Soul Making and Deriving Meaning from Art

1. Soul making
 To make sense of language, semantics and grammar are considered. Apart from this, context and symbolisms are
considered to understand verbal/written works. In art, you need to understand the visual elements where art was
grounded on.
 The audience must be aware of the style, form, and content to fully appreciate visual arts.
 Style is the distinctive handling of elements and media associated with the work of an individual artist, a school, a
movement, or a specific culture or time period.
 Form is what the audience sees – a finished product put harmoniously (or not) according to the different principles of
design. Form is the totality of the artwork, including the textures, colors, and shapes, and shapes utilized by the artist.
 Content, on the other hand, includes not only its form but also its subject matter and underlying meanings or themes.
 The perceiver of the artwork must take into consideration the totality of the elements, underlying themes and
motifs, and composition.
2. Improvisation
 It can be defined as doing something without prior preparation. There is a decision to act upon something that may
not necessarily be planned. It has become an integral part of the arts. Some say it is a reaction against the stiffness
in the arts during the 20th century.
 The unexpectedness of the changes brought about by improvisation makes the artwork to have a distinctive quality that
creates its individuality and identity.
 Some artists subscribe to the idea of allowing chances in the process of
producing the work. Examples
 Artists capturing the gloom brought about by an approaching storm or the beauty of a meteor shower at night.
 Performance arts, dance, and visual arts combining to create new forms of artworks using a new medium.
Performances were called “Happenings” which later on paved the way for modern body art and performance art.
 Action painting (started by Georges Mathieu) wherein paint is spontaneously dribbled, splashed or smeared onto the
canvas, rather than being carefully applied.
 The last image shows how improvisation allows for a certain extent of freedom for the artist to improvise and allow
the subject to perform and embody the artwork itself. To a certain extent, it allows the artist to explore and think
about how the audience can actually be a part of the work in itself. Improvisation may have been a revolutionary
concept when it comes to art because it blurs the line of reality and that of imagination.
 “The world is a slightly better place for having improvisation in it than it was before. There's something about it
that says something positive about the human spirit, that a bunch of people can get together and by following a few
simple traffic rules can create art and can entertain an audience and can thrill and exalt each other.”
3. Appropriation
 If an artist created a painting and displayed it in a museum, who do you think owns the artwork: the artist or his
intended audience? During the 20th century, people asked whether or not the act of getting meaning gives the
ownership of the artwork to the viewer rather than the artist itself. This paved way for the emergence of appropriation
artists who promote the idea that authorship relies on the viewer. If so, appropriation artists can take as much as he wants
from an existing artwork.
 Appropriation has been practiced throughout history and back then, if an apprentice needs to hone his skills in his
craft, he would be allowed to use his master’s work to copy. The apprentice is trying to explore his application of
techniques to something he is more familiar with.
 It gets problematic when the appropriation artist would get bits and pieces from other works and incorporate these
elements into his/her own work. Moreover, the artist avoids the responsibility for putting up the details of other works
integrating them into his/her own, the perspectives of other artists that get lost.
 There is a very thin line that differentiates appropriation art and forgery.
 Forgery can be classified into outright copies and pastiches. Nowadays, forgery can be in the form of creating an
approximate of what an artist would do by prediction.
  The intentions of the artists are often questioned since issues of plagiarism or forgery arise. Some would argue that
appropriation is done for the recognition of the images they copied. There is hope on the part of the artist for the viewers
to see the original work in a new perspective.

Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance artist and engineer, known for paintings like "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa,”
and for inventions like a flying machine. Da Vinci was born in a farmhouse outside the village of Anchiano in Tuscany,
Italy (about 18 miles west of Florence) on April 15, 1452. Born out of wedlock to respected Florentine notary Ser Piero
and a young peasant woman named Caterina, da Vinci was raised by his father and his stepmother.   At the age of five, he
moved to his father’s estate in nearby Vinci (the town from which his surname derives), where he lived with his uncle and
grandparents.
Topic: 7 De Vincian Principles Those seven principles are:

 Curiosita: An insatiable curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning. After
all, have you ever met a successful person who does not claim to be a veracious learner?

