CHAPTER 4

c) Still Life – representing inanimate objects or non-living things placed on a

Objectives table or another setting to become a subject in a certain artwork. It is always
 Classify artworks according to subject available and capable to be organized. E.g. a basket of fruits, a bag of
groceries, a pack of cigarettes, a bunch of flowers, and a bucket of chicken.
 Analyze how artists present their subjects in relation to the real subject
 Define an artist’s or artisan’s medium and technique
 Identify national and GAMABA artist’s notable works and their contribution
to society

SUBJECT OF ART

Subject of art is usually anything that is represented in the artwork. It may be a person,
-Sejal Raval -Clara Peeeters
object, scene or event. Not all arts have subjects. Those arts without subject are called
“non-objective” they do not represent anything.
d) Country Life – copying scenes happening in the community. E.g. a barrio
1. Representational or Objective Arts – Artworks that depict something that can fiesta, a fluvial parade, a bountiful rice harvest, a big catch of fishes, and a
easily be recognized which is real and part of this world. This simply means that natural calamity.
representational artwork aims to represent or show actual objects or subjects from
reality. Hence, artworks under this classification are also called objective arts.

a) Portraiture – (pictures of men and women) It became popular before the

invention of the camera; was enjoyed only by elite: kings and noblemen;
nowadays, charcoal is one of the mediums used in doing portraits.

-Robert Duncan - Fernando Amorsolo

e) Landscape – It depicts pictures of land forms. E.g. the volcano, the
mountain, the hill, the valley, the plain, the cliff and the like.

- Carlos Duarte -Bread and Shutter

b) Animals and Plants – It represents animals and plants. It became the trend
due to man’s first encounters with plants and animals for survival; even now,
painters prefer animals and plants, specifically flowering plants as subjects
for their paintings.

-Faim Faim -Anne Marie Bone

- Patricia White - Michelle Mara

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f) Seascape – pictures of any of the water forms e.g. the ocean, the sea, the 2. Non-Representational or Non-Objective Arts – Artworks that have no
river, the lake, the brook, the pond, the falls, and the like. resemblance to any real subject or objects or anything from nature. It does not
represent anything. This may take the form of emphasizing lines, shapes or colors that
transform the subject.

 Abstract – Abstraction indicates a departure from reality in depiction or

imagery in art. This departure from accurate representation can be slight,
partial, or complete.

-June Nelson -Anton Gorlin

g) Cityscape – pictures of an aerial view of a city or a portion of it.

What is the difference between subject and content in Art?

Subject is the literal, visible image in a work while content includes the
connotative, symbolic, and suggestive aspects of the image. The subject matter is the
h) Religious Items – The Holy Family, Madonna and the Child, Jesus Christ,
subject of the artwork, e.g., still life, portrait, landscape etc.
angels, saints and other religious objects.
Content is not subject or things in the painting. Content is the communication
of ideas, feelings and reactions connected with the subject.

METHODS OF PRESENTING SUBJECTS

Every artist has his own individual and unique style of doing his artworks.
This style is almost always governed by his choice of the methods of presenting his
-Rosaries - Shalin Indian Brass subject.

1. REALISM – It is also known as naturalism. This is an attempt to represent

i) Mythological, fictional, and cartoon characters – supernatural beings and
things as it is with accuracy and precision. It is
fantasies, technological items, and objects.
executed in a photographic precision. We can
say that an art is realistic when the
representation and organization of details in
the work seem so natural. Like-wise it mirrors
reality.

Zeus Poseidon Hercules and Cerebrus

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 tree
2. SURREALISM – is an invented word meaning “super naturalism” or beyond trunk
realism. Surrealists attempt to represent subjects which were the result of need
dreams and fantasies.

Features of Surrealistic Art not be

Dream-like scenes and symbolic images brow
Games and techniques to create random effects n. It
Visual puns could
Distorted figures and biomorphic shapes be
Primitive or child-like designs bright
red,
purpl
e
3. SYMBOLISM - A symbol is a visible sign of
something invisible such as an idea or quality. or any
Symbolism systematically uses symbols to concentrate other
or intensify meaning, making the work of art more color.
subjective (rather than objective) and conventional.

For example, a flag is a symbol of a country
and it depicts the value of
nationalism; a lion to represent courage and a lamb to
represent meekness. The logos and emblems of
business firms and the coat of arms of bishops are also
examples of symbolism.
5. DADAISM - The term “dada” is a French word,
which means a “hobby-horse.” A hobby-horse is a
child’s toy consisting of a wooden horse mounted
on a stick. With this etymology, we could say that
Dadaism is system of art which is “nonsensical” or
making no sense. Some would say it is not an art
because it strives to have no meaning at all.

