ALAMINOS CITY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET IN CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS

FROM THE REGIONS
Quarter 3-Week 3-4, February 28-March 11, 2022

I. Titles: A. Research on Various Contemporary Art Forms (Week 3)

B. Filipino Roles and Contributions to Contemporary Arts (Week 4)

II. Background of the Learners:

Art of the 21st century emerges from a vast variety of materials and means.
These include the latest electronic technologies, such as digital imaging and the
internet; familiar genres with a long history that continue to be practice with great
vigor, such painting; and materials and processes once associated primarily with
handicrafts, re-envisioned to express new concepts. Many artists regularly and freely
mix media and forms, making the choices that best serve their concepts and purposes.
(Robertson, n.d.)
In its most basic sense, the term contemporary art refers to art – namely
painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video art – produced
today. Although the exact starting point of this genre is still debated, many historians
consider the late 1960s or early 1970s (the end of modern art, or modernism) to be
an adequate estimate.
Given its “art of today” as definition, let’s take a look on the different forms of
contemporary arts:

III. Learning Competency with codes:

1. Research on various contemporary art forms. (CAR11/12CAP-0c-e-4)
2. Explain Filipino artists’ roles and identify their contribution to contemporary
arts. (CAR11/12CAP-0c-e-5)

IV. Discussion:
A. Research on Various Contemporary Art Forms (Week 3)

1. Photography
Known as “photographic art” or “artistic photography”. It refers to an imprecise
category of photographs, created in accordance with the creative vision of the
cameraman. The basic idea behind this genre is that the photographer aims to produce
a more personal – typically more evocative or atmospheric – impression. We can also
simply say that fine art photography describes any image taken by a camera where
the intention is aesthetic (that is, a photo whose value lies primarily in its beauty)
rather than scientific (photos with scientific value), commercial (product photos), or
journalistic (photos with news or illustrative value).

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 https://i2.wp.com/www.artphotoacademy.com/wpcontent/uploads/2018/05/L1020200-
2.jpg?resize=750%2C822&ssl=1
2. Conceptual Art
In conceptual art, the concept(s) or idea(s) involved in the work take precedence
over traditional aesthetic, technical, and material concerns. It means that the most
important aspect of the work is the idea or concept. Planning and decisions are made
beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes a machine
that makes the art.

Ai Wei Wei, “Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads,” 2010

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8866&aspectratio=1.47619047619
3. Performance Art
Art begun in the 1960s and retain its popularity today. Performance art is a
drama-inspired approach to art. While the art form is performed by artists (as the
name suggests), it is not solely intended as entertainment. Instead, is goal is to convey
a message or idea. Predominant performance artists include Marina Abramovic,
Yoko Ono and Joseph Beuys.

Abramovic performing The Artist is Present, Museum of Modern Art, March 2010
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/ArtistIsPresent.jpg/330px-ArtistIsPresent.jpg

4. Installation Art
Installation art is a genre in which “ideas” and “impact” are regarded as being
more important than the quality of a finished “product” or “work of art.” In here,
installation artists are more concerned with the presentation of their message than
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with the material used to present it. Often, they’re large-scale and site-specific,
enabling artists to transform any space into a customized, interactive environment.
Well-known installation artists include Yayoi Kusama, Dale Chihuly, and Bruce
Munro.

Yayoi Kusama, “Gleaming Lights of the Souls,” 2008

https://www.louisiana.dk/uploads/styles/retina-slider-small-desktop-1x/public/sidebilleder/web_kim6394-
edit_ccfinal.jpg?itok=YijEPHp8&timestamp=1505215993
5. Land Art
A form of contemporary art, also known as Earthworks or Earth Art. This is a
land-based interventions or artworks that has a variety of forms, from large-scale
artworks like man-made curtains reaching across vast stretches of landscape, the
encirclement of whole islands in colored fabric, and reshaped waterways and
volcanoes, to simple lines of footprints in the earth.

Robert Smithson, “Spiral Jetty”

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Spiral-jetty-from-rozel-point.png/225px-
Spiraljetty-from-rozel-point.png
6. Animation Art
Animation art is a form of visual art that makes motion picture from a series of
still drawings. Although twenty first century animation is dominated by computerized
film and video technology, the creative figure drawing skills and draftmanship of
cartoonists and graphic artists remain an integral part of the process. Famous
twentieth century animators include J. Stuart Blackton, George McManus, Max
Fleischer, and Walt Disney, and the team from DreamWorks Animation. Famous
animated film cartoons include Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny and Donald Duck,
Jungle Book, the Simpsons, Shrek and Anime.

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/images-paint/animation-shrek.jpg

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7. Computer Art
Computer art refers to any form of graphic art or digital imagery which is
produced with the aid of a computer, or any types of art in which the role of the
computer is emphasized. The best-known digital artists include German pioneer
Manfred Mohr, the American artist Ronald Davis, John Lansdown, and Jean-Pierre
Hebert.

