Contemporary Philippine

Arts from the Regions

Midterm
Notes
Contemporary Art
Forms in the
Philippines
 LESSON I
Contemporary Art is defined as “the art of „today.
-Art produced from 1970’s to present by artists living today
-A 21st-century art created by Filipino artists originating from the different regions
in the Philippines reflecting technological progression and cultural diversity.

Philippine Arts History

I. Pre- Conquest
- Art before the coming of colonizers.
- Indigenous, emphasize the idea that our ancestors have been making art even
before colonization
- Everyday expressions were all integrated within rituals that marked significant
moments in a community’s life.
-Kanyaw- a festival or a ceremony of the indigenous mountain people of Northern
Luzon in the Philippines. It is a socio-religious ritual where chickens, pigs and/or
carabaos are butchered as a sacrifice and feasted on. This is usually a thanksgiving
to their god Kabunyan.
- Manunggul Jar is a secondary burial jar excavated from a Neolithic burial site in
the Manunggul cave of the Tabon Caves at Lipuun Point in Palawan, Philippines. It
dates from 890–710 B.C. and the two prominent figures at the top handle of its
cover represent the journey of the soul to the afterlife.
- Pintados- The tattoos themselves were motifs inspired by nature. For men these
motifs were seen as symbols of bravery and fierceness in battle, and for women
these were symbols of beauty and fertility
- Baybayin Also known as Alibata.
Widely used in Luzon and other parts of the Philippines prior to and during the
16th and 17th centuries before being replaced by the Latin alphabet during the
period of Spanish colonization.

II. Islamic Colonial Period

Stated in Sulu in the 13th century, when Sayvid Abbubakar of Arabia arrived.
Sayvid Abbubakar- He is a missionary who facilitated the building of religious
schools, and teaching of Arabic reading, and writing.
*Quran reading was introduced.
*Arabic language and writing were taught.
 Architecture- Mosque/Torogan/ Masjid was built
 Visual Arts
* Sculpture and Painting
- Ukkil/Okkir/Sarimanok/Sunduk was dominant in every Muslim design.
Sarimanok- a legendary bird of the Maranao people, who originate from Mindanao,
an island in the Philippines, and part of Philippine mythology. It comes from the
words sari and manok. represents good fortune and prosperity and is also an
essential trademark of their art forms.
Sunduk- grave markers commemorate and mark the resting places of the dead.

III. Spanish Period

- Arts conformed to the church.

- Images of saints and interpretations of biblical narratives were considered
essential to worship.
- In churches, santos are displayed in a decorative altar called the retablo
RETABLO, SANTOS, SENAKULO
- Doctrina Cristiana- The first printed book in the Philippines compiling song
lyrics, commandments, sacraments and other catechetical material.

- Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas

The first scientific map of the Philippines .
Created in 1734, by Jesuit priest Fr. Pedro Murillo, collaborated with
homegrown talents, artists Francisco Suarez and engraver Nicolas de la Cruz
Bagay.

- Spolarium- Painted by Filipino painter Juan Luna.

- Luna, working on canvas, spent eight months completing the painting which
depicts dying gladiators. Philippine national treasure "Spoliarium" represents
the struggle for independence, whereas "Guernica" is a widely known emblem of
the opposition to violence and conflict.

IV. American Colonial Period

- Art illustration, advertising,and Commercial Design gained popularity and

incorporated in Fine Arts.
- Painting themes still largely favored Genre paintings, Landscapes and Still Life;
Portraits are reserved for high- ranking officials
- Oblation- The Oblation is a concrete statue by Philippine National Artist
Guillermo Tolentino which serves as the iconic symbol of the University of the
Philippines. It depicts a man facing upward with arms outstretched, symbolizing
selfless offering of oneself to his union.

V. Japanese Period
(1941- 1945)
Visual Arts
*Paintings and Sculpture- (Aggression, nationalism, symbolic protest, Aspiration for
peace)
*Propaganda
*Modern Art
Architecture
* Public Works

Triumvirate of Phil Art

1. Carlos Modesto “ Botong” Francisco
2. Victorio Edades
3. Galo Ocampo

VI. Post-War Republic

Philippine Architecture was dominated by the American style.
During the liberation of Manila by the Americans in1945 large portions of
Intramuros and Manila were destroyed.

