FEATI University l College of Architecture

Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

What is Art?

Art is often considered the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that
appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations
and ways of expression, including music, literature, film, sculpture and paintings. The meaning of
art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as Aesthetics.

Art is generally understood as any activity or product done by people with a communicative or
aesthetic purpose something that expresses an idea, an emotion or, more generally, a world view.

It is a component of culture, reflecting economic and social substrates in its design. It transmits
ideas and values inherent in every culture across space and time. Its role changes through time,
acquiring more of an aesthetic component here and a socio-educational function there.

The definition of art is open, subjective, debatable. There is no agreement among historians and
artists, which is why we’re left with so many definitions of art. The concept itself has changed
over centuries.

Definition of Arts According to well-known Philosophers and Artists

1. Aristotle (284-322 bc)

“Art completes what nature cannot bring to a finish. The artist gives us knowledge of nature’s
unrealised ends.”

2. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

“Art is the Queen of all sciences communicating knowledge to all the generations of the world.”

3. Michelangelo (1475-1564)
“The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.”

4. El Greco (1541-1614)
“Art is everywhere you look for it; hail the twinkling stars for they are God’s careless splatters.”
5. James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)
“Art is a goddess of dainty thought, reticent of habit, abjuring all obtrusiveness, proposing in no
way to better others. She is, withal selfishly occupied with her own perfection only – having no
desire to teach.”

Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew

Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)
 FEATI University l College of Architecture
Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Filipino Artists and their Contributions

Solomon Saprid
Sculpture: Tikbalang

Colonizers have come and gone to our land and inputted different
traditions in our very rich culture. There's this one man who sought
to preserve our culture through his paintings and sculptures and he
is none other than Solomon Saprid. He gave the public pictures of
Philippine folklore characters that made the Filipinos realized that
these imaginary beings are not just a mere myth, rather it is more
of a reality. He sculpted “Tikbalang”, a titanic creature with a
horse-like head but has a human-like body. He also sculpted
“Amihan”, the wind goddess. After sometime, these images had
been so engraved in the public’s mind that the public began to think
that these creatures could be anywhere. He also sculpted the
“Gomburza” along Intramuros that made the public remember the
things that the 3 priests have done for our country. He didn’t just paint or sculpt art that only talked
about the Filipino myths, but he also made pictures that touched our culture. He painted “Mag-
ina” that exemplified the joys of parenthood. He was able to pull back the Filipinos to their roots
and made them understand their culture and beginnings. Indeed, he is an artist who enriched the
rich culture of a society.

Ang Kiuku
Painting: The Crucifixion

When a painter paints, his emotions are shown through the painted
canvas. It shows the different realities about life that move its
audience. One person was able to do this through his paintings, and
he is the legendary Ang Kiuko. His early paintings were full of
different emotions that influenced the viewers’ feelings. His
audience could easily understand the message of his paintings
because he used passion. He drew the Crucifixion of Christ that
exhibited hopelessness and depression. His favorite subjects for his
paintings were angst and anger that are shown in his paintings
called “Payaso” and “Ina at Anak”. His paintings were full of irony
and questions. After some years, he tried to re-create his style in
art by painting gleeful pictures of Mother Nature instead of painting pictures of quarreling crowds.
He was able to input different perspectives of life in a small blank canvas. Indeed, he made a very
remarkable impact in our society. He re-created his art and thus, he has been able to influence the
public’s views about life.

Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew

Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)
 FEATI University l College of Architecture
Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Napoleon V Abueva
Sculpture: Allegorical Harpoon

The Philippines is very fortunate for having the multi awarded

national artist, Napoleon V. Abueva, as its father of modern
Philippine sculpture. Abueva is the pioneer in modern sculptures
because he was the first artist who had creatively and successfully
moved out of the classic style to create his own abstract
experimental modern art pieces and paved the way for other young
aspirants to follow his lead. He was the only sculptor who is capable
on working on all kinds of material in several styles from
representational to abstract. There is not one drop of classical style in all if his masterpieces.
Abueva has long been exposed in utilizing almost all kinds of materials. These materials include
wood, adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble, bronze, iron, alabaster, coral, brass, molave,
acacia, langka wood, ipil, kamagong, palm wood and bamboo. One of his most famous works is
his wooden sculpture entitled “Allegorical Harpoon” which is currently housed in the Cultural
Center of the Philippines. Also among his various works is the very familiar, “Sunburst”, which is
a twelve meter sculpture made up of twenty one rays of the sun and thirty three spears in copper,
bronze and stainless steel that decorates the ceiling of the Manila Peninsula Manila. What sets him
apart from other artists is that he has the talent to unify different materials and experiment with
them. He is a very innovative artist who explores the unknown, but also probes the existing.
According to Abueva, an Abueva sculpture is known for its simplicity with the maximum
expression of art. As the leading artist in contemporary Philippine sculpture, Abueva has set a new
standard that other artists have failed to copy.