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/images-new/mohr-sphereless.gif

8. Graphic Art
Graphic arts depend on their effect online and tone, not color. The main
classical type of graphic art is drawing, which includes cartoons, caricature, comic
strips, and animation, as well as line drawings and sketching with pencil or charcoal,
and pen and ink. Graphic art also denotes those art forms involved in printmaking,
such as etching and engraving, including dry point. Postmodern forms include the
word art of Christopher Wool and the conceptual graphic art of Barbara Kruger.

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/images-paint/graphic-fashion.jpg

9. Poster Art
Poster art describes a general category of printed 2-D artwork which is designed
to be affixed to a vertical surface. Posters may consist exclusively of images, or
images and text. Poster art is used by painters and printmakers, art publishers and
cultural organizers, politicians, and propagandists, as well as commercial firms, PR
and Advertising Agencies.

https://venngage-wordpress-gallery.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/10/Meet-Me-at-the-Centerof-
the-Earth-Art-Poster-Example6.jpg
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V. EXERCISES/ACTIVITIES
A. Multiple Choice
Directions: Read the statements carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on
a separate sheet of paper for your answer.

1. What defined Earth art from the other forms of art?

A. It integrates other forms of art
B. It required too much materials to finish one work
C. It rejects traditional gallery and museum spaces
D. It gives stress to the environment
2. What makes installation art different from sculpture or other traditional art forms?
A. Its ability to physically interact with viewers
B. Its beauty and elegance
C. Its popularity and intricacy
D. Its complexity and ingenuity
3. Which of the following DO NOT belong to the group?
A. Spraycan Art C. Subway Art
B. Aerosol Art D. Land Art
4. Juan is a thriving politician. He wants that even in the far-flung area, his name and
his platform be remembered. What art form is best use by Juan?
A. Animation B. Collage C. Poster D. Video
5. Anne collects pieces of paper, photographs, fabric and other materials. She
arranged it in an illustration and create a new form of art. Anne is working on what
form of art?
A. Animation B. Collage C. Computer Art D. Graphic Art
6. Carlo collects discarded materials like glass, scrap metal, plastic and wood from
the junkshop and turned it into a beautiful work of art. What form of art is this?
A. Jewelry Art B. Junk Art C. Metalwork Art D. Mosaic
7. Which of the following is NOT an example of graphic art?
A. Cartoons B. Comic strips C. Graffiti D. Word art
8. Body painting, face painting as well as tattoos and mime as examples of _____.
A. Animation art C. Conceptual art
B. Body art D. Graphic art
9. Sam is well-versed in creating digital images with the aid of computer. What form
of art does Sam practicing?
A. Architecture C. Photography
B. Computer Art D. Street art
10. Actors and actresses are the major key players to give life to a performance
whether live or recorded, spontaneous or scripted.
A. Body art C. Painting
B. Conceptual art D. Performance art
11. Jason, as an artist in his own right, uses whatever materials and whatever form is
most appropriate to put his idea in his work.
A. Animation art C. Conceptual art
B. Body art D. Computer art
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12. Which of the following best describe video art?
A. Video art employs the use of actors, with distinctive plot
B. Video art contains dialogues of actors to convey ideas or messages
C. Video art involves the use of video and/or audio data and relies on moving
pictures
D. Video art generally define motion pictures as propaganda
13. Word art is defined as _____.
A. Art that includes words or phrases as its primary artistic component
B. Art that defined more by line and tone
C. Linear realization of visual objects, concepts, emotions and fantasies
D. Art that explains, clarifies, illuminates, or merely decorates a written text
14. What makes photography differ from painting?
A. Photography requires a real physical object to be there to take a picture of it.
B. Photography uses creative imagination to come out with a beautiful work of
art.
C. Photography creates emotions that move and compel people to do things.
D. Photography requires technical skill to be considered as indispensable part
of one’s artistic talent.
15. Which of the following best defined flash mob?
A. Dancers form themselves spontaneously into lines or circles and do their step
patterns, rhythms and tempos.
B. Dancers performed in a large hall, by several couples who follow similar
routines and steps.
C. Dancers use their emotions and moods to design their own steps and
routines.
D. Group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place for the purpose of
doing an unusual or entertaining activity of short duration.

B. Performance Task:
Directions: Aside the examples of contemporary arts given above, there are other
forms of contemporary art. Research the following forms of contemporary art. Be
sure to include a short description, and examples. Include one image to illustrate
the given form of art. Be sure to properly cite your image. Use short bond paper
for your output. Review the rubrics given below as your guide in your rating.