Architecture
1946 - Philippines expressed its identity by implementing Modernism
1947 - a corps of architects and engineers were tasked to study the modern US and
Latin American capitals and formulate a masterplan for Manila

The Art Association of the Philippines& the Philippine Art Gallery – helped o
introduce modern art locally and create patronage among art-buyers.
-Modern, conservative, abstract, experimental public art

V. Contemporary

Figurative,
non- figurative art

Commercial
buildings,
malls, subdivisions

LESSON 2
Art Forms in the Philippines

1. Visual Arts is the art meant to be perceived by sight. This includes the following:
• Drawing is a practice in which images are created by using a medium (e.g.
pencil, pen) on a surface by marks of lines and shapes.
• Painting is both the art of applying paint (using a brush, palette knife,
airbrush, etc.) on a surface, and its result. The most common mediums used
are watercolor, oil, acrylic, and spray paint.
• Sculpture is the art of making three-dimensional pieces. It has four basic
techniques:
o Carving involves removing materials from the medium using various
tools, such as knives and chisels.
o Modeling is the process of gradually adding and reworking soft or
malleable materials to form the sculpture, rather than removing.
o Assembling refers to a technique of using different objects and
materials collectively called “found objects” and glued, attached, or
held together into one piece.
 o Casting is more often used for mass productions of a piece. This
involves using a mold which will be poured on with a liquid material,
such as plastic or rubber, which will then harden and form a cast.
• Printmaking is a technique done for reproducing a piece of art.
o Serigraphy, also referred to as silkscreen printing, is a technique that
uses a screen and squeegee to push paint onto the surface below.
o Relief utilizes a block that is carved, then painted on the raised areas,
after which is pressed on a surface.
o Intaglio is the opposite of relief printing because the engravings are
used to apply paint on so that the final product will have an embossed
effect. This is used in printing banknotes.
• Architecture is the art and science of designing and planning structures,
such as buildings and houses.
• Applied Arts is the art of applying design to everyday objects.
o Industrial design is meant to create and design commercial objects
and products with the aim to improve functionality and value in
relation to its design.
o Graphic design combines images and typography mainly done for
commercial purposes, such as advertising.
o Fashion design is the process of designing and creating clothing.
o Interior design aims to create an environment inside a structure that
is functional, safe, as well as aesthetically pleasing.
• Photography is the process of capturing still images and utilizing light with
a camera. The most common types are:
o Portrait Photography which aims to capture stills of people,
o Landscape Photography which aims to capture natural landscapes
and wildlife,
o Mobile Photography wherein the photographer uses a mobile
phone‟s camera,
o Commercial Photography which is meant to showcase or advertise a
product,
o Food Photography which captures food, o and Sports Photography
which captures moments in sports.
• Handicrafts is the art of producing useful and decorative objects with simple
tools. Examples of handicrafts include embroidery, woodcrafts, metalcrafts,
ceramics, weaving, and paper art.

2. Performing Arts is any art produced by using one‟s voice, body, or presence
usually presented in front of an audience. This includes the following:
• Music is the use of one‟s voice or instruments to produce sound. Musical
genres in the country include pop, choir, rock, hip-hop, and folk music.
• Dance utilizes the artist‟s body movements, facial expressions, as well as
presence to produce a piece. It is usually accompanied by music.
• Theater integrates spoken dialogue, acting with body movements and facial
expressions, literary elements (e.g. plot), design (e.g. costume, theater space,
props), and music to create a whole production.
• Spoken word is a performance of a poem that focuses on enunciation and
delivery.

3. Literary Arts is the art of utilizing words and written language. This includes
the following:
 • Poetry is a form of literature that has a rhyme scheme and a unit of rhythm,
called meter.
• Legend is defined as a story that is used to explain an event or phenomenon
that is handed down from generation to generation.
• Novel is a lengthy narrative, usually of different individuals. Genres of
novels include mystery, science fiction, horror or thriller, romance, and
history.
• Short story is a short fictional work, which can usually be read in a few
minutes. Examples of short stories include anecdotes, fables, fairy tales, and
parables.
• Electronic literature is a new form of literature made to be viewed in
devices, such as computers and mobile phones. Websites, such as Wattpad,
are popular to the public nowadays, especially teenagers. Additionally,
printed books are now converted to be viewed on electronic devices which are
called “e-books”.

