CONTEMPORARY

ARTS – 12
WEEK 3

SUBMITTED BY:
CHARLES T. CADAY, JR
GAS – BATCH C
 What are the various contemporary art forms in the Philippines?
Ben DavisMay 10, 2021
Table of Contents
 What are the various contemporary art forms in the Philippines?
 How contemporary art emerged in the Philippines?
 How will you describe the contemporary art in the Philippines?
 When did contemporary art begin in the Philippines?
 What is the importance of contemporary art in the Philippines?
 Who are the famous contemporary artist in the Philippines?
 What is the role of contemporary Filipino artist?
 What is the example of arts found in the Philippines?
 What is example of painting?
 What are the 10 various art forms of contemporary?
 What are the two major styles in contemporary art?
 Why is art so hard to define?

What are the various contemporary art forms in the Philippines?

Contemporary arts come in different forms: fine arts, visual arts and performing arts.
Fine arts direct on contemporary painting, sculpture and architecture.

How contemporary art emerged in the Philippines?

The art of the Philippines had been influenced by almost all spheres of the globe. It had
the taste of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern Periods through the colonizers who
arrived in the country. 7. RONALD VENTURA is a contemporary Filipino artist known for
his dynamic melding of realism, cartoons, and graffiti.

How will you describe the contemporary art in the Philippines?

Philippine Contemporary Art was an offshoot of social realism brought about by Martial
Law. Arts became expression of people’s aspiration for a just, free, and sovereign
society. Since the Japanese advocated for the culture of East Asia, preference was
given to the indigenous art and traditions of the Philippines.

When did contemporary art begin in the Philippines?

1950s

What is the importance of contemporary art in the Philippines?

Contemporary art is important in Filipino lives. It is so important because every

contemporary art reflects someone’s feelings, ideas or perspectives. Through
contemporary art, Filipinos can express themselves in a way that will be safely
observable for others. It is a means of personal expression.

Who are the famous contemporary artist in the Philippines?

10 Contemporary Filipino Artists to Know

 Ernest Concepcion (1977-present)

 Ronald Ventura (1973-present)
 Leeroy New (1986-present)
 Oscar Villamiel (1953-present)
 Dex Fernandez (1984-present)
 Neil Pasilan (1971-present)
 Kawayan de Guia (1979-present)
 Patricia Perez Eustaquio (1977-present)
What is the role of contemporary Filipino artist?

FILIPINO artists play a role in presenting and educating the public about our history and
identity. Many artists are doing work, artist collectives are thriving, and the market is
strong. The discourse is higher. One of the aims of PCAN is to consolidate and harness
the resources of Philippine contemporary art.”

What is the example of arts found in the Philippines?

The traditional arts in the Philippines encompass folk architecture, maritime transport,
weaving, carving, folk performing arts, folk (oral) literature, folk graphic and plastic arts,
ornament, textile, or fiber art, pottery, and other artistic expressions of traditional culture.

What is example of painting?

Top 10 Famous Paintings

 Mona Lisa – Leonardo Da Vinci.

 The Scream – Edvard Munch.
 Creation of Adam – Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.
 Sunflowers – Vincent Van Gogh.
 Ceci N’est pas une Pipe – Rene Magritte.
 Poppies in a Field – Claude Monet.
 The Last Supper – Leonardo Da Vinci.
 The Girl With a Pearl Earring – Jan Vermeer.

What are the 10 various art forms of contemporary?

 What are the Top 50 Works of Contemporary Art?

 CONTEMPORARY PAINTING.
 CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE.
 CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE.
 CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY.
 INSTALLATIONS.
 LAND ART/EARTHWORKS.
 CONTEMPORARY POSTER ART.

What are the two major styles in contemporary art?