1. Video Art
2. Word Art
3. Graffiti Art
4. Body Art
5. Collage

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B: Filipino Roles and Contributions to Contemporary Arts (Week 4)
Contemporary art is the art of today which is produced by artists who are living
in the twenty-first century and is composed of a dynamic combination of materials,
methods, concepts, and subjects that challenge traditional boundaries and defy easy
definition because of its diverse and eclectic attributes. Despite the very lack of a
uniform, organizing principle, ideology, or ‘ism’, contemporary art can also provide
us an opportunity to reflect on contemporary society and the issues relevant to
ourselves, and the world around us, giving us a glimpse and partaking a part of a
cultural dialogue that concerns larger contextual frameworks such as personal and
cultural identity, family, community, and nationality. In your previous lesson, you
learned about the various contemporary art forms and their practices from the various
regions as well as the various contemporary art forms in the Philippines.
With the advent of technology, art in the Philippines is no longer confined in
galleries where only the rich and privileged have access to. Nowadays, you can now
look and admire some of the best contemporary arts in the Philippines by simply
opening your mobile phones, iPads, or laptops, making Philippine arts and culture
more accessible now than ever. Moving beyond traditional and standard museum
fanfare, Philippine art now moves in a way where common folks can digest what lies
beyond the mixes of colors, decipher messages under the guise of emotion-filled
tunes and melodies, and capture the beauty which words alone cannot purely
describe. To familiarize yourself with the modern art scene in the country, we will
study about Filipino contemporary artists and their works.

Filipino Contemporary Artists and Their Works

1. Nona Garcia
Nona Garcia is perhaps one of the best known artists in
the Philippine art scene now. Born in 1978 in Manila, she
received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the
University of the Philippines. Based primarily in Baguio,
her work has been exhibited in countless galleries both
local and abroad. She won the Grand Prize in the Philip
Morris ASEAN Art Award (2000), and is also a recipient
of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Thirteen
Artists Award (2003).
Among her solo shows are False Apparitions (Singapore, 2012), Before the Sea
(Manila, 2012), Unearth (Berlin, 2015), and Before the Sky (Manila, 2016). Nona
Garcia is known for employing the use of stark realism to bring into question
what the true meaning of representation is. Her use of photorealism centers
everyday objects, cultural artifacts, or people, inviting the viewers to explore the
environmental, sociopolitical, and personal histories of her subjects. Although
famous for her paintings, she also employs the use of paper cutouts, x-rays, and
lightboxes in her works. Her attention to detail and incredible skill are unlike any
other, making her a favorite of collectors, art enthusiasts, and laypeople alike.
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2. Andres Barrioquinto
Andres Barrioquinto’s multi-awarded work is both
striking and unforgettable, and his iconic and surreal
painting style has made him successful in the local and
international art scenes. A graduate of the University of
Santo Tomas fine Arts program, Barrioquinto has been
fondly called the Dark Man of Philippine Art due to
his use of the macabre in many of his works. He has
participated in shows both in the country and abroad,
including Singapore and Taipei. In addition to this, he
also had a recent major showcase of portraits at the National Museum in November.
Barrioquinto’s work is notable for its use of juxtaposition and scale. His portraits are
famously a mix of the monochrome and the technicolor. With his subjects in black
and white framed by an explosion of color, his paintings assault the senses and leave
viewers reeling. While the mainstream perspective on art is that it must be beautiful,
Barrioquinto challenges old perspectives and brings you up close and personal with
the strange and imperfect. One of the CCP’s Thirteen Artists of 2003, Andres
Barrioquinto’s works have also pulled in huge numbers at auctions in the Philippines
and abroad. His painting Skulls and Butterflies pulled in HKD 620,000 at an auction,
almost 15 times its asking price.

3. Leeroy New
When it comes to the history of Philippine arts
and culture,you’d be hard-pressed to find a more
distinctive style across a variety of mediums than
Leeroy New’s. A native of General Santos City,
new graduated from the Philippine High School
for the Arts and the University of the Philippines
College of Fine Arts. His work has garnered him a number of accolades and awards,
including the 2005 Metrobank Art Awards, the 2009 Ateneo Art Awards, a
nomination for the 2011 Signature Art Prize in Singapore, the 2012 CCP 13 Artists
Award, and the 2014 Metrobank FoundationAward. Leeroy New has employed a
variety of mediums for his artwork, including production design, public art, product
design, and wearable art. However, he’s perhaps best known for his iconic sculptures,
which blend together a variety of shapes, colors, and forms to challenge the viewer.
New’s lifelong fascination with monsters has led him to create pieces that are out of
this world, making him one of the most prominent names in the Philippine sculpture
and visual arts scenes. His work has also been featured in television shows such as
Bagani (2018).

4. Nikki Luna
One of the most prominent female artists in Philippine arts circles today, Nikki
Luna’s work brings together advocacy and art. Luna is a graduate of the University
of the Philippines’ Fine Arts program, focusing on visual art. She also received a

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Chevening Award, allowing her to take a Masters in Art and Education at the
University of London in the UK. Her work has been
exhibited in the CCP, Vargas Museum, and Lopez
Memorial Museum, among others. In addition, she has
also been featured in the Aichi Triennale, Singapore
Biennale, Beijing Binnale, and Le Festival International
des textiles Extra Ordinaires. Luna’s work is notable for
highlighting issues of women, including the issues of
rape, sexual harassment, domestic workers, and migrant
workers. She authored the book I Love My Body (2018),
highlighting body positivity and awareness. She also recently completed a solo
exhibition at the 1335 Mabini Gallery called This is how to be a woman of the world.
Besides gallery work, Luna also employs her art in her activism. She has conducted
various art therapy workshops in conflict zones in the Philippines and uses her work
to speak out against social issues like extrajudicial killings, misogyny, and rape
culture.