4. Media Arts are forms of art that are produced, shown, and make use of media
technologies, such as computers, television, film, radio, and mobile phones.
• Video art is considered to be the abstract form of video making because it
does not rely on most of the elements of traditional videos, such as actors,
dialogue, and plot.
• Video games are interactive forms of art that are played on a computer or
console.
• Animation is the art of making 2D or 3D figures and images move.
• Digital art makes use of digital technology to create an artwork.
o Digital painting is recreating traditional painting using a computer or
mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet.
o Photo manipulation is altering a photo through an editing software,
such as Adobe Photoshop, to create a surrealistic image.
• Filmmaking is the process of capturing moving images generally made for
media broadcast. The process of making a film involves conceptualizing,
writing, and producing a story which involves casting talents, enacting the
screenplay, shooting scenes, recording sound and music, editing, and
screening.
 LESSON 3

Contemporary Art Forms and Practices: Nationwide

Bahay na Bato – It is a house that is based on the bahay kubo architecture but
made with more stable and durable materials with influences from Spanish and
Chinese architecture.
Bahay Kubo – The epitome of Filipino vernacular architecture, it is a house usually
erected with stilts and made of plant materials, such as bamboo and dried coconut
leaves for roofs.
• Bangka – A collective term for the diverse maritime crafts across the country used
for transport, fishing, and trading
• Harana – a traditional act of courtship in the form of a serenade
• Kundiman – a love song written in Tagalog used in courtship
• Neovernacular Architecture – Vernacular or traditional architecture combined
with modern architecture (e.g. Coconut Palace, San Miguel Corporations Headquarters,
Cultural Center of the Philippines)
• Original Pilipino Music (OPM) – songs composed by Filipino artists in different
genres and styles
• Pasyon – A retelling of the Passion of Jesus Christ through readings, chants,
performances, and narratives
• Senakulo – a dramatic play or reenactment of the Passion of Jesus Christ
performed during the Holy Week
• Tanaga – poetry based on the Japanese Haiku, has 4 lines, 7 syllables for each
line, and has a rhyme scheme of AABB
• Zarzuela – a lyric-dramatic play introduced by the Spaniards that blends
theatrical drama, singing, and dancing which started as a form of propaganda against
foreign rule

Region 1 (Ilocos Region)

• Bolinao mats (Pangasinan) – Mats made from dried buri or palm leaves cut into
strips and woven. Some strips are dyed to make distinct patterns and designs.
• Burnay (Ilocos Sur) – It is the tradition of making jars from clay kneaded by
carabaos before being worked on by the potter originally used for aging vinegar, wine, and
bagoong.
• Inabel (Ilocos) – Traditional plain or patterned weaving originated in Ilocos using
cotton o Binakol – A type of abel weave that uses geometric optical patterns which are
represent waves of the sea meant to ward off evil spirits
• Pandango Oasiwas (originated in Pangasinan) – A Spanish fandango dance
performed when fishermen celebrate a day of good yield with the
dancers swinging and dancing while holding lighted lamps
• Sayaw sa Bangko (originated in Pangasinan) – It is a folk dance in which the
dancers perform their dances on top of multiple benches.
• Vigan architecture (Ilocos Sur) – Established in the 16 th century, it is a town that
has preserved Spanish Renaissance Architecture.
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
• Batok (Kalinga) – The practice of tattooing by using a thorn attached to a stick
and a mixture of charcoal and water. In the tribes of Kalinga, men earn tattoos to show
pride and achievements, while women get it to beautify themselves and show wealth.
• Gangsa (Kalinga, Ifugao) - A single handheld smooth-surfaced gong with a narrow
rim
• Ikat (Ifugao) – The technique of dyeing the cotton yarns before weaving
• Labba (Ifugao) – A wide basket made from bamboo used to carry produce from the
fields
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Ifugao) – Rice Terraces that are built on
hills and slopes of fields of rice. These are spread across four municipalities in the Ifugao
Province.