Exploring Top 9 Contemporary Art Styles and Their Characteristics

 Abstract Art. Abstract art originates from unnatural objects, such as geometric
patterns, shapes, and formats.
 Figurative Art. Figurative art describes modern art that genuinely depicts the real-
world issue by using the human figure.
 Geometric Art.
 Minimalist Art.
 Still Life Art.
 Typography.
 Pop Art.
 Surrealist Art.

Why is art so hard to define?

“Why is it so difficult to define art?” Art is best appreciated by the right prefrontal cortex
(part of the brain), which deals with direct experience. In contrast, definitions are
handled by the left prefrontal cortex, which attempts to convert direct experiences into
symbols (e.g. words). Hence the difficulty.
 10 Contemporary Filipino Artists to Know

Ernest Concepcion (1977-present)

Concepcion is a studio artist whose work experiments with intense emotion,

deconstructing images in his paintings, sculptures, and installations. He creates art like
recording a music album, where each painting is from a series of nine. Concepcion
describes it as producing an old favorite, a classic, sleeper hit and one piece he doesn’t
really like but keeps coming back to.

He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines, with a Bachelor in Fine Arts while
under the mentorship of pioneer conceptual artist Roberto Chabet. After graduation, he
moved to New York in 2002 and spent a significant amount of time in Brooklyn, where
he participated in art residences for the Bronx Museum of Art Artists-in-the-Marketplace
(AIM) Program, the Artists Alliance Inc. Rotating Studio Program, and the Lower
Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) Workspace Program.

Concepcion returned to Manila in 2013 with a triumphant solo show at the U.P. Vargas
Museum, after participating in the El Museo del Barrio La Bienal in New York. He
remains active on the Asian art scene and is a recent recipient of the 13th Artists Award
by the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ronald Ventura (1973-present)

Ventura is a contemporary artist from Manila, with a Bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts in
Painting from the University of Santo Tomas. He initially taught in the same school after
graduating but found his true calling as a visual artist after his first solo exhibition at the
Drawing Room in Makati in 2000. Ventura’s work is known to consist of multiple layers,
using imagery that focuses on the human form. His paintings are a dramatic union of
comic sketches, reality, and graffiti. He draws inspiration from Asian mythology,
Catholicism, science fiction and comic book characters. He is known to have the highest
selling work in the history of the Southeast Asian art market: his painting Grayground
sold for a whopping $1.1 million USD at an auction in Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

Leeroy New (1986-present)

Initially trained as a sculptor, Leeroy’s work blends theatre, fashion, film, production
design, and public art. He graduated from the prestigious Philippine High School for the
Arts, before continuing his Fine Arts degree at the University of the Philippines. He has
received artist residences in Singapore and Australia and was awarded the 13 Artists
Award by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2014. His large-scale public art uses
common objects and materials found in everyday environments.

In the sand dunes of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Leeroy collaborated with the local
government to convert discarded water tanks and cement fountains into a post-
apocalyptic park filled with sculptures. His most recent grant from the Burning Man
Global Arts foundation was used to transform the most polluted waterway in Manila,
the Pasig River, with floating installations – challenging views on the environment.

Oscar Villamiel (1953-present)

Born in Caloocan City, Manila, Villamiel is a multimedia artist known for his large-scale
installations consisting of objects found in local communities. His art career may have
started later in life, but his installations have enthralled audiences for the past decade.
He initially worked as a set designer for television, a leather bag craftsman and a
successful t-shirt company entrepreneur before holding his first solo exhibition in 2006.
He once filled a room with thousands of bullhorns in his show Mga Damong Ligaw
(‘Wild Weeds’) in 2014, at the Light and Space Contemporary in Fairview, Manila. The
bullhorn installation was made to look like a terrain of weeds when viewed at a certain
angle. Villamiel’s work reflects the current socio-political situation in the country,
highlighting elements of poverty, consumerism, and religion. His massive installation
Payatas, which features thousands of doll heads, was chosen to represent the
Philippines in the Singapore Biennale exhibition in 2013. It took him two-and-a-half
years to finish this work.