 Dimonstrazione: A commitment to test knowledge through experience, persistence and a willingness to

 Sensazione: Continual refinement of the senses as the means to enliven experience. To be innovative we
must be aware of what is going on around us. One of the important business topics that it relates to that is
active listening. Far too often in business we only listen passively and as a result miss vital information
that could serve as the inspiration for some new idea.

 Sfumato: The literal translation for this term is going up in smoke. It is about our willingness to embrace
ambiguity, paradox and uncertainty. As the old saying goes, the only two things that are certain in
business are uncertainty and change.

 Arte/Scienza: Developing a balance between logic and imagination. After all, imagination without logic
is day dreaming, and logic without imagination is boring. Other terms for this are balancing between art
and science as well as whole brain thinking.

 Corporalita: This is about maintaining a healthy body as well as a healthy mind. Have you ever seen a
really unhealthy person who was creative? While there are a few exceptions here and there, they are very
rare. One of the core concepts of da Vinci’s approach is keeping our bodies fit being a function of
keeping our minds fit. Fit minds lead to more innovative and creative solutions.

 Connessione: This is the simple recognition of the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena. As
we talked about early on, it isn’t always just an issue of comi.
Through trading relationships among Asian countries, they started sharing their culture and belief systems. China has a rich history
when it comes to culture and arts and Japan was initially influenced by them but later on, opened themselves to the Western world, allowing
for the fusion of East and West. Both countries’ artworks are concrete manifestations of their cultural identity.
Philippine art was a product of several periods on history and depending on the context, art in our country has served various uses from
everyday living to expression of belief systems.

Chinese Art
 China is the forefront of economic dev’t and it has been at the leading edge of dev’t especially in terms of cultural dev’t.
 In the past, the Chinese were able to produce primitive artworks. Excavated pieces show bronze vessels with intricate
designs dating from 2nd millennium BCE.
 During the Zhou Dynasty, culture flourished tremendously. It was a parallel period with that of Greece’s Golden Age and
metal works befitting the royal family were produced in abundance. The material Jade was also popular for artworks.
 Confucianism was the dominant way of life, they believed that in order for society to work, one must learn how to
 sympathize to others. Such principles became evident in most artworks depicting everyday life and how these social
interactions come to play.
 Because of interactions with Western missionaries from India, Indian models inspired a lot of Chinese artists for a few
centuries. By the start of the 6th century, Chinese art highlighted their very own culture. Paintings depicted magical
places and realms from imagination with Chinese influences. It is also believed that a great power coming from a higher
spirit is the one moving the artist and his/her work together.
 Most paintings were done in monumental styles and artists also used sharp brushstrokes to
provide detail in their works.
 Porcelain is one of the commonly used items to make decorative ornaments. Moreover, artifacts from excavation
sites show intricate Chinese works.
 Artistry is passed down from generation to generation and like most Chinese art, the focal point in these vases depict a
central theme, nature. They believe man is an integral part of nature ensuring that there is a certain balance in it.
 But part of their culture is emphasizing a form of social life, giving importance to communities and interactions among people.
In addition, some of the common overarching themes of said art include daily activities, war and violence, death, and nature.
 Chinese artworks are infused with a lot of symbolisms. Art becomes an avenue for the artist to convey his reflection of the things
he/she is aware of.
 Chinese show respect for their ancestors and departed relatives. Moreover, most of the departed ancient Chinese were placed in
either gold or bronze vessels, depending on their social status.
Japanese Art
 It has undergone a series of transitions and periodization, along with the country itself that has become into a modern
cultural mixing pot. It is evident how the people were able to infuse local and indigenous materials with modern Western
subjects and focal points.
 Korean and Chinese influences are evident in Japanese art. One of the ceramic products created by the Japanese is called
Haniwa which are made up of clay and placed beside burial spots for unknown reasons.
 Japan’s native religion is Shitoism. It subscribes to beliefs such as being one with nature and embracing the notion of
existence of many gods.
 In trading with China, they were influenced by the Chinese with their religious beliefs and practices. Buddhism
became an integral part of Japanese culture. Artworks of Buddha were produces and temples became staples in key
places. Art became an expression of worship for the Japanese.
 China also influenced Japan in terms of paintings. After Japan isolated itself, their culture flourished. The Japanese
style of painting leaned toward abstract and naturalistic handling. The artist is given the free reign for his work. Many
artists focused on individual portraits, elements of nature, and scenes from everyday life in creating their artworks.
 Despite the Chinese influence, the Japanese adapted a more minimalistic take on their paintings. This is a stark
contrast with the extravagant and sometimes over-the-top designs of the Chinese.
 The Japanese also developed a kind of painting called the ukiyo-e, which was crafted through woodcut prints
wherein such technique that used lines and colors in a very distinctive manner influenced and intrigued Western artists.
 An example would be the woodcuts of Hiroshige and Sharaku who had a lasting impact on Western artists like
Vincent van Gogh and Edouard Manet.
 It has undergone a series of transitions and periodization, along with the country itself that has become into a modern
cultural mixing pot. It is evident how the people were able to infuse local and indigenous materials with modern Western
subjects and focal points.
 Korean and Chinese influences are evident in Japanese art. One of the ceramic products created by the Japanese is
called Haniwa which are made up of clay and placed beside burial spots for unknown reasons.
 Japan’s native religion is Shitoism. It subscribes to beliefs such as being one with nature and embracing the notion of existence of
many gods.

