CONTEMPORARY

PHILIPPINE ARTS
FROM THE
REGIONS
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. Define the term “contemporary art” in art historical,
cultural and stylistic terms;
2. Explain the difference between contemporary art
and modern art in the context of the Philippines’
various histories, cultures, and identities;
3. Demonstrate the major characteristics of
contemporary art through an artwork that would
require teamwork and collaboration;
4. Appreciation the role of contemporary art and artists
in Philippine contemporary life; and
5. Understand contemporary issues and
their relationship to real life situations.
What is contemporary?
Is it the same as being
modern?
How do you define
Contemporary Arts?
How do you define
Modern Art?
Does Contemporary Art and
Modern Art are the same?
It is commonly tendency to
describe the present as
“modern”.
Being modern means up to date
and technologically advanced.
Often, being modern is equated
with being contemporary.
Art that is new current is also often
referred to as “modern” as
opposed to “traditional” or
“conservative”. In other words, in
everyday parlance, the terms are
interchangeable.
In this lesson and in the more
detailed history in the next,
we will learn that the terms
modern and contemporary
refer to different periods.
Modern Art is not the same as
Contemporary Art, although they
could share some characteristics,
sources, and influences. As we will
come to realize and learn as we go
along, it is also possible to
integrate and transform elements
from Modern Art into
Cotemporary Arts.
What is contemporary? Is it the same as being
modern?

Th first difference between the contemporary and

modern is historical and chronological, as the
overview of Philippine Art in Lesson 2 will show.
Meanwhile, the table suggested by Arts Studies
Professors Fajardo and Flores titled “ Historical
Overview of Philippine Art” (2002) below shows a
summary of the periods of Philippine Art from Pre-
Conquest to the Contemporary. Please take note that
this table includes painting, sculpture, and
architecture only. As you learn more in succeeding
lessons, you can add on your own data on the other
Historical Overview:
Philippine Art
Form Pre-conquest

Painting Potter, body adornment

(Figure A)

Sculpture Pottery, carving and

woodwork, metalwork and
expression (Figure C)

Architecture Dwellings and houses,

shelters, worship areas,
official residences, mosques,
masjid, state edifices (Figure
E)
 FIGURE A

FIGURE C
FIGURE E
Form Spanish Period

Painting Religious (icon and

ecclesiastical), secular
(portraiture) (Figure B)
Sculpture Santos, furniture, reliefs, altar
pieces, jewelry, metalwork,
fiesta, ornamentation
(Figure D)
Architecture Church, plaza complex; town
planning, fortification, civic
buildings and installations,
private residences,
commercial structures,
cemeteries, bridges,
FIGURE D
Form American Period
Painting Landscape, portraiture,
genre, interior
Sculpture Free standing, relief,
public
Architecture City planning parks,
waterfronts, civic/gov’t,
structures, public works,
apartment, residences,
offices health and
education, business
Form Japanese Period
Painting Wartime scene
(aggression,
nationalism, atrocities,
symbolic protest,
aspiration for peace
Sculpture Propaganda
Indigenizing and
orientilizing works,
genre idyllis
Francisco, Ocoampo)
Architecture Public works
Form Postwar Republic
Painting Modern, conservative,
abstract, experimental,
public art
Sculpture
Architecture Real estate, safe
housing , accessories,
tenements, squatters,
convention arch,
commercial/business,
condos, malls,
Form 70’s Contemporary
Painting Figurative, non figurative,
art for art sake,
mixed media, transmedia
Sculpture
Architecture Real estate, safe housing ,
accessories, tenements,
squatters, convention arch,
commercial/business,
condos, malls,
development, lost housing