Dex Fernandez (1984-present)

Another Caloocan native, Dexter practices a variety of mediums ranging from painting
to street art and animation. He most recently participated in art residency programs in
Lir Art Space, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2013), Asian Cultural Council in New York, Fine
Arts Work Center, Massachusetts (2015), and Ongoing Art Center, Tokyo (2016).

His work is influenced by pop culture, graffiti, children’s drawings, and tattoos – creating
pieces that challenge people’s views on fine art. He is known locally for his on-going
series of Garapata street art (the Tagalog word for ‘tick’), filling public spaces with the
notion of ‘infecting’ the city with his art.

Fernandez has exhibited extensively in top galleries in the Philippines and abroad,
including in Paris, New York, and the Singapore Biennale. He recently participated in
the Melbourne Art Fair 2018 with fellow Filipino, Melbourne-based artist Diokno Pasilan.

Neil Pasilan (1971-present)

Brother to artist Diokno Pasilan, Neil is a Bacolod-born artist from a family of craftsmen
and boat builders. He is a self-taught visual artist who displayed creativity as a child.
Pasilan has moulded clay figures for most of his life and continues to use this in his
work.

Currently based in Manila, he has become known for his paintings that hold multiple
layers, using different mediums to expose new forms. Pasilan’s work has been
represented by the Drawing Room of Manila, Artinformal Gallery, and West Gallery. A
notable collaboration with Raffy Napay was featured in Art Fair Philippines in 2017.

Kawayan de Guia (1979-present)

This Baguio-born artist is son to legendary filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik and German artist

Katrin de Guia, and was mentored by famous Baguio artists BenCab and Santiago
Bose. Kawayan’s art contemplates the Philippines’ changing urban culture. He illogically
arranges texts and icons to compose a painting, depicting the human form in new ways.
His work draws from popular culture, the media and mass consumerism. He also
creates sculptures and massive art installations – such as his Bomba series – and
blings out discarded Jukeboxes.

In 2011, he initiated the Ax(iS) Art Project, promoting the local artist community in the
chilly hill station of Baguio and the Cordilleras. Kawayan has held numerous solo
exhibitions in the Philippines and abroad. He was a guest curator for the Singapore
Biennale in 2013.

Patricia Perez Eustaquio (1977-present)

Eustaquio is an artist who works in various mediums, experimenting with different

materials through installation, drawing, and painting. The frames from her painting are
cut, resulting in canvases that evoke images of wilted flowers and carcasses. Her
sculptures are fashioned from fabric, covering objects with resin-treated silk or crochet.
The object is then removed, to allow the fabric to retain its position, folds and drapes.
Her work examines the ideas of perception and memory. Eustaquio’s solo exhibitions
have been held in Manila, New York, Taiwan, and Singapore. In 2016, her site-specific
installation was featured in the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.

Martha Atienza (1981-present)

Born to a Dutch mother and Filipino father, Atienza continues to live both in the
Philippines and Holland. After receiving her Bachelor in Fine Arts from the Academy of
Visual Arts and Design in the Netherlands, she accepted residency grants from
England, Australia, New York and Singapore. Her video art reflects snapshots of reality
and the environment drawn from her Filipino and Dutch roots.

She is currently interested in using contemporary art as an aid to bring about social
change. In 2017, she won the Baloise Art Prize at Art Basel International Fair for her
video installation Our Islands, 11°16`58.4” 123°45`07.0”E., which shows a traditional
Catholic procession from the Philippines under water.

Elmer Borlongan (1967-present)

The Manila-based artist often refers to Filipino culture in his paintings, drawing from
everyday scenes of local urban life, which sharply depict an imperfect world.
Borlongan’s work is a favorite among collectors and at auctions. In his first major work,
Rehimen (1988), he uses bold brushwork to manipulate the Marlboro emblem, which is
guarded by a pack of dogs as an emaciated figure lays in despair in the foreground. The
painting represents the marginalized Filipino people who are living in poverty, with no
way of moving forward. In February 2018, Borlongan celebrated a retrospective of 25
years in art, showcasing more than 150 paintings and 50 drawings featured in the
Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

Traditional Art in the Philippines

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Traditional art is a part of a culture of a certain group of people, with skills and
knowledge passed down through generations from masters to apprentices. It portrays
the simple life before the massive growth of a country.

