tragedy, one of the dramatic
forms has a cathartic effect. The visual experience when viewing a beautiful work of
art (an abstract painting, a realistic sculpture, a skyscraper, a musical concert, a
dance show, or a comic play) is an exhilarating experience. Above all there is no
substitute to the ecstatic feeling one experiences after having completed a work of
art.
• Aesthetic Function.
Artworks serve as beautify. Painting serves to decorate houses and other
buildings. Sculpture serves to decorate churches and similar edifices. Tall buildings
are sights to behold. Set designs, as well as costumes and props, make dramas, dance
performances, and song renditions not only realistic but also appealing to the
audience.

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGNS
 Balance- is the condition in which acting influences are held in check by
opposing forces or what is on the left side should appear on the right side also
in order to achieve equilibrium.
• Symmetrical balance is a kind of formal balance in which two halves of a
balanced composition is identical.
• Asymmetrical Balance is the opposite of formal balance. Here, there is a
balance of unlike objects and there are no elements that appear to be equal
halves or sides.

Symmetrical balance Asymmetrical Balance

 Movement - is the direction that the audience’s eye

goes through the artwork, often to focal areas. This is
done by directing the audience’s eyes along lines,
edges, shape, and color.

 Emphasis - shows the focal point of an image or when

one area or thing stands out the most and gets special
attention.

 Rhythm- is the repetition of design,

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line or other elements within the frame.

 Unity- is oneness that is achieved through the effective

use of the elements of art and principles of organization.

ELEMENTS OF ARTS
In order to understand how to describe a painting or a sculpture, it is important to comprehend first
the visual elements of art. These visual elements of art are line, color, shape, space, value, texture, time
and motion.

Line
This refers to a prolongation of a point, or a mark on a surface. Solid lines can be used in order to
define form while broken lines are typically used to suggest hidden forms.

Shape
This element of art refers to an area with boundaries identified or drawn using lines. A shape may be
based on natural or living forms. This shape is called an organic shape and can be irregular or rounded.
A shape may also be based on measured forms. This shape, on the other hand, is called a geometric
shape.

Color
This refers to visual perception that allows a person to differentiate objects due to the way various
wavelengths of light are reflected. Color is a very important element because it can communicate
information and emotion to the viewer. Color has two properties, which are follows.

•HUE, which refers to the basic or pure color, and is represented the color wheel.
•SATURATION, which refers to the brightness and dullness of a color. It is also referred to as purity of
color.

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Values
This element refers to lightness or darkness of an area. This element is evident in creating shadows for
two-dimensional objects to give an illusion of depth.

Texture
This element refers to the feel or appearance of a surface. A person may describe texture if the surface
is either smooth or rough. Texture may also be described as actual or implied. Actual texture can be
felt tangibly based on the material that is used for the artworks. On the other hand, implied texture can
be exhibited, for instance, in a painting of fur of an animal.

Space
Refers to the area that is occupied by an object or a subject, as well as the area surrounding that object
or subject.

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