Region 2 (Cagayan Valley)

• Bakwat (Nueva Viscaya) – A weaved cotton belt worn by mothers after giving birth
• Butaka (Isabela) – A wooden chair with long “arm rests” that are actually for the
legs as it was originally used by women when giving birth
• Sambali (Cagayan) – A war dance meant to depict the fight between Christians
and Non-Christians who opposed Spanish influence performed during the Sambali
Festival
• Vakul (Batanes) – A headgear made from dried Voyavoy leaves worn by women to
provide them protection from the heat

Region 3 (Central Luzon)

• Pabalat (Bulacan) – A kind of paper art in which intricate designs are made by
cutting Japanese Paper to wrap a delicacy called pastillas
• Parol (Pampanga) – An ornamental, star-shaped lantern made for
Christmas to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem
• Pyrotechnics (Bulacan) – The craft of creating fireworks
• Singkaban (Bulacan) – The art of producing decorative materials using bamboo
• Subic Spanish Gate (Zambales) – A gate built in 1885 that originally served as the
entrance to the Spanish naval station and then turned into a base by the US Navy

Region 4A (CALABARZON)
• Balsa (Batangas) – A boat made of bamboo decorated during the Balsa Festival in
Batangas as recognition for its significance in transport, fishing, as well as tourism
• Barong Tagalog (Laguna) – Popularly known as “Barong”, it is the official formal
wear of men in the country.
• Higantes (Rizal) – A giant paper mache meant to portray farmers mocking and
protesting mean landlords when Angono was a hacienda used during the Higantes
Festival
• Kiping (Quezon Province) – A delicacy made of glutenous rice and shaped into a
leaf used in the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon which is also made to serve as a
decorative piece
• Maglalatik (originated in Laguna) – An indigenous dance in which the dancers
tap and utilize halved coconut husks strapped onto their bodies
• Taka (Laguna) – The art of making paper mache crafts made using wood statues
as molds
Region 4B (MIMAROPA)
• Ambahan (Mindoro) – A poem created by the Hanunuo Mangyans that is chanted
and often carved on a bamboo
• Morion (Marinduque) – A large mask which resembles Caucasian features used for
a street play in the Moriones Festival
Pandanggo sa Ilaw (originated in Mindoro) – A dance influenced by the Spanish dance,
fandango, wherein the dancer must balance oil lamps on their hands and head

Region 5 (Bicol Region)

 Pantomina (originated in Bicol) – Also known as the “dove dance”, it is a dance originally
performed in weddings by the couple and their visitors.  Balay (Sorsogon) – Weaved crafts
made of buri, a native palm

