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Learning Materials for

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM

THE REGIONS (CAR11/12)
Prepared by:
MAYCHELOU R. CASTILLO

Dates:
March 15, 2021 – March 31, 2021

Reference Book: Benavides-Perez, Angelita, M.A., (2016). Philippine Contemporary Arts (Expressions and Experimentations)
For Academic Purposes Only
MRC
 Page |2

Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions (CAR11/12)

Learning Materials

Most Essential Learning Competencies (Learning Materials 2 - Lessons 3&4)

1. Define traditional art
2. Distinguish traditional and contemporary arts
3. Acknowledge the significance of the various arts in the regions
4. Classify various art forms in the regions.

Lesson 3. Traditional Arts and Contemporary Arts

The Philippines is home to many traditional arts. These are the arts that started in the pre-colonial times
and have been handed down from generation to generation. Traditional art is essential in a nation, for it builds
posterity in the culture of its natives.

There are various kinds of traditional art in the country. Most are learned informally and are usually
produced in indigenous or closely-knitted communities, reflecting their history and culture. These arts are
passed down from master craftsmen to their apprentices.

The usual theme of these arts is animism. Its intention is to depict something of the people’s gods and
goddesses, thus resulting in the creation of abstract symbols of animistic figures like the sun, the moon, and
other human figures.
Examples of Traditional Arts
The carved figure of Bulul of the Ifugaos.
The woven basketry of the Mangyans.
The T’nalak tapestry woven by the T’boli in South Cotabato.
The pissiyabit (head cloth) of Mindanao.
The embroidered jusi and pinia cloth of Lumban, Laguna.
The toothpick and papier-mache objects made in pakil and the woodcarvings in Paete, Laguna,
are also examples of folk art, which is a younger form of traditional art.

Philippine traditional arts also boast of rich songs and dances in the regions. Like any traditional art,
these songs and dances are handed over by master craftsmen to their younger generations. The sounds, words,
and choreography have remained the same throughout the years because of these craftsmen. They are
nameless people who have passed their skills without the thought of being recognized, but only of preserving
their culture in the constantly changing society.

In literature and the performing arts, the traditional style is evident in their adherence to classical structures
and standards. With this reality, these classics have gained enduring worth and are considered timeless.
Example: Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Most traditional arts are representations (which have been discussed in Lesson 1). Because of the
absence of photography, the artists in the past have loved imitating nature and other still life to capture its
beauty. It is also limited to the structures and standards set during the traditional times.

Traditional art is different from contemporary art, for the latter revolves around the artist and his/her
feelings, thoughts, and messages to his/her audience. It uses a diverse array of materials, media, techniques,
and styles.

 Traditional art is culture-bound.

 Traditional sculpture usually focuses on realistic figures.

Reference Book: Benavides-Perez, Angelita, M.A., (2016). Philippine Contemporary Arts (Expressions and Experimentations)
For Academic Purposes Only
MRC
 Page |3

In the Northern Philippines, the sculpture may be in the form of human beings or animals.
In Southern Philippines, the traditional carving okir stems from plant forms, displaying its
curvilinear forms.

 The Philippine contemporary art is not bounded by any rule or standard.

 Contemporary sculpture centers on the feelings and thoughts of the artist
 It is conceptual, innovative, expressive, and experimental compared with traditional art.
 The viewer is also allowed to participate in the experience and is urged to validate his/her own beliefs
and values.

Monuments and statues, since the ancient times, have long been created to commemorate heroism or other
deeds of greatness. But what differs contemporary monuments and statues from the traditional ones is the
reimagining of the character or event, in order to evoke more intense emotions from its spectator.

Take a look at the image of the People Power Monument near Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. It is a good
example of a contemporary work that allows the viewer to recall a historical event from the past. One cannot
display all the events and the heroes that came about during the 1986 People Power Revolution. However, this
monument created by Eduardo Castrillo encapsulates the triumph of the EDSA phenomena perfectly.

Contemporary arts can also incorporate traditional arts in a manner that is new and exciting. An example
of a traditional artwork that has been adapted to a contemporary manner is Noli Fili: Dekada Dos Mil, an
interpretation by Nicanor Tiongson which has been mounted as a play by the Philippine Educational Theater
Association (PETA).

The incorporation of both traditional and contemporary style is also evident in Philippine architecture.
Most buildings in the country are combinations of traditional and modern designs. Unlike hypermodern cities
like Dubai where the first rotating, building has been introduced, the Philippines lacks innovative and radical
designs in constructing its skyscrapers, houses, and other edifices. There are a number of probable reasons for
this stasis in Philippine architecture; lack of financial support is one.

Both traditional arts and contemporary arts exist in mutual acceptance and respect for each other’s freedom of
expression, practices, and principles.

Lesson 4. Contemporary Art in the Philippines

The Philippines is a gold mine of art.

Aside from our own indigenous arts, the Philippines has a variety of many other art forms. Because of
the four colonial periods in our history — the Spanish, British, American, and Japanese — the art of the
Philippines had been influenced by almost all spheres of the globe. It had a taste of the Renaissance, Baroque,
and Modern Periods through the colonizers who arrived in the country.

Then, when the rest of the world opened up to the idea of postmodernism in the late 1900s, Philippines
also welcomed the birth of contemporary art. Its first appearance happened after the Second World War and
again during the martial law era in the 1970s. Writers broke the laws by writing screams of protest against the
government. Filmmakers used their expertise in joining the bandwagon of nationalistic artists.

Modernism in all art forms evolved into a variety of expressions and media that turned the entire world
into a “creative upheaval.”