5. Rodel Tapaya
Rodel Tapaya is one of the top names in Philippine
painting and visual art, and his work has garnered him
critical acclaim both in the country and abroad. Born in
1980 in Montalban, Rizal, Tapaya first broke out into
the scene when he won the Nokia Art Awards in 2001.
This enabled him to take drawing and painting courses in
prestigious institutions such as the Parsons School of
Design in New York, USA, and the University of Helsinki in Finland. Additionally,
Tapaya won the 2011 Signature Art Prize, was named one of CCP’s 13 Artists of
2012, and has been shortlisted several times for the Ateneo Art Awards, among
others. Tapaya’s first solo show outside the country was in 2008 and was entitled
Rodel Tapaya: Folkgotten. This marked a shift in subject matter and medium, and
Tapaya began to explore the themes of Philippine mythology and folktales for which
he’s known today. Rodel Tapaya’s artworks and paintings are notable for their mix
of Filipino folk culture and history, which he uses to offer commentary on
contemporary social issues. His complex compositions and use of vivid colors and
patterns have made his work a favorite of collectors and art enthusiasts.

6. Ernest Concepcion
Ernest Concepcion is well known for his highly complex and experimental
paintings, which play with texture and color to create images that arrest the viewer’s
eyes. Born in 1977, he graduated from the University of the Philippines with a
Bachelor of Fine Arts. He has participated in a number of art residences in New York,
where he stayed for several years. Concepcion has exhibited in galleries both in the
Philippines and in the United States, including solo exhibitions and group shows. He
has also received the CCP’s 13 Artists of 2015 award, among others. Concepcion is
notable for his use of color and texture in his artworks.
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His paintings are abstracted reflections on Philippine
history, social issues, and the human experience. By
experimenting with composition, form, color, and textures,
Concepcion’s works challenge the viewers’ preconceptions
of what is or isn’t possible in art. Concepcion’s pieces are
set apart by his use of different techniques, styles, and media in
order to put together images that are disjointed and unified at
the same time. He currently splits his time between Manila and
Brooklyn.

7. Annie Cabigting Annie Cabigting is one of this generation of artists’

technical masters, and her work is well-known both for
its adherence to real life form, and for its ability to
challenge the viewer. She graduated from the University
of thePhilippines with a Major in Painting in 1994 and
has since been exhibited in dozens of galleries. She has
over a dozen solo exhibitions, including ones in
Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. She also won
the Ateneo Art Awards in 2005, among others, and her
work was also included in the Prague Biennale. Cabigting is perhaps most known for
her ability to force her viewers to question ideas of authorship, reproduction, and
point of view. Her recent show, Museum Watching, featured photorealistic paintings
of people observing famous artworks. This playfulness in exploring the dynamic
between subject and viewer has been present throughout her career. In addition to
original work, Cabigting has alsomade reproductions of pieces by Jackson Pollock,
Mark Rothko, and local artists. Her ability to play around with the act of observation
has made her a favorite of collectors and laypeople alike.

8. Dex Fernandez
Dex Fernandez is a rising name among young artists in
the Philippines, and it’s immediately evident why. Perhaps
best known for his cartoonish, many-legged subject
“Garapata,” Fernandez’s work is playful and street-smart,
bringing a modern sensibility to many of Manila’s galleries.
He studied Fine Art and Advertising at the Technological
University of the Philippines before working as a graphic
designer. He’s had solo exhibitions in the Philippines and the
United States, as well as group exhibitions in France, Singapore, the United States,
and the Philippines. Fernandez’s work makes use of the urban landscape as a canvas
bringing art out of staid white galleries and into the daily lives of commuters. His
Garapata stickers are a well-known sight around Manila and even abroad. Besides his
illustration, he’s also worked in mixed media, photomanipulation, mural painting,
and other styles. Fernandez’s pieces like to mix the mundane in with the surreal,
making each of his artworks an instant visual playground for the viewer. Although

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he is currently based in Caloocan City, you can find his works, and Garapata, in
metropolises all over the world.

9. Oscar Villamiel
Oscar Villamiel is a familiar figure in the
Philippine art world, and his visceral, Multimedia
installations are both instantly recognizable and
unforget- table. Born in 1953 and a graduate of the Fine
Arts Program of University of the East, he worked as a
set designer and entrepreneur for several decades.
During this period, he founded the graphic t-shirt brand
Artwork in 2002. His first exhibition was a group
exhibition of UE alumni at the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and he’s exhibited in a number of galleries and
countries since. Villamiel’s work is well-known for its use of salvaging, with the
artist using found materials or old, recycled parts to create entirely new works. His
2014 installation art about the Philippines, Mga Damong Ligaw, employed the use
of over 10,000 excised carabao horns that flowed from the gallery walls onto the
floor. Instead of focusing on prized objects, his art brings to the foreground discarded
junk and cast-off, mundane items. By doing this, he highlights the stark beauty that
can often be found in these discarded pieces.

