CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS (CPAR)

REVIEWER

Elements of Visual Arts:

Every visual art utilizes at least one of the six (6) elements: lines, shapes, forms,
colors, textures, and space. The different Elements of Art can be used to express
certain emotions and meaning. Depending on how it looks, humans have different
emotional and psychological responses and perceptions to each.
1. A line is a stroke or mark that can be straight, curved, thick, or thin. Depending on
the look and how it is used, a line may be utilized to suggest movement, emotions,
depth, distance, and rhythm. For example, an artwork with scribbled, jagged lines may
convey emotions of anger and sadness, whereas another artwork with refined and
straight lines may convey tranquility.
2. A shape is a space enclosed by lines. The use of shapes can dictate the point of
view of the viewer or audience called, perspective. Perspective changes depending on
a shape’s size and angles. For instance, a square can indicate that an object is being
viewed in front, then changing it to a trapezoid can mean that the object is now below
the normal eye level and that there is a change in perspective. Additionally, shapes can
also present different emotions and actions, such as
circles for continuous movement.
3. Form pertains to a three-dimensional shape or any shape that has length, width,
and depth. Forms help create the illusion of a three-dimensional design in a two-
dimensional plane, like in interior design or architectural design. More importantly, form
is an integral element in traditional 3D art, such as carving and ceramics.
4. Color refers to the product when light hits an object then reflected to the eyes. Value
is how light (tint) and dark (shade) a color is. The color of an artwork is most often the
first element a viewer evaluates and interprets. The use and value of color creates the
mood of an artwork. Imagine a painting of a city colored in dark blue –it gives off a
depressing and lonely atmosphere. But if the same painting is colored with a
combination of yellow, green, and sky blue, it would exude a joyful and pleasant vibe to
the viewer.
5. Space is the area surrounding, between, and within an object; can either be positive
or negative. Positive space is the area occupied by any object, usually the foreground
or object itself, whereas negative space is the area surrounding an object.
Space can change a lot of things in an artwork. It illustrates the distance between
objects, perspective, depth, as well as size. It helps evoke a different message based
on the relationship of the foreground and background.
6. Texture pertains to the visual perception of the surface of any object. The texture of
an artwork can be experienced either through seeing or feeling it. Using the other
elements of art, the artist can recreate the surface quality of an object, which greatly
contributes to realism or the imitation of life itself. Optical illusions of the actual textures
of objects are recreated in paintings and drawings.
Criteria for the Order of National Artists
1. Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination, as well as those who
died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time
of their death;
2. Artists who, through the content and form of their works, have contributed in building
a Filipino sense of nationhood;
3. Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus earning
distinction and making an impact on succeeding generations of artists;
4. Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of work and/or
consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus enriching
artistic expression or style; and
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through:
• prestigious national and/or international recognition, such as the Gawad CCP Para sa
Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists Award and NCCA Alab ng Haraya;
• critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works;
• respect and esteem from peers.

Honors and Privileges of National Artists

1. The rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines;
2. The insignia of a National Artist and a citation;
3. A lifetime emolument and material and physical benefits comparable in value to
those received by the highest officers of the land such as:
 a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani;
 ₱100,000.00 in cash for living artists, while ₱75,000.00 are given to posthumous
awardees to their legal heirs
 a monthly life pension, medical and hospitalization benefits

Categories of the Order of National Artists

1. Visual Arts – including but not limited to painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography,
installation art, mixed media works, illustration, graphic arts, performance art and/or
imaging. There are 17 National Artists for Visual Arts.
2. Music – including but not limited to singing, composition, direction, and/or
performance. There are 14 National Artists for Music.
3. Dance – including but not limited to choreography, direction and/or performance.
There are 5 National Artists for Dance.
4. Theater - Including but not limited to direction, performance and/or production design.
There is a total of 8 National Artists for Theater, including 1 for Theater Design.
5. Literature – including but not limited to poetry, fiction, essay, playwriting, journalism,
and/or literary criticism. There are 18 National Artists for Literature.6. Film and
Broadcast Arts – including but not limited to direction, writing, production design,
cinematography, editing, camera work, and/or performance. There are 8 National
Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts.
7. Architecture and Allied Arts - including but not limited to architecture, interior design,
industrial arts design, landscape architecture, and fashion design. There are 6 National
Artists for Architecture, and 1 for Allied Arts (fashion design).

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS AND THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

1) Tourism

Land areas are converted into sites for tourist consumption. In this situation, ecological domains may
become more vulnerable to damage with the combined forces of natural disasters and tourist mobility.

2) Militarization

The insecurity and tensions brought about by militarized zones apprehend the people’s ability to create
art. It prevents people from having communal gatherings, where exchanges and passing of knowledge
can take place.

3) Christianization

The influence of Christianity and the conversion of the natives to a foreign religion have affect the
preservation of their indigenous rituals and traditions. However, in some cases, the community finds a
way to harmonize their indigenous ways with traditions of Christianity. For example, the Manobo
community of Mt. Apo initiated a “culture regeneration movement.”

SUPPORT SYSTEMS OF PHILIPPINE ART

1) National Commission for Culture and the Arts

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts is the overall policy making body, coordinating, and
grants giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture;
and an executing agency for the policies it formulates (Dumandan, 2019).

2) Cultural Center of the Philippines

The mission of the Cultural Center of the Philippines is the leading institution for the arts and culture in
the Philippines by promoting artistic excellence and nurturing the broadest publics to participate in art
making and appreciation (Dumandan, 2019).

3) National Museum

The National Museum is an educational, scientific, and cultural institution that acquires, documents,
preserves, exhibits, and fosters scholarly study and public appreciation of works of art, specimens, and
cultural and historical artifacts representative of the unique cultural heritage of the Filipino people and
the natural history of the Philippines (Dumandan, 2019).

4) Metropolitan Museum of the Philippines

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila is one of the major museums in the Philippines. The museum was
among the first to develop and extend its audience by embracing the philosophy of art for all, adopt a
bilingual approach in exhibition texts, and implement a vigorous education and community outreach
program.
 5) Ben Cab Museum

The BenCab Museum houses the permanent collection of Philippine National Artist Benedicto Cabrera
(BenCab) in several galleries, as well as venues for art shows and exhibitions. The Bencab Museum is
committed to the promotion of arts, and the preservation, conservation and protection of the
environment and culture and traditions of the Cordilleras.

6) Art Fair Philippines

Art Fair Philippines is the premier platform for exhibiting and selling the best in modern and
contemporary Philippine visual art. The fair aims to mirror the vibrant local art scene and continue to
generate support for Filipino art practitioners (Dumandan, 2019).

7) ManilART

ManilART is the Philippines' premier international art fair. It showcases the best in contemporary visual
arts for the development and promotion of Filipino art and culture locally and internationally

8) Finale Art File

Finale Art File is considered as a premier gallery institution in the Philippines. It showcased hundreds of
exhibits by some of the most talented names in contemporary visual arts. It has successfully balanced
the demands of a commercial establishment and an artistic venue.

9) Kublai Art Gallery and Davao Contemporary Art Gallery

The Kublai Art Gallery and Davao Contemporary Art Gallery is a unique cultural expression of Davao’s
visual artists. The gallery showcases various works by Mindanao’s famed artist Kublai Ponce-Millan, as
well as different artists from the city (Dumandan, 2019).

10) Thirteen Artists Awards

The Thirteen Artists Awards mark the turnings in and of Philippine contemporary art, to update its
modernizing potential and to assess how artists today engage with other forces in the art world
(Dumandan, 2019).
The Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) Awardees