What is Philippine Art?

What is Philippine Art?

•The Philippines is blessed with diverse flora
and fauna, and is populated by a multisectoral
society with multicultural backgrounds. The
Philippines’ geography, history, and people
contribute to the art production that is one of
the finest in the world. Learning the country’s
art and its artists will broaden your
understanding of who you are and where you
belong, as art is an instrument of identity.
 Contemporary Art
•Contemporary art is the art of today, produced by artists
who are living in the twenty-first century. Contemporary
art provides an opportunity to reflect on contemporary
society and the issues relevant to ourselves, and the world
around us. Contemporary artists work in a globally
influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically
advancing world. Their art is a dynamic combination of
materials, methods, concepts, and subjects that challenge
traditional boundaries and defy easy definition. Diverse
and eclectic, contemporary art as a whole is distinguished
by the very lack of a uniform, organizing principle, ideology,
or ‘ism.’ Contemporary art is part of a cultural dialogue that
concerns larger contextual frameworks such as personal
and cultural identity, family, community, and nationality.
 What is an Art?
• According to Aristotle Art is linked to human
instincts. In his poetics, Aristotle claimed that
humans have instincts for imitation and
harmony.
•He described that these instincts are “lying deep
in our nature”. He argued that human beings are
the “most imitative of living creatures”, and
through imitation, humans learn and experience
pleasure. Arts, then, maybe defined as a human
pursuit to imitate life and the world into
something pleasing or beautiful.
 Two important elements of
artwork
•The two important elements of artworks are
subject and medium
•Medium are the materials used in creating
arts.
 Forms of artistic expression
1. Picture(Drawing, Painting, Printmaking and
Photography)
- This is a two-dimensional image of
various subjects ranging from real-life images
to the visually abstract. It maybe created using
different media such as chalk, charcoal,
graphite, ink, oil paint, and water color.
 Forms of artistic expression
2. Sculpture – this is three-dimensional
artwork that maybe created using stone,
marble, wood, and concrete.
3. Architecture – these are structures that
meant to be used as shelter. The art of
architecture relies on the design and
purpose of the structure.
 Forms of artistic expression
4. Music – this is the art forms that appeals to
the sense of hearing. Music is compose by
combining notes into harmony.
5. Literature – this is the art form of language
through the combined used of words,
creating meaning and experience.
6. Theater – this is the art form of
performance. Dramatic texts are portrayed
on stage by actors and actresses and are
enhance by props, lights and sounds.
 Forms of artistic expression
7. Cinema – this art form is a technological
translation of theater. In films, special
effects are utilized to enhance the
storytelling.
8. Dance – this is the art of the human form.
The body is used, mobilized, and
choreographed in a specific time, form, and
space.
 Philippine Art as Filipino
•Many scholar debate on the identity of art
produce by Filipinos. Are they 100% authentic
Philippine art?
 Philippine Art as Filipino
•Are the landscape painting of Fernando
Amorsolo or the historical depictions of Carlos
“Botong” Francisco genuinely Filipino?
Fernando Amorsolo Carlos “botong” Francisco
 Philippine Art as Filipino
•Are the stories and poems in English written
by N.V.M. or Edith Tiempo Filipino?

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales

 Philippine Art as Filipino
•The speculation on the “Filipino-ness” of
works by Filipino artists is caused by our
colonial history and migrant reality.
 Philippine Art as Filipino
•The plethora of influences brought by the
Spaniards, Americans, and other Asian
countries has become part of our identity that
is evident in our art:
•Leo Benesa, a Filipino poet, essayist, and art
critic, said that there is a certain characteristic
of Filipino art. He said, “the idea was that the
depiction of scenes of everyday life and the
surroundings without idealizing them was
closest in spirit to the Filipino soul and native
soil.”
•As long as the work shows the Filipino way of
living it is “closest in spirit to the Filipino soul
and native soil.” But Benesa also said,
“…without idealizing them,” by which he
meant that the art work should not be
represented as perfect.
•Benesa describes Amorsolo’s works as the
“most expressive of the ethos of the race and
the predominant agricultural country side.”
 Summarization
•Art is an imitation of life and world rendered
beautifully, which gives pleasure.
•The subject and medium are two elements of
art that help in experiencing life, the world
and its beauty.
•Philippine art is influenced by our colonial
history and migrant reality.
•An art can be considered Filipino art when it
depicts the Filipino way of living.
 What I have learned so far?
Assignment:
A.
1. How is medium a factor in representing the
Filipino identity in a work of art?
2. Explain the term idealizing in a work of art
according to Leo Benesa?
3. Why are Amorsolo’s works considered “the
most expressive of the ethos of the race and
the predominant agricultural country side?
 What I have learned so far?
Assignment:

1. What do these paintings share in common?

2. How differently did Amorsolo treat the subject?
3. What makes the Palay Maiden truly Filipino?