6. FUTURISM – is an art movement that

originated in Italy in the early 20th century.
4. FAUVISM - It is derived from the French “les fauves,” which means “the Machine and motions are the main subject of
wild beasts.” It is the first movement in the modern this technique which try to show movement and
period in which color ruled supreme and emphasizes speed. Thus, futurism can be considered as
the use of extremely bright colors. realism in the future.
T -
o a A
fauvis movin
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exam bridg
ple, a e

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 conce
pt
7. IMPRESSIONISM – It is also sometimes
referred to as optical realism due to its interest
in the actual viewing experience, including
such things as the effect of color, light and
movement on the appearance of the objects
depicted in the artworks.
Impressionism focused on directly
describing the visual sensations derived from
nature. Devotees of Impressionism were not
concerned with the actual depiction of the
objects they painted. Instead they were
concerned with the visual impressions aroused
by those objects.
8. ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM – Abstract
means “drawing away from reality” or “to move
away”. The principle of departure from the real life
or reality makes abstraction stands out and
different among other methods.
A realist artist represents subject as is in
his artworks but an abstractionist ignores the
exact form of a real-life object. Abstract arts
challenge the minds of the viewer to look deeper.
Abstract Expressionism was influenced
by the Existentialist philosophy, which
emphasized the importance of the act of
creating, not of the finished object. What
matters for the artist are the qualities of the
paint and the act of painting itself.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION FOR ARTIST AND ARTISANS
ARTIST AND ARTISANS
 Artists are the creator of tangible or intangible
products (works of art) as an expression of
creativity and imagination for purely aesthetic
reasons.
 Artist can be considered as any person
involved in creating and designing objects
related to any of the fine arts like painting,
sculpture, mu sic, dance and literature.
 Artists express themselves to any form of
arts using mediums or materials for the
artworks to have its artistic integrity.
 Artisan is a skilled craft worker or craftsman
who makes things using his hands. It is derived
from the French word “artisan” meaning,
skilled workers who create things by hand
which can be functional or decorative.
Decorative arts include the following:
furniture, pottery, textile, jewelry, food
items, household items and tools or any
applied arts.
 Artisans are the makers of products or crafts,
not only for aesthetic value for decorative purposes but for practical value,
such as for business purposes.
 Artisan skills are developed through the influence of their family or of
their community as well.
 Artisans consider themselves as business people because their products
are involved in the business market or from the very start, in the
entrepreneurship world.
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 The NCCA (National Commission for 6. Juan F. Nakpil (+) 1973 Architecture
Culture and the Arts) instituted the awards 7. Guillermo E. Tolentino (+) 1973 Sculpture
and citations for Filipino artist who made a 8. Jose Garcia Villa (+) 1973 Literature
remarkable and significant contributions to the 9. Napoleon V. Abueva 1976 Sculpture
arts and culture. The two major awards given 10. Lamberto V. Avellana (+) 1976 Theater and Film
to the Artist in the Philippines are the Orden 11. Leonor O. Goquingco (+) 1976 Dance
ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (Order of
12. Nick Joaquin (+) 1976 Literature
the National Artist) and Gawad sa Manlilikha
13. Jovita Fuentes (+) 1976 Music
ng Bayan (National Living Treasures
14. Victorio C. Edades (+) 1976 Painting
Award)
15. Pablo S. Antonio (++) 1976 Architecture
Order of the National Artist 16. Vicente S. Manansala (++) 1981 Painting
The Order of the National Artist is 17. Carlos P. Romulo (+) 1982 Literature
the highest national recognition for 18. Gerardo de Leon (++) 1982 Cinema
creative Filipino artist who has made 19. Honorata “Atang” dela Rama (++) 1987 Theater and Music
significant contribution to the
20. Antonino R. Buenaventura (+) 1988 Music
development of the Philippine arts in
the discipline of painting, sculpture, 21. Lucrecia R. Urtula (+) 1988 Dance
architecture, music and dance, 22. Lucrecia R. Kasilag (+) 1989 Music
literature, film, broadcast arts and 23. Francisco Arcellana (+) 1990 Literature
allied arts. 24. Cesar F. Legaspi (+) 1990 Visual Arts
25. Leandro V. Locsin (+) 1990 Architecture
26. Hernando R. Ocampo (++) 1991 Visual Arts
 Cultural Center of the Philippines
27. Lucio D. San Pedro (+) 1991 Music
 Commission for Culture and the Arts administer awards
28. Lino Brocka (++) 1997 Cinema
List of National Artists of the Philippines 29. Felipe P. de Leon (++) 1997 Music
30. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero (++) 1997 Theater
• The Awardees for the Order of National Artist for different art forms. Others 31. Rolando S. Tinio (++) 1997 Theater & Literature
received their awards while still have and enjoying the privilege received, 32. Levi Celerio (+) 1997 Music & Literature
while some of them were given the award posthumously. 33. N.V.M. Gonzales (++) 1997 Literature
• Legend: (+) deceased/ died;( ++) posthumous conferment/ after person’s 34. Arturo R. Luz 1997 Visual Arts
death.
35. Jose M. Maceda (+) 1997 Music
•
36. Carlos Quirino (+) 1997 Historical Literature
Date of
Awardee Category 37. J. Elizalde Navarro (++) 1999 Painting
Award
1. Fernando Amorsolo (++) 1972 Painting 38. Prof. Andrea Veneracion (+) 1999 Music
2. Francisca R. Aquino (+) 1973 Dance 39. Edith L. Tiempo (+) 1999 Literature
3. Carlos V. Francisco (++) 1973 Painting 40. Daisy H. Avellana (+) 1999 Theater
4. Amado V. Hernandez (++) 1973 Literature 41. Ernani J. Cuenco (++) 1999 Music
5. Antonio J. Molina (+) 1973 Music 42. F. Sionil Jose 2001 Literature
43. Ang Kiukok (+) 2001 Visual Arts

