ARGONIA, JOHN PHILIP L.

ART APP
3E1 September 8, 2021

Reading the Image: An analysis of Pila by Neil Doloricon

Neil Doloricon, Pila (Queue), 2020.

Pila by Neil Doloricon is a painting that depicts the Philippines’ socio-political state under the
Duterte administration and the COVID-19 pandemic. These two combined forces have left the
Philippines in shambles as the unemployment rate rises to unprecedented numbers, the
neverending lockdown, the deaths caused by the virus and the government, and more. In this
analysis, let’s take a look at what and how Pila looks like under the microscope of the four
planes of analysis.

1. An analysis of Pila under the Basic Semiotic plane

Looking at Pila with Semiotics and visuals in mind, it is painted in black and white with no other
colors present. Doloricon probably chose black and white since the combination of these colors
(in the painting’s context) portray the absence of freedom (the absence of other colors in the
painting), oppression, and hopelessness.

Additionally, Doloricon may also have chosen black and white so that viewers would only focus
on the elements such as form, lighting, composition, and value. Black and the lack of other
colors may also mean death in Asian cultures such as the Philippines which represent the
never-ending rise of COVID-19 cases and the deaths along with it. Meanwhile, White could
represent the forfeit and surrender of the Filipino people to the government.

Since the painting mainly focuses on the censorship and suppression of media and the masses,
a black and white painting like Pila perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being trapped in a world
where you have no say and freedom. Overall, Doloricon did a fantastic job in choosing the
colors and visual elements of the painting to portray said emotions and meanings.

2. An analysis of Pila under the Iconic plane

Under the Iconic plane, Pila mainly focuses on the crowd that is struggling to keep it together
under the surveillance of soldiers at the back. Though these soldiers are meant to protect them
in wars, it can come off as unnecessary in battling a pandemic and are rather used to silence
and oppress those who dare badmouth the Durtete administration. This is evident with the
uprise of journalists and lawyers who are killed out of the blue due to their controversial opinions
against the government.

Furthermore, the facemasks that these people are wearing can have two meanings: first, they
are wearing them so that they could be protected from the COVID-19 virus. Second: they are
used to symbolize the dampening of the Filipino peoples’ outcry and rage against the
mishandling of the pandemic by the government, another case of the administration doing
everything they can to silence the masses. None of these people are also facing one another or,
at least, tried facing back to talk to the person behind them as they may be forced to face
forward and look at what’s in front of them.

3. An analysis of Pila under the Contextual plane.

Analyzing Pila under the contextual plane, it is set during the COVID-19 pandemic and the
Duterte administration. It is also set in a time where military personnel and soldiers are guarding
borders, ABS-CBN being shut down, the Anti-Terrorism Law, the police and extrajudicial killings,
the mishandling of the government regarding the pandemic, and more.

Now that we are aware of the painting’s context, it may help shed some light on why some of
the decisions Doloricon chose, such as the black and white color, fit better.

4. An analysis of Pila under the Evaluative plane.

Finally, looking at the painting under the Evaluative plane. Though I am not one for an art critic, I
can confidently say that this painting did a great job portraying the current situation of the
Philippines under the chaotic administration and COVID-19 pandemic. As of September 2021,
things aren’t far off from what is displayed in Pila. People are still struggling to go outside and
find work, the masses are still being silenced, ABS-CBN is yet to be opened, etc.
Pila is a painting that aims to educate people in subtle ways about how we are being treated as
citizens of our country. As Filipinos, we value transparency, honesty, and happiness, but it is
impossible to feel any of those from our government due to their incompetency in handling
urgent situations. Sure, we do not have the resources of the USA, Canada, and other first-world
countries, but even relative to our ASEAN neighbors, the Philippines is doing the worst in
pandemic response. Not to mention the oppression that is happening on top of the extrajudicial
killings.

Though I may seem biased towards this painting because of my distaste towards the current
government, most of the things I mentioned are undeniable facts that cannot be bent or
manipulated, and I am sure that Doloricon would feel the same as evident with his amazing
painting like Pila.
References:

Talabong, R. (2021). ‘We are failing’: House highlights Duterte admin’s mishandling of
pandemic. Rappler. Retrieved from:
https://www.rappler.com/nation/highlights-house-hearing-duterte-government-mishandling-pand
emic