Fernando Cueto Amorsolo

Painting: Portrait of Presidents (Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel Roxas and Sergio Osmeña)

Dubbed as the grand old man of the Philippine art scene,

Fernando Amorsolo, has made the largest and solidest
contribution to the Philippines through his numerous paintings
scattered around the Philippines and through his discovery of the
natural light in canvas.Patronized by many powerful figures in
the Philippine society, Fernando Amorsolo has done many
portraits that include past Philippine presidents Manuel L.
Quezon, Manuel Roxas and Sergio Osmena Sr. Perhaps, his
greatest contribution to the Philippine art scene is the discovery
of natural light that comes out from his paintings making them
seem very natural. This illusion of backlight is the glow against
which his figures stand out and develop a burst of light at one
point of the canvas. Amorsolo’s passion is clearly expressed in everything he painted. The light
for which he is famous for expresses the love he has for art. And all who have tried to copy
Amorsolo’s illusion of the light is a flattery to him. Indeed, Amorsolo’s art is spread evenly in the
Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew
Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)
 FEATI University l College of Architecture
Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

7,107 islands of the Philippines. His glorious techniques and contribution to Philippine art have
earned him the title of national artist for painting.

Hernando Ocampo
Painting: The Contrast

Hernando Ocampo’s masterpieces had large contribution to full

understanding and awareness of social realities in the
Philippines. He made paintings reflecting economic and
psychological dislocation in the country brought by World War
II, a time of widespread poverty, hunger, and misery. His works
also depicted objection against the disparity between rich and
poor. One vivid illustration portraying the objection in social
inequality is his painting, The Contrast, which pictures a beggar
eating in front of a mansion. As a visual artist, he also envisioned
to come up with masterpieces showing a search for Filipino
spirit. His other major work of arts include Ina ng Balon,
Calvary, Slum Dwellers, Nude with Candle and Flower, Man
and Carabao, Angel's Kiss, Palayok at Kalan, Ancestors, Isda at
Mangga, The Resurrection, Fifty-three "Q", Backdrop, Fiesta.

Victorio Edades
Painting: The Builders

Victorio Edades, Father of Modern Philippine Painting, created

works which were dark in color and gave pictures of Filipino masses
as theme.One of his great works depicting Filipino masses is The
Builders, the most controversial painting. It is dark in color and made
of heavy texture which pictures men working in a quarry. Moreover,
his works were very different from Amorsolo’s bright, sunny,
cheerful hues yet his creativity in art made way for mural and
modern paintings to be known in the Philippines. He does not only
establish modern paintings into the Philippines but also link this
modernism to the issue of national identity. Some of his
masterpieces were The Artist and the Model, Portrait of the
Professor, Japanese Girl, Mother and Daughter, The Wrestlers, Poinsettia Girl, The Sketch.

Diosdado Lorenzo
Painting: Still life paintings

Diosdado Lorenzo is one of the most famous modernist painters in the Philippines. He is one of
the pioneers who introduced the modern 20th century form of art which is stronger and more
appealing to the eyes than those of the traditional paintings made by Fernando Amorsolo. To form
the modernist approach in paintings, Lorenzo destroyed the old perspective of traditional paintings
Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew
Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)
 FEATI University l College of Architecture
Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

to make way for the new styles in painting. Lorenzo’s obsession with the country’s landscape and
people enabled him to try different forms of paintings such as painting with lights, Chinese arts,
watercolors, etc. He tried these kinds of paintings only to find out that his heart was not really into
it. After which, he explored Filipino “Still Life” using objects such as fruits and vegetables as its
model. He prefers using watercolors than oil because he considers watercolor art to be more
memorable. His watercolored “still life” is considered to be one of the best in the country. The
modernism found in his works formed a new basis for the reassessment of Philippine paintings.

Vicente Rivera
Painting: Supplication

Vicente Rivera, a master in Philippine paintings, is

commonly underrated due to the rarity of his works.
During his early years in education, he received a silver
medal after taking two head studies. He also received
various nominations and awards in the field of painting.
Unknown to everyone, he is one of the founders of U.P.
School of Fine Arts. His famous work, Supplication,
depicts a picture of a woman kneeling down on the
nailed feet of Jesus on the cross. The painting has a
dramatic background to clearly express the desperate
state of the woman. It is a famous example of a stylish and an organized approach in Philippine
paintings. Rivera’s organization in paintings made it more appealing to the subject, thus, inspiring
painters to put more passion in their painting rather than painting to make names for themselves.