The traditional arts in the Philippines include folk architecture, maritime transport,
famous sculpture in the Philippines, weaving, carving, folk performing arts, folk (oral)
literature, folk graphic and plastic arts, ornament, pottery, and other artistic expressions
of traditional culture. Among the most famous forms of traditional art in the Philippines is
weaving. Each island (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) has its own distinctive style of
weaving to show the Philippine culture.

Notable Traditional Artists in the Philippines

1. Fernando Amorsolo: “Lavanderas”

2. Juan Luna: “Spoliarium”
3. Carlos “Botong” Francisco: “Bayanihan”
4. Guillermo Tolentino: “Oblation”
5. Napoleon Abueva: “Kaganapan”
6. Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo: “Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho”
7. Mauro Malang Santos (Malang): “Street Fight”
8. Yabing Masalon Dulo: B’laan Ikat Master Weaver
Contemporary Arts in the Philippines

The term contemporary art refers to art produced today. It can be through the form of
painting, sculpture in the Philippines, photography, installation, performance, and video
art. However, the exact starting point of contemporary arts in the Philippines and in the
world is still debated and unclear but many art historians consider the late 1960s or
early 1970s to be a suitable estimate. Read the list below of the Filipino artists who
exhibited some of the best contemporary art examples in the Philippines.

Notable Contemporary Artists in the Philippines

1. Ronald Ventura: “Crack in the Hull”

2. Andres Barrioquinto: “The Back of Love”
3. Elmer Borlongan: “Quiapo”
4. Jose John Santos III: “Untitled”
5. Annie Cabigting: “Kunst Museum”
6. Jigger Cruz: “Blares of the Opposite”
7. Mark Justiniani: “Ang Hari”
8. Alfredo Esquillo: “Daang Ligid Cruz”
9. Marina Cruz: “White on Red Threads”
10. Buen Calubayan: “Bundok Banahaw”
11. Benedicto Cabrera: “Family”
12. Oscar Villamiel: “Cheap Medicine”

Indigenous Arts in the Philippines

Indigenous art in the Philippines is made by the indigenous peoples of the Philippines
that include works in raw materials such as an extract from trees, fruits, and
vegetables. 

Check out the list of indigenous Filipino artists who have preserved some of the
Philippines’ most important indigenous traditions that are considered Philippine art

Notable Indigenous Artists in the Philippines

1. Uwang Ahadas: Yakan musical instruments player from Lamitan, Basilan

2. Magdalena Gamayo: Textile (Abel) weaver from Pinili, Ilocos Norte
3. Eduardo Mutuc: Metalsmith and artist from Apalit, Pampanga
4. Lang Dulay: Textile (T’Nalak) weaver from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
5. Samaon Sulaima: Musician, Kutyapi player from Maganoy, Maguindanao
6. Haja Amina Appi: Pandan mat weaver from Ungos Matata, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi
7. Federico Caballero: Chanter and educator from Calinog, Iloilo
8. Ginaw Bilog: Poet from Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro
9. Salinta Monon: Textile (Inabal) weaver from Bansalan, Davao del Sur
10. Masino Intaray: Chanter and musician from Palawan
11. Darhata Sawabi: Textile weaver from Parang, Sulu
12. Teofilo Garcia: Gourd hatmaker from San Quintin, Abra
13. Alonzo Saclag: Traditional dancer and musician from Lubuagan, Kalinga

Source: CNN Philippines

List of National Artists of the Philippines

If there are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines, there are also thousands of
Filipino artists that are making a name across the globe. So if you’re interested in
Philippine paintings, visual arts in the Philippines, sculpture in the Philippines, or just
Filipino artworks and Philippine arts in general, the best way to start off is to learn all
about the artforms in the Philippines and the talented people behind them.