10. Geraldine Javier

Geraldine Javier is a Philippine visual artist
whose work foregrounds the tension between dynamic
contrasts. Born in 1970, she initially began her career
training to be a nurse before turning to the arts. Javier
rose into the spotlight when she received the CCP’s 13
Artists Award in 2003. She first began exhibiting her
work internationally in 2004, and has been featured in
dozens of galleries both in the Philippines and abroad.
Javier has cited Roberto Chabet as one of her top influences, and she herself takes
a similar cerebral approach to her artwork. Her work emphasizes complexity, both of
subject matter and form. In addition to iconography from her Roman Catholic
upbringing, she also touches on the concepts of death, emotional violence,
relationships, and social tensions. Rather than touching on the social realism and
political commentary of her predecessors, Javier instead paints subjects that are
highly personal and specific. Thus, she invites the viewers of her artwork to look at
the internal rather the external, making her a favorite of galleries and collectors alike.

11. Ronald Ventura

Ronald Ventura has been hailed as one of the most distinctive and unique
artistic voices of his generation. Born in 1973 and educated at the University of Santo
Tomas in Manila, he’s been multi-awarded since his student days. As an
undergraduate, he won the longest-running student art competition sponsored by
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 Shell Corporation in 1990. His first two solo shows were
in 2000, and he has since been exhibited in the
Philippines, Asia, and in Europe and the United States.
Among his many awards are the 13 Artists Award of
2003 by the CCP, and the Ateneo Art Award in 2005.
Ronald Ventura’s artworks are known for combining a
variety of different media, and he explores new themes,
materials, and concepts in his work. Although skilled in
different media, including photography, sculptures, and installations, he’s
particularly known for his work surrounding the human form. By layering usually
separate styles—such as graffiti, cartoons, and photorealism— he highlights the
multiple and sometimes conflicting identities that make up the Philippines. Ronald
Ventura’s paintings explore dynamics and contrasts, and each piece is a unique
dialogue between viewer and subject.

12. Gary-Ross Pastrana

Gary-Ross Pastrana’s distinctive, conceptual
oeuvres makes him a stand-out in a country rich with
artistic talent. He received his bachelor’s degree in
painting from the University of the Philippines’ College
of Fine Arts, where he was awarded the Dominador
Castañeda Award for Best Thesis. Subsequently, he was
granted residences in Japan and Bangkok. He received
the CCP’s 13 Artists Award in 2006, and has since been exhibited in shows both local
and abroad. He is also one of the co-founders of the Future Prospects Art Space in
Cubao, Philippines. Pastrana’s work is known for combining concepts with context
in subtle, poetic ways. In addition to sculpture, his work has also employed the use
of folded and coiled photographs, found pictures from the internet woven together,
and even his own shirt tied to a flagpole. In one exhibit in 2018, Pastrana turned to
the “forgotten” objects in the house, highlighting them and inviting viewers to
explore their often-ignored histories. His simple yet dynamic approach to the
everyday turns the mundane into something deeply emotional, adding a complexity
to even the most deceptively simple of pieces.

13. Benedicto Cabrera

Benedicto Cabrera, more popularly known as
BenCab, has been hailed as one of the most iconic artists
of his generation. Awarded the National Artist of the
Philippines for Visual Arts (Painting) Award in 2006, he
is arguably one of the best-selling artists in the country,
with the BenCab museum in Baguio City dedicated to
his works. He studied in the University of the Philippines
before exploring a career in art circlesin London.
Subsequently, he began to build a name for himself that

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led to countless exhibitions and shows in dozens of countries across the world.
Benedicto Cabrera’s artworks are notable for his mastery of a variety of different
media, including printmaking, painting, photography, and draftsmanship. In
particular, he is known for his series of works centering around his muse “Sabel,”
inspired by a scavenger woman whom he photographed and sketched in 1965.
Following the same vein, Benedicto Cabrera’s paintings are primarily figurative,
focusing on the female subject, and occasionally men, wrapped in swirling fabrics.
His subjects are often dressed in Filipiniana, highlighting the context of Filipino
women in society.

14. Agnes Arellano

Perhaps one of the greatest Philippine sculptors of
her generation, Agnes Arellano’s work demands the
viewer’s full attention. Before delving into art, Arellano
first went down a more science-oriented track, pursuing
a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and units in a Master
of Arts in the same field. She finally took a Major in
Sculpture from the College of Fine Arts, University of
the Philippines, kickstarting what would be decades of
success and renown. She has participated in several
exhibitions across the globe, and her work is in the permanent collections of the
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, the Singapore Art Museum, and the APEC Sculpture
Park in Busan, South Korea. Arellano’s sculptures are distinctive not only for their
mastery of the female form, but for their harrowing, sometimes grotesque, and always
unforgettable subject matter. Much of her career has been shaped by the tragic death
of her family in a fire in 1981, and many of her works commemorate this event. Her
multimedia memorial event Fire and Death – A Labyrinth of Ritual Art was a unique
installation of memorabilia from their family home. Arellano is known for her focus
on the female body using a variety of different sculptural materials, including casts
of her own body. She calls her sculptures “inscapes,” where she invites the viewers
to walk in and explore the core of their meaning.