Juan Luna
Painting: Spoliarium

The paintings of Juan Luna were the first Filipino

works of art to become famous inside and outside of
the Philippines because of its meaning and
significance. Juan Luna produced works in the
romantic and early impressionist styles, achieving
great recognition in Europe. Juan Luna traveled to
different parts of Europe, learning various techniques
in painting and eventually coming back to the
Philippines to further nurture his talents. He won great praise as wells as many prizes for his works.
His achievements helped to inspire other Filipinos to think of themselves as equal to the Europeans.
Juan Luna’s greatest masterpiece is “The Spoliarium”. This won him a gold medal at the National
Exposition of Fine Arts held in Madrid. The Spoliarium depicts the 19th century horror experience
of the Filipinos. It emphasized the violation of Human Rights by the colonizers of Spain. Juan
Luna expressed his patriotism by painting one such masterpiece to enlighten the Filipinos out of
oppression. This painting showed great impact and influence on the Filipino people, truly
Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew
Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)
 FEATI University l College of Architecture
Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

something that not all artists can possess. He is certainly a very influential artist and has indeed a
painting style of his own making him without a doubt one of the most renowned national artists.

Guillermo Tolentino
Painting: Oblation and The Bonifacio Monument

Guillermo E. Tolentino is a renowned artist known for transforming hopes and aspirations
of freedom into art. One of his famous creations is the Oblation, which can be found at the lobby
of College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines. The Oblation, famous landmark in the
University of the Philippines, has become a symbol of academic freedom. It is a figure of a nude
man with arms outstretched and looking far beyond the horizon. The original Oblation is made of
concrete and measures three and a half meters symbolizing the three and a half years of Spanish
rule in the Philippines. The stones on which it stands represent the many islands in the country. In
addition, Guillermo Tolentino included clusters of katakataka found at the foot of the figure, which
symbolize the heroism of the Filipino people. The Oblation is good representation of how one has
a thirst for freedom and an eagerness to offer his whole self for the country. Another famous
sculpture of Guillermo Tolentino is the Bonifacio Monument located in Caloocan City. The
monument commemorates the proletarian hero, Andres Bonifacio and his revolutionary group
called “Katipunan” first encounter with the Spanish soldiers on August 3, 1896. The Bonifacio
Monument is an enduring symbol of the Filipinos’ cry for freedom. He is considered one of the
most known national artists in the Philippines.

Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew

Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)
 FEATI University l College of Architecture
Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Traditional Filipino Musical Instruments

1. Kubing
The Kubing is a jaw harp made of bamboo reed
that is played on the lips. It is used to play to
communicate with the family member s and
loved ones, especially during courtship. The
name differs in different regions such as
Meranao in Southern Mindanao, Barmbow by
Tagalogs, Kulaing for the Kapampangans,
Kinaban for the Hanunoo Mangyans, Koding by
the Ibaloi and Kalinga, and Aroding in Palawan.
Kubing Used in: all around the Philippines

2. Kulintang
The Kulintang is a set of 5 to 9 pieces of gongs
aligned horizontally and arranged according to
pitch that varies in size and sound. It is played
with two light sticks they were traditionally
made with bronze but since the Second World
War, it has been replaced with brass. It is mostly
used by the Tausug, Maranao, and Maguindanao
for entertainment during festivals, healing
ceremonies, and weddings. Kulintang Used in:
Bangsamoro provinces like Maguindanao,
Lanao and Sulu

Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew

Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)
 FEATI University l College of Architecture
Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

3. Kudyapi
The kudyapi or kutiyapi is a two-stringed
wooden lute approximately 4 to 6 feet long. The
strings are made of horse hair, abaca fibers and
recently wire. It is native to the Lumads in
Mindanao. It is made out of a single piece of
wood and used by Manobo, T’boli,
Maguindanao, and Maranao. A female version
is called a Korlong. Kudyapi Used in: all around
Mindanao, Visayas and Palawan

4. Dabakan

The dabakan is a type of drum that is used to provide a bass

beat for kulintang ensembles. It is usually played using sticks.
The head of the drum is made out of animal skin (goat, carabao,
deer, etc) and its body out of coconut or jackfruit tree wood.
Ornate carvings usually decorate the body of the dabakan.

Dabakan Used in: Bangsamoro provinces

Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew

Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)
 FEATI University l College of Architecture
Helios street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

5. Sulibao

The sulibao is a type of hand drum that has

a long body that resembles a tobacco stick.
Because of its small head it has a higher
pitch than the dabakan. Sulibao is used to
accompany the gangsa in gatherings and
helps the players maintain their tempo or
playing speed.
Sulibao Used in: Benguet and Mountain
Province

6. Diwas

The diwas is a type of bamboo panpipe made up of five to

eight individual pipes with various pitches. Each pipe only
has one hole and the instrument makes sound by bouncing air
back on the blowing (open) end of the pipe. In some
provinces in the Cordillera, the pipes are also played
individually and are then called saggeypo.
Diwas Used in: Cordillera provinces

Student Name: Serrano, Scott Andrew

Student No: 18-00105
Subject: GENED25(18)