Art Forms and Practices: Visayas and Mindanao Region

6 (Western Visayas)
• Capiz (Capiz) – Crafts and decorations made from seashells
• Cariñosa (Panay Island) – A dance introduced by the Spaniards
performed for flirting with the female dancer utilizing either a fan or
handkerchief
• Dandansoy (originated in Iloilo) – A Visayan folk song about a person
leaving a boy, named Dandansoy, to go back home
• Hablon (Iloilo) – It is the process of making fabrics using piña, abaca, or
cotton in Iloilo.
o Patadyong (Antique, Iloilo, Negros Occidental) – A weaved cloth
that has a colorful plaid or checkered design
• Hinilawod (Panay Island) – A 29,000-verse epic poem about the heroes
of Panay chanted for three days; Hinilawod translates to “Tales from the
Mouth of the Halawod River”
• Pagrara (Iloilo) – A hand-woven basket made of bamboo
• Piña (Aklan) – The use of piña fabric, which come from mature pineapple
leaves that are scraped, cleaned, and dried before being woven
• Sinamay (Negros Island) – A fabric woven from abaca fibers from
processed abaca trees
Region 7 (Central Visayas)
• Gapnod (Negros Oriental) – A dance reenacting the discovery of an image
of St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of Sibulan, by a fisherman
• Guitar (Cebu) – A musical instrument that has 6 strings
• Kuradang (Bohol) – A wedding dance performed with the
accompaniment of a rondalla
• Mazurka Boholana (Bohol) – A Spanish-inspired ballroom dance where
the female character wears a Maria Clara
• Sinulog (Cebu) – A dance that represents the “sulog” (current) of a river
in Cebu performed during the Sinulog Festival
• Surtido Cebuano (Cebu) – A square dance performed by several pairs
that combines influences of Spanish, Mexican, French, as well as
indigenous elements together
Region 8 (Eastern Visayas)
• Basey mats (Samar) – Basey, Samar is renowned for its woven sleeping
mats, locally known as banig
• Kuratsa (originated in Leyte) – A courtship dance performed during
fiestas, family gatherings, as well as weddings
 • Tinikling (originated in Leyte) – A dance which involves two people
beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against
each other in coordination with one or more dancers Region 9
(Zamboanga Peninsula)
• Bunga Sama – The highest form of Yakan weaving that has patterns that
represent the universe
• Gong – A percussion musical instrument that is usually made of metal
• Semmek – The collective term for dresses made by the Yakan women
using abaca, pineapple, and bamboo
• Tanyak Tanyak – A custom of face painting by the use of a mixture of
flour and water done in wedding ceremonies Region 10 (Northern
Mindanao)
• Kudyapi – An instrument that looks like a boat and has two strings
• Hinabol (Bukidnon) – A hand-woven fabric made by the ethnic Higaonon
tribe
• Idangdang (Bukidnon) – A ballad song that is about recalling historical
events
• Panika (Bukidnon) – A headdress worn during festivities made of native
materials
Region 11 (Davao Region)
• Dagmay – A weaved fabric made by the Mandaya tribe that is usually
used by women as a skirt, as well as blankets or wraps for the dead
• Bagobo Inabal – A traditional textile made from abaca with a special
weave worn only by women and has a shine from the beeswax applied
during the weaving process
Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN)
• Ginakit (Sarangani) – Brightly colored boats used by Muslim royals and
high-ranking people in Mindanao during the pre-colonial and Spanish
periods, and now showcased in the Pakaradyan Festival
• Tabih (General Santos City, Sarangani, South Cotabato) – A hand-
woven cloth made by the B’laan people
• T’nalak (South Cotabato) – Made by the T’boli people, it is a method of
weaving abaca inspired by the weaver’s dreams. Region 13 (Caraga)
• Butuan boats (Agusan del Norte) – An edged-pegged plank type boat
made from hardwood
• Itik-Itik (originated in Surigao del Sur) – A dance in which the steps
mimic the gestures of a duck
• Suyam (Agusan del Sur) – A kind of embroidery made by the Manobo
people
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
• Malong (Sulu, all over Mindanao) – A large, wrap-around skirt which
displays the okir design
• Okir (Tawi-Tawi) – A distinct geometric and flowing plant design and folk
motifs found among the Moro and Lumad people
• Pis Syabit (Sulu) – A headdress worn by men to represent one’s rank in
society
• Seputangan (Basilan) – A woven fabric, considered to be one of the
earliest weaving techniques, worn by the Yakan women
• Singkil (Lanao del Sur) – A folk dance which depicts the epic poem,
Darangen
 • Sarimanok (Lanao del Sur) – The symbol of Maranao art which depicts a
legendary, colorful bird that symbolizes good fortune.

LESSON 4

Context of Art
Context- Refers to settings, conditions, circumstances, and occurrences affecting production
and reception or audience response to an artwork.
- It is a set of background information that enables us to formulate meanings about
works of art and note how context affects form.
DIFFERENT CONTEXTS OF ART
1. Artist’s Background
The artist’s age, gender, culture, economic conditions, social environment and disposition
affect art production.
Mode of production-
Kind of materials accessible to the artist as well as the conditions surrounding labor.
A traditional artist’s resources differ from an artist reared in a highly urbanized
environment.
2. Nature
Can be seen as a source of inspiration and a wellspring or materials for art production.
Mode of production-
Kind of materials accessible to the artist as well as the conditions surrounding labor.
A traditional artist’s resources differ from an artist reared in a highly urbanized
environment.
3. Everyday Life
Philippine traditional art has always been an integral part of daily life.
Its significance lies not only on its aesthetic appearance but also in its functionality and
its value to community.
4. Society, Politics, Economy and History
Changes in the society, politics, and economy affect artists, the work that they do and the
structures that support their production.
Technological innovations engender shifts in artistic production.
5. Appropriation
The technique of transforming existing materials through the juxtaposition of elements
taken from one context and placing these to present alternative meanings, structure, and
composition.
Important context which considers the moment (time and space) by which we
encountered the artwork and how we might respond or engage with it to our personal
experiences.
 LESSON 5

Elements of Visual Art

Every visual art utilizes at least one of the seven (7) elements: line, shape, tone, color,
textures, pattern and form.