15. Kiko Escora

Kiko Escora, also known as Manila Animal, is a
prolific, chameleon-like artist whose work changes with
every exhibition. Born in 1970, his fascination with art
began as a child, when his father introduced him to the
color wheel and taught him to match each color with a
song. Awarded the prestigious 13 Artists Award by the
CCP in 2003, he has been exhibited numerous times,
both in solo and group shows in the Philippines and in
countries such as Indonesia and Spain. He is a favorite
of collectors, and his pieces have sold for up to Php 1.5
million at auctions. Kiko Escora’s work is known for the negotiation between the
themes of intimacy and violence. His portraits, often foregrounding the subjects in
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stark lighting, invite a level of scrutiny on the part of the viewer that feels both
familiar and invasive all at once. His subjects often have a particularly unnerving
energy, with expressions and attitudes that turn the viewer from an impartial observer
to an almost voyeur. This bald-facedness allows that forces the viewer from the
passive into the active have made his work deceptively simple yet haunting.

16. Yasmin Sison-Ching

Yasmin Sison-Ching is a Filipina visual artist
whose work lingers with you long after you’ve
turned away. Born in 1972 in Cavite, she took up
a degree in Humanities and Fine Arts and
graduated from the University of the Philippines,
later taking a second degree in Painting from 1994-
1997 and a Masters in Art Education in 2001. Her
work Bear fetched the highest price at the
Borobudur auction in Singapore in 2008, and she
has been exhibited in Malaysia, Italy, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Singapore,
Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Sison-Ching’s early work centered on abstract
expressionism. Her gestural paintings included bright splashes of color and
expressionist figures that lacked both form and identity. She then moved on to
representational imagery, distinctive for her unflinching portrayal of her subjects. In
particular, her series on children in all their moods showed her skill at drawing out
the emotions of her subjects. This perceptiveness and connection with viewers have
made her a standout in the Philippine art scene, and a favorite among collectors.

17. Neil Pasilan

Neil Pasilan is a self-taught, multi-media
artist from Bacolod. Born in 1971 and brother to
fellow artist Diokno Pasilan, he displayed
creativity at an early age. In his youth, he modeled
figures in clay before moving on to other forms and
media. He has been in several group exhibitions,
including 2010’s Buang in Makati City Alay in
Quezon City, and 2011 in Taguig City, Philippines.
His solo exhibitions have been at various galleries
in the Philippines, including Wes Gallery, Art
Informal Gallery, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Pasilan’s work is known
for its use of multiple layers and media, utilizing these different strata to expose or
sometimes mask different forms and subjects. He has described himself as being most
at ease when he is being true to himself as an artist. Subsequently, many of his works
include family members and other personal relationships. Pasilan’s work is
distinctive for its hazy yet emotion-filled approach to form, creating emotion
through abstraction where the viewer would initially assume there was none to be
found.

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18. Kawayan de Guia
Kawayan de Guia is a growing name within the
Philippine art world, and with good reason. The
son of filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik and German
artist Katrin de Guia, he was mentored by BenCab
and Santiago Bose in his early years. In 2011, he
helmed the Ax(iS) Art Project to promote the local
artist community in Baguio City and the rest of the
Cordilleras. He has held numerous solo exhibitions
in the Philippines and abroad, and was a guest
curator in 2013 for the Singapore Biennale.
Besides the Philippines, his work has been
exhibited in Australia, Japan, China, and Germany.
De Guia’s work is notable for his seemingly disjointed juxtapositions of different
images and forms. His collages play with concepts that are often difficult to pair, such
as religion and consumerism, in collages that play with both shape and color. By
placing these outwardly disparate concepts together, he invites the viewer to construct
their own meaning of their relationships. The chaotic landscapes of his artworks also
invite the viewer to explore feelings of discontent and disarticulation and leave them
with lingering feelings of restlessness long after they’ve left.

19. Mark Salvatus

Mark Salvatus is an
intermedia artist who has been
slowly but surely rising in
prominence in the Philippine art
scene. Born in 1980 and educated
at the University of Santo Tomas
College of Fine Arts & Design, he
won the Ateneo Art Awards in
2010, and was named as one of
the CCP’s 13 Artists of 2012. In
subsequent years, he has won residency grants and fellowships to Sweden, Japan, and
the Netherlands. He has exhibited his work in the Philippines, Japan, South Korea,
China, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States,
among others. Mark Salvatus calls his artworks “Salvage Projects,” and he is
preoccupied with the idea of movements and transitions from one place or state of
being to another. His work discusses urbanization and the socioeconomic structure
that surrounds it, especially in Metro Manila. This urbanization and landscape is both
foreground and background for Salvatus’ pieces, manifesting through familiar
objects and the everyday. With his artworks spanning a range of media and
sometimes inviting the participation of the public itself, Salvatus has proven himself
an artist of the new age.