Here we’ve rounded up all the National Artists of the Philippines that you should know:

Awardee Date of A

1. Fernando Amorsolo (++) 1972

2. Francisca R. Aquino (+) 1973

3. Carlos V. Francisco (++) 1973

4. Amado V. Hernandez (++) 1973

5. Antonio J. Molina (+) 1973

6. Juan F. Nakpil (+) 1973

7. Guillermo E. Tolentino (+) 1973

8. Jose Garcia Villa (+) 1973

9. Napoleon V. Abueva 1976

10. Lamberto V. Avellana (+) 1976

11. Leonor O. Goquingco (+) 1976

12. Nick Joaquin (+) 1976

13. Jovita Fuentes (+) 1976

14. Victorio C. Edades (+) 1976

15. Pablo S. Antonio (++) 1976

16. Vicente S. Manansala (++) 1981

17. Carlos P. Romulo (+) 1982

18. Gerardo de Leon (++) 1982

19. Honorata “Atang” dela Rama (++) 1987

20. Antonino R. Buenaventura (+) 1988

21. Lucrecia R. Urtula (+) 1988

22. Lucrecia R. Kasilag (+) 1989

23. Francisco Arcellana (+) 1990

24. Cesar F. Legaspi (+) 1990

25. Leandro V. Locsin (+) 1990

26. Hernando R. Ocampo (++) 1991

27. Lucio D. San Pedro (+) 1991

28. Lino Brocka (++) 1997

29. Felipe P. de Leon (++) 1997

30. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (++) 1997

31. Rolando S. Tinio (++) 1997

32. Levi Celerio (+) 1997

33. N.V.M. Gonzales (++) 1997

34. Arturo R. Luz 1997

35. Jose M. Maceda (+) 1997

36. Carlos Quirino (+) 1997

37. J. Elizalde Navarro (++) 1999

38. Prof. Andrea Veneracion (+) 1999

39. Edith L. Tiempo (+) 1999

40. Daisy H. Avellana (+) 1999

41. Ernani J. Cuenco (++) 1999

42. F. Sionil Jose 2001

43. Ang Kiukok (+) 2001

44. Ishmael Bernal (++) 2001

45. Severino Montano (++) 2001

46. Jose T. Joya (++) 2003

47. Virgilio S. Almario 2003

48. Alejandro R. Roces (+) 2003

49. Eddie S. Romero (+) 2003

50. Salvador F. Bernal (+) 2003

 51. Benedicto R. Cabrera 2006

52. Abdulmari Asia Imao 2006

53. Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera 2006

54. Ramon Obusan (+) 2006

55. Fernando Poe Jr. (++) 2006

56. Archt. Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr. (+) 2006

57. Ramon O. Valera (++) 2006

58. Manuel Conde (++) 2009

59. Lázaro Francísco (++) 2009

60. Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (+) 2009

61. Alice Reyes 2014

62. Francisco V. Coching (++) 2014

63. Cirilo F. Bautista 2014

64. Francisco F. Feliciano 2014

65. Ramon P. Santos 2014

66. Jose Maria V. Zaragoza (++) 2014

Source: Official Gazette of the Philippines

Art is something that tells us stories we ignored and shows us beauty in chaos we failed
to see. Don’t be intimidated by art. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Art in the Philippines

Q: What are the forms of artworks in the Philippines?
A: There are different artworks in the Philippines like traditional arts, indigenous arts,
and contemporary arts in the Philippines or modern art in the Philippines. 

These forms of arts include Philippine paintings, visual arts in the Philippines,
performing artists in the Philippines, sculpture in the Philippines, Philippine wood
carving, and more.

Q: Who are the national artists of the Philippines?