Philippine Art
Throughout history, different art forms have emerged in the Philippine art scene. Before the colonizers, ethnic minorities
have used art not only for daily activities but also for religious rituals and practices. These include used pottery, weaving,
carving, and the use of metalwork and jewelry.
 Pottery is one of the earliest art forms used by the early Filipinos. One of the most prominent artifacts is
the Manunggal Jar found in Palawan. It is a representation of the early Filipino beliefs and practices.
Weaving was one of the earliest forms of art expressions in the Philippines. One of the most popular
artisans of weaving is the people from the Cordilleras, which are known for colorful woven cloth having
Arts Appreciation religious and practical value.

 The T’boli people from Mindanao are also known for their woven abaca cloth called t’nalak which is
used to make ornaments, which also represent their beliefs through symbols.

 In Mindanao, the Tausug and Maranao people are known for their okir, which are designs applied to their
woodcarvings. Their common subjects include the sarimanok, naga, and the pako rabong. Each subject is
a representation for a certain them or motif but generally, these symbols depict their beliefs as a people.

 Initially, jewelry was used as amulets for protection to drive away evil spirits. Eventually, some minority
groups from the Cordilleras and Cotabato used jewelry as ornaments integrated in their clothing.

 When the Spaniards came, they introduced Christianity and integrated their practices and beliefs. Art was
used by the Spaniards to propagate their Christian faith and it is evident with the construction of
churches. Such churches house various relics and paintings.

 Being under colonial rule, Filipinos wanted to express their indignation and desire for liberation. Art
became one of the avenues for Filipino patriots and nationalists. One of the famous works that expressed
Filipino nationalism and stood against the colonizers would be Juan Luna’s “Spoliarium.” This large-
scale academic painting garnered a gold medal and signified that the reformists could come at part with
their European counterparts. At the same time, Luna’s win signaled the start of the Filipino’s call for
equality.

 When the Philippines was liberated from the Spanish rule, the Americans took over to establish a colonial
government. They propagated their culture and beliefs through education. Art had a role in advertising
American-controlled markets.

 After WWII, the country saw itself as an independent state transitioning into the formation of its national
identity. Art focused on modern takes and a debate emerged on whether art should be done a “proletarian
art” or “art for art’s sake.”

 The 1960s proved to be a period of modernism and dynamism with a lot of styles, techniques, and
methods emerging. Most artworks were reflections of the political, social, and economic situation of the
Philippines during the Marcos administration.

 It was a period wherein people embodied and advocated for nationalist ideals. Beautiful and idealistic
imagery was replaced with aggressive undertones.

 When Martial Law was declared, social realism became the norm. Most artworks were forms of protest
against the government’s suppression of freedom of speech and expression. In addition, some of the
works reflected issues like economic problems, land reforms, gender rights, worker’s rights, and cultural
minorities plaguing the Filipino people brought about by Martial Law.

 Eventually, photography has evolved into an art form, which highlights various artistic expressions
evident in a variety of events, scenes, and activities.