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20. Patricia Perez Eustaquio
Patricia Perez Eustaquio has been
hailed as one of the foremost artists of
her generation. Born in 1977, she
received the 13 Artists Award from
the CCP in 2010, and has been
awarded several prestigious
residencies. Among these residencies
are Art Omi in New York, and
Stitching Id11 in Amsterdam. She has
been exhibited in dozens of galleries,
and her work has awed audiences in
Switzerland, Singapore, Paris, Hong
Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines,
among others. In 2016, she was commissioned by the Palais de Tokyo in France, and
joined the Singapore Biennale in the same year Eustaquio’s work is concerned with
the idea of vanity, focusing on materials and structures that are carefully created and
staged. Much of her work involves the materials of craft, including fabric, leather,
lace, ceramic, and upholstery— either handmade or industrial. Hailed by critics as a
multifaceted talent, Eustaquio is able to invite viewers to interrogate both the artwork
and the process by which the artwork is constructed. Detritus is framed within the
structures of craft and fashion, creating a dynamic that begs reflection and discussion.

21. Martha Atienza

Martha Atienza was born to a Filipino
father and Dutch mother, and this shuttling
between two cultures has been at the
forefront of her creative work. She finished a
bachelor’s degree in Mixed Media and Media
Art at the Aki Academy of Visual Arts and
Design in the Netherlands. Despite her young
age, her prodigious skill is readily apparent,
and she’s received accolade after accolade in
her decade of work. Among these are the CCP’s 2015 13 Artists Award, the New
Media Fund from the NCCA, the 2012 Ateneo Art Awards, and residencies in
Singapore, Australia, the United States, the UK, and the Philippines. Martha
Atienza’s work is primarily known for being expressed through video installation,
which has been exhibited in various galleries across the globe. Using the concept of
a “stranger” to guide her hand, her work toes the line between imagination and
understanding. Atienza takes an almost sociological approach to her artwork,
exploring different contradictions and subjects with an almost clinical eye. However,
this perceived detachment does not let the viewer forget who is behind the camera,
turning the experience into a kind of voyeurism of the voyeur.

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22. Hannah Pettyjohn
As the daughter of Filipino ceramicisists Jon
and Tessy Pettyjohn, it’s no wonder that Hannah
Pettyjohn grew up to pursue a career in the arts.
Born in 1983 and now based in Dallas in the United
States, Pettyjohn graduated from the University of
the Philippines with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
Painting. Her work has been exhibited in the
Philippines, Taiwan, the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and is included
in various private collections across Southeast Asia. Taking inspiration fromher
parents’ work and her own experiences as a Filipino-American, Pettyjohn’s work
seems to focus on the meeting and discussion between two worlds. Her paintings are
often accompanied by sculptural works, and fragments of memory and
autobiographical tidbits make up much of her artwork. Her palettes are muted,
emphasizing a feeling of nostalgia and transience. With themes of impermanence,
loneliness, anxiety, and aimlessness, her work speaks to a new generation of
individuals who feel untethered to their own histories and societies.

23. Pope Bacay

A native of Oriental Mindoro, Pope Bacay is
quickly rising to become one of the most well-known
young artists in the country. Having graduated from the
Studio Arts program of the University of the Philippines
in only 2016, he’s quickly begun to make waves in the
local art scene in the Philippines. He had his first
exhibition in 2016 entitled (t)here, and has had several
group and solo shows in the few short years since. Bacay
also recently completed a two-month art residency at the ABungalow Residency
Project in Negros Occidental. Bacay’s work draws on the sense of place, capturing
scenes from his life in his hometown of Roxas. Framing the everyday and familiar
within architectural structures, he emphasizes the role of these structures in capturing
and maintaining our memories. The visual geography on his canvases is both foreign
and familiar all at once, with windowpanes or traditional-style houses a well-known
sight to viewers. His masterful grasp of melancholy and nostalgia definitely makes
him a voice to look out for.

24. David Medalla

David Medalla is one of the greats of Philippine contemporary art, any list
would be remiss not to include him. Born in Manila in 1942, he was admitted to
Columbia University in New York at the young age of 14 upon the recommendation
of American poet Mark van Doren. In the late 1950s he returned to Manila and began
his art career under the wing of several new patrons. In the 1960s, he moved to the
United Kingdom and co-founded the Signals Gallery, which presented kinetic art by

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international artists. He also founded the London Biennale in 1998, and has won
numerous awards for his work. It’s hard to put together a life more storied than David
Medalla’s. As one of the foremost artists in kinetic art
and sculpture in the world, Medalla’s influence on
Philippine contemporary art is undeniable. He has
experimented with a variety of forms and materials,
never once shying away from the challenge to viewers
and observers. He creates artwork that allows all the
body’s senses to engage with it, once even creating a
piece that would release scent pellets of his then-
boyfriend’s smell when he undressed after coming
home from work. His creativity, eloquence, and genius are undeniable, and luckily
for Philippine art he still has more to give.