A: Whether it’s traditional art in the Philippines, visual arts in the Philippines, or
contemporary arts in the Philippines, there is surely a Filipino artist that has made a
name in the field. Here’s a list of the national Filipino artists to know: 
1. Fernando Amorsolo (Painting)
2. Francisca R. Aquino (Dance)
3. Carlos V. Francisco (Painting)
4. Amado V. Hernandez (Literature)
5. Antonio J. Molina (Music)
6. Juan F. Nakpil (Architecture)
7. Guillermo E. Tolentino (Sculpture)
8. Jose Garcia Villa (Literature)
9. Napoleon V. Abueva (Sculpture)
10. Lamberto V. Avellana (Theater and Film)
11. Leonor O. Goquingco (Dance)
12. Nick Joaquin (Literature)
13. Jovita Fuentes (Music)
14. Victorio C. Edades (Painting)
15. Pablo S. Antonio (Architecture)
16. Vicente S. Manansala (Painting)
17. Carlos P. Romulo (Literature)
18. Gerardo de Leon (Cinema)
19. Honorata “Atang” dela Rama (Theater and Music)
20. Antonino R. Buenaventura (Music)
21. Lucrecia R. Urtula (Dance)
22. Lucrecia R. Kasilag (Music)
23. Francisco Arcellana (Literature)
24. Cesar F. Legaspi (Visual Arts)
25. Leandro V. Locsin (Architecture)
26. Hernando R. Ocampo (Visual Arts)
27. Lucio D. San Pedro (Music)
28. Lino Brocka (Cinema)
29. Felipe P. de Leon (Music)
30. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (Theater)
31. Rolando S. Tinio (Theater & Literature)
32. Levi Celerio (Music & Literature)
33. N.V.M. Gonzales (Literature)
34. Arturo R. Luz (Visual Arts)
35. Jose M. Maceda (Music)
36. Carlos Quirino (Historical Literature)
37. J. Elizalde Navarro (Painting)
38. Prof. Andrea Veneracion (Music)
39. Edith L. Tiempo (Literature)
40. Daisy H. Avellana (Theater)
41. Ernani J. Cuenco (Music)
42. F. Sionil Jose (Literature)
43. Ang Kiukok (Visual Arts)
44. Ishmael Bernal (Cinema)
45. Severino Montano (Theater)
46. Jose T. Joya (Visual Arts – Painting)
47. Virgilio S. Almario (Literature)
48. Alejandro R. Roces (Literature)
49. Eddie S. Romero (Cinema & Broadcast Arts)
50. Salvador F. Bernal (Theater Design)
51. Benedicto R. Cabrera (Visual Arts)
52. Abdulmari Asia Imao (Visual Arts)
53. Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera (Literature)
54. Ramon Obusan (Dance)
55. Fernando Poe Jr. (Cinema)
56. Archt. Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr. (Landscape Architecture)
57. Ramon O. Valera (Fashion Design)
58. Manuel Conde (Film)
59. Lázaro Francísco (Literature)
60. Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (Visual Arts)
61. Alice Reyes (Dance)
62. Francisco V. Coching (Visual Arts)
 63. Cirilo F. Bautista (Literature)
64. Francisco F. Feliciano (Music)
65. Ramon P. Santos (Music)
66. Jose Maria V. Zaragoza (Architecture)

Source: Official Gazette of the Philippines

Q: Where to see museums in the Philippines?

A: Here are the places to see the works of local artists in the Philippines and appreciate
the beauty and meaning of each Filipino painting, Filipino sculpture, modern art in the
Philippines, and so much more.

1. Ayala Museum
2. National Museum of the Philippines
3. Museo Pambata
4. Pinto Art Museum
5. The Mind Museum
6. The Dessert Museum
7. BenCab Museum
8. Lakbay Museo
9. Metropolitan Museum of Manila
10. Balay Negrense Museum
11. Museo Sugbo (Cebu Provincial Museum)
12. Davao Museum of History and Ethnography
13. Museum of Three Cultures