Bicol Training and Technological College, Inc.

(BTTCI)
Aguinaldo St. Bacacay, Albay
Senior High School Department
1st Semester S.Y. 2020 - 2021

Module Title and Code: Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Content Expert: Raymond Patrick B. Soria
Module Number & Name: 2, Contemporary Art forms and their practices
Lesson 1: Contemporary Art Forms and their Practices from the Various Regions

For the Learners:

Congratulations for completing the previous module! You are now ready for the next
step which is Contemporary Arts in the Philippines. You need to learn more effectively.
Good luck!

Module Content
This module will let you know the individuals who made significant contributions in
the Philippine Arts. Here, you will get to know the two well-known organizations in the
Philippine Arts who was established to give appropriate recognition to our local or national
artist in the country. We have, the Order of the National Artist of the Philippines and the
National Living Treasures or Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA).

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, you are expected to:

 Researches on various contemporary art forms (CAR11/12CAP-0c -e-4)

 Explains Filipino artists’ roles and identify their contribution to contemporary arts
(CAR11/12CAP-0c-e-5)

General Instructions
To do well in this module, you need to remember the following:
1. Read texts carefully so that you can easily comprehend what you are reading.
2. Answer questions with all honesty. Success does not come from copying from others. It is
made possible by trying hard on your own so that you can learn even from your mistakes.
3. Review your answers. It is safe to go back and think about what you have written. This
can help you lessen if not avoid errors.
4. Follow instructions given and ask if there is something that you did not understand.
5. Do the tasks given and do not delay in submitting requirements. This can help you avoid
having a pile of unfinished activities.
6. Feel free to communicate with your teacher. There is no harm in asking for clarification
so that you will not be lost in the discussion.
7. Remember to review every time you are done answering the activities.
8. Have fun as you learn. This course is very important regardless of your track or strand.
When you’re having fun, you can easily learn the lessons.
Lesson 1 What is Philippine Contemporary Art
What’s New

Activity 1. Jumbled Letters.

Below are words with jumbled letters. Each word gives you an idea about
Contemporary Arts in the Philippines. Try to arrange them and provide the correct
answer on your answer sheet.

1. Lolac Htierage ______________

2. Tancerihein ________________
3. Rycotammen _______________
4. Branmemrence _____________
5. Fels-exssionpre _____________

What Is It

Contemporary art generally refers to art being created now. Contemporary is derived
from the Latin prefix con, which means “together” or “with”, plus tempus, which means
“time”. The chronological view defines contemporary art as related to this current period in
art history, and refers to art that is new, recent, modern, or pertains to the present
moment. The historical usage, meanwhile, regards contemporary art as a specific stage in
the story of the evolution of art, referring to a specific location in space and time.

Contemporary art emerged in the Philippines in reaction to social and cultural

realities during the 1970’s which is an era of repression and censorship of artistic
expressions. Philippine art became a means to oppose the regime, and the political art of
social realism flourished at this time. Socio realism is an art movement which sought to
expose the real condition of Philippine society and used art to transform it. Progressive art
developed a culture that would convey the authentic aspirations of the Filipino people.

The end of Martial Law in the wake of EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986
brought the Philippines into the contemporary period, and the art produced in this period is
regarded as contemporary art.

Contemporary art as a Breaking of Norms - Contemporary art can be seen as a

transgression of established norm and rules. Established art forms are scrutinized and
contemporary art reworks them to see them with fresh eyes. Contemporary art is ruled by
the cult of the new, endeavoring to create works of art that are “radical” and
“interdisciplinary”.
 Appropriation is an important preoccupation in contemporary art which is the
practice of creating a new work by taking a pre-existing image or from another context and
combining the borrowed image with new ones.

Contemporary art and Local Heritage – Contemporary art professes an awareness of

local heritage which is something that can be passed from one generation to the next, can
be conserved or inherited, and has historic or cultural value. These are physical objects,
places of heritage and the various practices of heritage unique to the region or locality that
are conserved or handed down from one generation to the next.

FUNCTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART:

Contemporary art for Pleasure - A visual delight in the work of art, can take many forms
including an appreciation of beauty or decoration, or delight in an element of surprise.
Most cultures that have a definition of beautiful, define it as something pleasing to the eye,
and often resembling an ideal of some sort.

Contemporary art as Profession - Artists earn a living through their art since art and ideas
are never free. They possess value in the complex web of the creative industries that
combine the creation, production and commercialization of creative contents which are
tangible and cultural in nature.

Contemporary art as Commentary - Art has been used to answer our need for information.
Artists who fulfill our need for commentary often speak in a language easy to understand,
they view art as primary goal to communication by means of subject matter.

Contemporary art in Spirituality - Artists may create art to express spiritual beliefs about
the destiny of life controlled by the force of a higher power.

Contemporary art as Remembrance - Art can be a remembrance which is something done

as an aid to memory. We need to commemorate important events and people that have
shaped our history and show reverence for those who have gone before us.

Contemporary art as Self-expression - Art fulfills an expressive function when an artist

conveys information about his or her personality, feelings or worldview.
What’s More

Activity 2. Identifying the statement

Read the statements carefully. Identify what is being described in the statement. Write
your answer on your answer sheet.

1. This refers to art being created now.

a. Art c. Appropriation
b. Contemporary art d. Historical usage
2. It defines contemporary art as related to this current period in art history, and refers to
art that is new, recent, modern, or pertains to the present moment.
a. Contemporary art c. Chronological view
b. Historical usage d. Image
3. A contemporary art as a specific episode or stage in the story of the evolution of art,
referring to a specific location in space and time.
a. Martial law c. Commentary
b. Edsa revolution d. Historical usage
4. It is an important preoccupation in the world of contemporary art.
a. Gallery c. Establishments
b. Appropriation d. Images
5. It is something that can be passed from one generation to the next.
a. Heritage c. Spirituality
b. Patronage d. Remembrance
6. This is a function of contemporary art where visual delight in a work or art can take many
forms, including appreciation of beauty or decoration.
a. Contemporary art for Pleasure c. Contemporary art as Spirituality
b. Contemporary as Profession d. Art as Self-expression
7. It is one of the functions of contemporary arts where artists earn a living through
creating or making art.
a. Art as remembrance c. Art as profession
b. Art for pleasure d. Art as commentary
8. Another functions of contemporary arts where artists create to express spiritual beliefs
about the destiny of life controlled by the force of higher power.
a. Art as remembrance c. Art as self-expression
b. Art in spirituality d. Art for pleasure
9. One of the purposes of contemporary arts is to help us commemorate important events
or people that have shaped our history to show reverence for those who have gone before
us.
a. Art as remembrance c. Art for pleasure
b. Art in spirituality d. Art as commentary
10. This fulfills an expressive function when an artist conveys information about his or her
personality, feelings, or worldview.
a. Art as self-expression c. Art in spirituality
b. Art for pleasure d. Art as profession
Activity 3. It’s Your Turn

What I Have Learned

Reflective Question:

Among the functions of contemporary art, which in your view is most significant?

Remember these key points:

 These are functions of contemporary art:
 Contemporary art for Pleasure
 Contemporary art as Profession
 Contemporary art as Commentary
 Contemporary art as Spirituality
 Contemporary art as Remembrance
 Contemporary art refers to art being created now.
 Contemporary art emerged in the Philippines in reaction to social
and cultural realities during the 1970’s.
 What I Can Do

Activity 4. Identifying creative work

Identify a creative work in your community which can be considered an example of

contemporary art. Discuss its aspects and how it relates to contemporary art.

Self-Check!
Great job! You have completed Lesson 1 successfully! Before going to the next
lesson, check the icon that best shows your learning experience.

If you checked the first icon, you are ready for lesson 2. If you have checked the
second icon, you need to review the things that you need to relearn. If you have checked
the third icon, it would be best if you read more and ask help from your teacher, parents or
peers in clarifying the lessons that you find it difficult. Be honest so that you will truly
improve.