Even architecture developed a modernist style. Many Filipino artists and architects became adherents
of the style. The architecture by National Artist Leandro Locsin is an example.

Another are the paintings by National Artist Jose Joya are also examples of the art style of the modernist
period in the 1950s known as abstract expressionism.

Reference Book: Benavides-Perez, Angelita, M.A., (2016). Philippine Contemporary Arts (Expressions and Experimentations)
For Academic Purposes Only
MRC
 Page |4

In the late 1980s, postmodernism appeared in the Philippines. The postmodernists sought to contradict
several aspects and ideas of modernism that had emerged earlier. They believed that artists should no longer
try to create something “new.” All they needed to do was to “borrow, combine, explore” what was already
existing to produce something new. This gave birth to integrative art, which is being practiced in the regions at
present.
Example is the Meta II by Louie Cordero. 2011. Acrylic on fiberglass

Pastiche
Postmodernism has several features. The most common feature is pastiche, which refers to the blurring
of divisions between fine art and commercial art, high culture and low culture, and highbrow and lowbrow. It
also means artistic, musical, and literary works that come from diverse sources — a mixture, a medley of
different ideas. There is a sense of fragmentation — for instance, a narrative does not have to be complete; it
can be open-ended. There is also an interweaving web of stories which creates paradoxes. However, note that
pastiche celebrates the artwork from which it derives inspiration and does not mock it.
Example: Pastiche of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man

Bricolage
Another feature of postmodernism is bricolage, or assemblage, popularly used in visual arts. It refers to
a creation or construction that uses a diverse range of materials — from mass-produced to recovered objects.
A simplification of collage, bricolage can also pertain to the use of words as the central artistic element. In the
literary arts, it is the use of varied sources of writing.
Example: Educated by Rocky Cajigan. 2015. Box construction

Appropriation
Appropriation, or borrowing, is another feature. Postmodernism finds inspiration in artworks from the
previous periods. In music, there is a term “appropriation performance.” This refers to the use of the style and
content of another culture for a performance, for example, the music of Bach being played by a Filipino rock
band.

Installation
Another popular feature includes installation art. It is an art made indoors or outdoors where a particular
space is transformed into a three-dimensional artwork. It is made of diverse materials, using a realistic or
abstract style. It is a conceptual art that presents diverse themes, but it is usually temporary.

Other features of postmodernism are the recycling of past styles and themes, putting them in a modern-
day context; breaking up barriers between low and pop cultures, fine and high arts, highbrow and lowbrow.
New themes in all the art forms consist of certain socially conscious issues which have arisen with this period:
feminism, consumerism, multiculturalism, globalization, health awareness, migration, and so on. A perfect
example of this is Delotavo’s painting “Daispora 2007”.

Today, most Filipino contemporary artists still deal with current concerns that affect our country.
Additionally, they provide ways to allow the audience to participate in the experience. Most of these artists
acknowledge their Filipino roots by using native and indigenous materials in their artworks which show a
growing sense of pride in being Filipino.

Philippine contemporary art is a part of culture. As a reader, listener, and viewer, you gain a deeper
knowledge about what the contemporary Filipino artists do or did, and why and how they do or have done it.
In doing so, you get to develop appreciation and gratitude for their artistic endeavors.

Reference Book: Benavides-Perez, Angelita, M.A., (2016). Philippine Contemporary Arts (Expressions and Experimentations)
For Academic Purposes Only
MRC
 Page |5

Name: ___________________________________________ Grade & Section: _____________________

Activity 1

Subject: Elements of Arts

What You Need

1 8x11.5 (short) bond paper

Common and/or creative marking tools

What to Do

Aside from pencil, ballpen, and a marker, what other tools can you use to produce the elements of art?
In what ways can you use these materials to create unusual and/or creative marks?

Look inside your school bags and around your house for materials and tools that you can use for your art
work.

On a piece of white paper, use these tools in creating the elements of art. For example, use ballpen to
draw shape, a texture, or a combination of both shape and texture. For more creativity, use unique tools in this
exercise (e.g., sand and glue for texture). You can use either portrait or landscape orientation of the paper.

Incorporate as many art elements as you can in your piece of art. Do not forget to put a title of your art.

To submit your output, for online class, take a picture of your art work, send it to the link that I will give
you. And name you file as ConArts_Section_Act1_Lastname. Please follow the instructions in submitting your
output.
For modular, submit your output following the format above.

Get creative and enjoy!

Reference Book: Benavides-Perez, Angelita, M.A., (2016). Philippine Contemporary Arts (Expressions and Experimentations)
For Academic Purposes Only
MRC
 Page |6

Name: ___________________________________________ Grade & Section: _____________________

Activity 2

Subject: Traditional Arts and Contemporary Arts

Research on the traditional arts and contemporary arts in your region. Choose only one example for each type.

In your research, take note of the following guidelines.

a. Description (include a picture of the artwork)
b. Historical background
c. Artist/s
d. Processes used

Then, answer the following questions.

1. If you were an artist, which of the two kinds of art would you most likely used? Why do you say so?

2. How can you promote your region’s –

a. Traditional art
b. Contemporary art

3. What are the usual subject of your region’s

a. Traditional art
b. Contemporary art

For online submission, place your work in a long size format in PDF format then submit to the link
provided to our google drive. And name you file as ConArts_Section_Act2_Lastname

For modular, place your output in a long size bond paper in printed form, following the heading above.

Reference Book: Benavides-Perez, Angelita, M.A., (2016). Philippine Contemporary Arts (Expressions and Experimentations)
For Academic Purposes Only
MRC