The Visual Elements have a relationship to one another:

- Most images begin their life as line drawings.
- Lines cross over one another to form shapes.
- Shapes can be filled with tone and color, or repeated to create pattern.
- A shape may be rendered with a rough surface to create a texture.
- A shape may be projected into three dimensions to create form.
LINE
- The foundation of all drawing.
- A stroke or mark that can be straight, curved, thick, or thin.
- Line in an artwork can be used in many different ways.
- It can be used to suggest shape, pattern, form, structure, growth, depth, distance,
rhythm, movement and a range of emotions.
SHAPE
- Can be natural or man-made, regular or irregular, flat (2-dimensional) or solid (3-
dimensional),representational or abstract, geometric or organic, transparent or
opaque, positive or negative, decorative or symbolic, colored, patterned or textured.
- The Perspective of Shapes:
- The angles and curves of shapes appear to change depending on our viewpoint. The
technique we use to describe this change is called perspective drawing.
- Shapes can be used to control your feelings in the composition of an artwork
- Squares and Rectangles can portray strength and stability.
- Circles and Ellipses can represent continuous movement
- Triangles can lead the eye in an upward movement.
- Inverted Triangles can create a sense of imbalance and tension.
TONE
The lightness or darkness of a color. The tonal values of an artwork can be adjusted to
alter its expressive charact
-Tone can be used: to create a contrast of light and dark, to create the illusion of form, to
create a dramatic or tranquil atmosphere, to create a sense of depth and distance, to
create a rhythm or pattern within a composition.
COLOR
-The visual element that has the strongest effect on our emotions.
-We use color to create the mood or atmosphere of an artwork.
There are many different approaches to the use of color:
Color as light
Color as tone
Color as pattern
Color as form
Color as symbol
Color as movement
Color as harmony
Color as contrast
Color as mood

PATTERN
-Made by repeating or echoing the elements of an artwork to communicate a sense of
balance, harmony, contrast, rhythm or movement.
- There are two basic types of pattern in art: Natural Pattern and Man-Made Pattern.
- Both natural and man-made patterns can be regular or irregular, organic or geometric,
structural or decorative, positive or negative and repeating or random.

TEXTURE
- The surface quality of an artwork - the roughness or smoothness of the material from
which it is made.
- We experience texture in two ways: optically (through sight) and physically (through
touch).
FORM
- The physical volume of a shape and the space that it occupies.
- Form can be representational or abstract.
- Form generally refers to sculpture, 3D design and architecture but may also relate to
the illusion of 3D on a 2D surface.
 LESSON 6

Elements of Music

Sound is produced when an object vibrates.

Music is an arrange and organize sound.

Elements of Music- Are building blocks that makes a music

1. Rhythm - the flow or movement of music through time. Tempo and beat are parts of
rhythm.
Beat refers to the steady and regular pulse in music.
Tempo pertains to the speed of the music (fast or slow).
Rhythm greatly affects the emotional impact and direction of music

2. Dynamics-refers to the softness and loudness of sound.

3. Timbre- Characteristics of sound distinguishing the different sources of sound.

Vocal timbre also known as “tone color”or tone quality that define a given singing
voice.

4. Melody- pertains to a series of notes together. This is the most memorable part of
music. It is the tune of a musical piece.

5. Harmony- the sound of two or more notes heard at the same time. It is when sounds
form a cohesive whole. This is also described as the accompanying sound to the
melody.

6. Texture- the layers of musical sounds. It has three kinds: monophonic, homophonic,
and polyphonic. Homophonic is the most common among the three because it refers
to a piece that has melody and harmony. Polyphonic refers to playing various melodies
at once. ROUND- same melody is sung or played in different layers coming in at
different times. PARTNER SONG- two different melodies are sung or played at the
same time.