IV. EXERCISES/ACTIVITIES
A. Multiple Choice
Directions: Read the statements carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on
a separate sheet of paper for your answer.
1. What is Photorealism?
A. It is realism in painting characterized by extremely meticulous depiction of
detail.
B. It is realism in painting where certain parts are emphasized or highlighted to
accentuate meaning portrayed by the artwork.
C. It is the theory or practice in art of applying small strokes or dots of color to
a surface so that from a distance they blend together.
D. It is the principles or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery
or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural or irrational
juxtapositions and combinations.
2. Who among the following Filipino contemporary artists employ photorealism in
her/his artworks?
A. Andres Barrioquinto C. Leeroy New
B. Nikki Luna D. Nona Garcia
3. What is surrealism?
A. It is realism in painting characterized by extremely meticulous
depiction of detail.
B. It is realism in painting where certain parts are emphasized or highlighted to
accentuate meaning portrayed by the artwork.
C. It is the theory or practice in art of applying small strokes or dots of color to
a surface so that from a distance they blend together.
D. It is the principles or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery
or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural or irrational
juxtapositions and combinations.
4. Who among the following Filipino contemporary artists is famous for his mix of
monochrome and technicolor challenging the old perspectives of the beautiful by
bringing you up close and personal with the strange and imperfect?
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 A. Andres Barrioquinto C. Geraldine Javier
B. Ernest Conception D. Ronald Ventura
5. How do the Filipino contemporary artists contribute to the development of
Philippine identity both in local and international scenes?
A. They contribute to the development of Philippine identity both in local and
international scenes through their artworks which are abstracted reflections
on Philippine history, social issues, and human experience.
B. They contribute to the development of Philippine identity both in local and
international scenes through their artworks inviting people to criticize the
environmental, sociopolitical, and personal history of the Filipino people.
C. Either A or B.
D. Neither A nor B.
6. In one of his exhibits, he turned to the “forgotten objects” in the house highlighting
them and inviting viewers to explore their often-ignored histories.
A. Agnes Arellano C. Gary-Ross Pastrana
B. Benedicto Cabrera D. Kawayan De Guia
7. His artworks are known for combining a variety of different media, and he explores
new themes, materials, and concepts in his works. He’s particularly known for his
work surrounding the human form.
A. Annie Cabagting C. Nikki Luna
B. Geraldine Javier D. Ronald Ventura
8. How do the Filipino contemporary artists we discussed bring their artworks about
our society and culture into a more engaging and thought-provoking way?
A. They bring their artworks about our society and culture into a more engaging
and thought-provoking way by challenging the old perspectives by not
focusing on prized objects but bringing their artworks to the foreground of
discarded junks and cast-off mundane items.
B. They bring their artworks about our society and culture into a more engaging
and thought-provoking way by bringing to attention everyday objects,
cultural artifacts, or people, inviting the viewers to explore the
environmental, sociopolitical, and personal histories of her subjects.
C. Either A or B.
D. Neither A nor B.
9. He is a Filipino contemporary artist whose artworks are notable for their mix of
Filipino folk culture and history and highlight his commentary on contemporary
social issues.
A. Dex Fernandez C. Neil Pasilan
B. Ernest Concepcion D. Rodel Tapaya
10. A Filipino contemporary artist whose early work centered on abstract
expressionism. Her gestural paintings included bright splashes of color and
expressionist figures that lacked both form and identity.
A. Annie Cabagting C. Nona Garcia
B. Nikki Luna D. Yasmin Sison-Ching

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B. Performance Task
Writing a Character Sketch
Directions: Explain in 3-paragraph essay a local artist’s roles and contributions
in your community through a character sketch. Be guided with the given rubric
below. (Pictures are optional.)

CATEGORY EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD (20%) NEEDS

(30%) (25%) IMPROVEMENT
(15%)
Coverage of the topic Captures all Captures all Captures all Captures all
important important important important
information about the information about the information about the information about the
topic which will topic which will topic which will topic which will
provide the audience provide the audience provide the audience provide the audience
full understanding on basic understanding little understanding poor understanding
the issue/topic. on the issue/topic. on the issue/topic. on the issue/topic.
CATEGORY EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD (15%) NEEDS
(25%) (20%) IMPROVEMENT
(10%)
Accuracy of Facts All supportive facts Almost all supportive Most supportive facts Most supportive facts
are accurate facts are accurate are accurate are inaccurate
CATEGORY EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD (10%) NEEDS
(20%) (15%) IMPROVEMENT
(5%)
Sequencing of Information is Most information is Some information is Poor organization of
information organized in a clear organized in a clear organized in a clear information
and logical way and logical way and logical way
CATEGORY EXCELLENT VERY GOOD (8%) GOOD (4%) NEEDS
(10%) IMPROVEMENT
(2%)
Analysis and Provides a discerning Provides a discerning Provides an
evaluation of the and thorough analysis and thorough analysis incomplete analysis
problems of all the problems of some of the of some of the
presented problems identified problems identified
CATEGORY EXCELLENT VERY GOOD (8%) GOOD (4%) NEEDS
(10%) IMPROVEMENT
(2%)

V. Reference
AIRs – LM in Contemporary Arts from the Region

Prepared by: Checked by: Concurred by:

OLIVIA R. PANAGA ROSENDO C. BERNABE, JR., PhD JOSE RAMIL A. SIBUN

Master Teacher II OIC-Asst. Principal II, Academics
WILMA R. SARATE

SHARAMAE L. RABINA

MARIA ELISA N. ROSETE

MARK GANI I. NANOZO

EMIL U. LOPEZ
Subject Teachers

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