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44. Ishmael Bernal (++) 2001 Cinema • 200, 000 (tax free), minimum lifetime monthly stipend 50,000,
45. Severino Montano (++) 2001 Theater hospitalization-not exceeding750,000/year (for living awardee)
46. Jose T. Joya (++) 2003 Visual Arts (Painting) • Onetime minimum cash award of 150,000.00 (for deceased) tax
free.
47. Virgilio S. Almario 2003 Literature
48. Alejandro R. Roces (+) 2003 Literature Criteria of Order of National Artist
Cinema & Broadcast • Living artist who have been Filipino citizen for the last 10 years prior to
49. Eddie S. Romero (+) 2003
Arts nomination as well as those who have died after the establishment of award in
50. Salvador F. Bernal (+) 2003 Theater Design 1972 but were Filipino citizen at time of their death.
51. Benedicto R. Cabrera 2006 Visual Arts • Artist who with their works through its content and form, influence and
52. Abdulmari Asia Imao 2006 Visual Arts inspire every Filipinos in building a sense of nationhood.
53. Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera 2006 Literature • Artist who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus
earning distinction and making an impact on succeeding generation of artist;
54. Ramon Obusan (+) 2006 Dance
• Artist who have created a substantial and significant body of work and/or
55. Fernando Poe Jr. (++) 2006 Cinema consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus
56. Archt. Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr. (+) 2006 Landscape Architecture enriching artistic expression or style.
57. Ramon O. Valera (++) 2006 Fashion Design
58. Manuel Conde (++) 2009 Film
59. Lázaro Francísco (++) 2009 Literature
60. Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (+) 2009 Visual Arts
61. Alice Reyes 2014 Dance
62. Francisco V. Coching (++) 2014 Visual Arts The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA)
63. Cirilo F. Bautista 2014 Literature
64. Francisco F. Feliciano 2014 Music • The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures
65. Ramon P. Santos 2014 Music Award was established in 1992 under the Republic Act No. 7355.
• GAMABA means Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan. This is awarded to a
66. Jose Maria V. Zaragoza (++) 2014 Architecture
person or a group of people who have proved excellence in their craft or art.
They may also be sharing their talents and skill with the people in their
community to preserve the art form in generations to come.
• The National Commission for Culture and the Arts was task for the
implementation for the policy-making and creating a Gawad sa Manlilikha ng
Bayan Committee with Ad Hoc panel of Experts
The Awardees received the following privileges

• The rank and title, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines

• A citation that will be read during the awarding and a medallion or insignia
• A state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
• A place of honor during national state function, and recognition and
acknowledgement at any cultural event.
• Cash awards and other benefits like monthly life pension, medical and
hospitalization benefits, and life insurance coverage.

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