THE ARTWORKS TO BE ANALYZED

What is/are do you think the basic philosophy/ies of art that was/were used as basis for creating such an artwork?

The underlying concept behind Ang Kiukok’s Fishermen is about labor

and catch. He recreated the realities of struggles and hopes by
figuratively expressing it on a fisherman’s point of view without really
looking like reality. Its philosphy didn’t only tacke expressionism
through representation but perhaps, personally, as an escape from his
shared struggles and desperation of hope, as well.

(1) Fishermen by Ang Kiukok

Manansala’s Machinery is not a complete disfiguration of reality. He
gives respect to the natural forms of subjects but only viewed in
pluralistic perspectives, a technique he was known for – the
tranparent cubism. It has a mimicry of reality but not entirely. One of
cubism forefounders, Picasso, felt that art shoud not be a copy of
nature. Machinery is but a reconstructed reality. Its philosophy may
have a shade of mimicry but mostly a representation and recreation of
what machines and manual work forces are in reality.

(2) Machinery by Vicente Manansala

Arturo Luz’s Man on Wheel portrays a geometric circus performer
without really looking like one in reality. As much as it is deemed as a
representational art, Luz describes his works as semi-representational.
However, he said that he has little to say about his works – no clutter,
no stories, just simple abstracts. Perhaps, he meant to say he do art for
art’s sake alone. Then, again he emphasizes his way of tranforming
everything he sees and admires into his personal vision. Therefore,
based on this, his art including the Man on Wheel were based on the
philosophy of representation.

(3) Man on a Wheel by Arturo Luz

Botong’s Nose Flute is a tribal art that shouldn’t have existed if it
weren’t for the realistic subjects he had based on the Northerner
mountain tribes of the Philippines – the Cordillereans. According to
Plato’s philosophy of mimesis, art can only be mimicked if experienced
and seen. Botong might not have known about their ways of flute and
blanket courtship if he had not experienced nor seen the details of it.
Nose Flute may somehow be based on the philosophy of mimicry. The
artist somehow wants to convey something else more about social
behaviors imposed on women’s self-conservation, which he chose to
go against with through art. Then perhaps, it was made for a specific
function, as well, to influence gender equality and national identity.

(4) Nose Flute by Carlos “Botong’ Francisco

BenCab’s Sabel series is an ultimate reality. It meant to say that Sabel
is not an imaginary subject rather, a real existing person. It is just to
say that BenCab used the philosophy of mimesis as the basis of his
work, Sabel. Although a few alterations, princliples and style of art
were considered, the sole idea that it is derived from a real subject can
never argue the philosophy of mimicry behind it.

(5) Sabel by Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera

 Arellano’s Carcass-Cornucopia is a representation of true life imagery
in an impossible form yet made possible through art. As surreal as it is,
it meant to convey birth and rebirth that leads to destruction and
death. Since it has been recognized by the audiences the ideas it
represents then, it is reasonable that the philosophy of representation
is used as the basis for this art.

(6) Agnes Arellano: Carcass-Cornucopia

Elmer Borlongan’s Quiapo is a depiction of the Black Nazarene’s feast
however, the concept lies on Filipinos’ devotion to tradition and faith.
This is but an observed picture turned into paint by Borlongan. He
mentioned how clear he can remember images inside his mind. It is
but a mimicry of the event based on reality. Thus, the philosopy behind
the paint falls to mimesis.

(7) Elmer Borlongan “Quiapo”

Mar Justiniani’s Ang Hari is a portrayal of an indigenous Filipino, which
is mainly the subjects of his art, and the surreal way of rendering it. He
claimed that his compositions do not attempt to imitate the usual
rather, the unlikely visual moments. He immitates not the everyday
imagery but seize them to further convey significant social gestures.
Perhaps, Ang Hari is rendered based on the philosophy of
representation.

(8) Mar Justiniani, “Ang Hari”

Buen Calubayan’s Bundok Banahaw is thought to be fabled but,
the artist favored that it is based on Mt. Banahaw’s scenic
landscape. It didn’t exactly depict the real forms of the mountain
however, slightly resembled. With a subject adapted from reality
to art, it is said to fall into the philosophy of mimesis.

(9) Buen Calubayan, “Bundok Banahaw”

Ernest Concepcion’s OMG Christ is a representation of the image of
Christ even without necessarily checking its resemblence to the real
subject. It is a reimagination of what Christ looks like based on his
nostalgic religious references. The philosophy it has used therefore
falls to representation. He even delivered it modernly through a
caricature-like style which may be associated to the satire function of
art. Perhaps, it is made into it to expose the use of the cultural
expression, OMG, as sacriligeous.

(10) Ernest Concepcion, OMG Christ