CONTEMPORARY ART
PRELIMS: FIRST QUARTER REVIEWER
CHAPTER 1: CONTEMPORARY ART
CONTEMPORARY ARTS FROM THE
PHILIPPINE REGIONS
WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY ART?
 “Art made and produced by artists
living today.” - J. Paul Getty Museum
 It is not restricted to individual
experience but it is reflective of the
world we live in.
 Events in the world having an effect to
the Philippines.
 Artwork that is created by today’s
contemporary artists and has a view,
and is sensitive to changing times.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONTEMPORARY ART
a) It is not confined to the museum. The
production process gives meaning to
art making and originality is not issue
b) Traditional artist perfects their art by
practicing mimesis or copying the
model exactly as it is (contemporary
artist deliberately broke the rules of
traditional art)
c) The essence of art relies on the art
making. It is the process/experience
d) The work of contemporary artists is a
dynamic combination of materials,
methods, concepts, and subjects that
challenges traditional boundaries and
defies easy definition.
e) Diverse and eclectic, contemporary art
is distinguished by the very lack of a
uniform organizing principle, ideology,
or -ism. In a globally influenced,
culturally diverse, and technologically
advancing world, contemporary artists
give voice to the varied and changing
cultural landscape of identity, values,
and beliefs.
f) Contemporary art reflects a wide range
of materials, media, and technologies,
as well as opportunities to consider
what art is and how it is defined. Artists
today explore ideas, concepts,
questions, and practices that examine
the past, describe the present, and
imagine the future.
VARIOUS CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS
PAINTING
 is the practice of applying paint,
pigment, color or other medium to a
solid surface (called the "matrix" or
"support").
ARCHITECTURE
 the art and science of designing
buildings and (some) nonbuilding
structures. It is also the style of design
and method of construction of
buildings and other physical structures.
LITERATURE
 refers to writing; considered to be an
art form or any single writing deemed
to have artistic or intellectual value,
and sometimes deploys language in
ways that differ from ordinary usage.
MUSIC
 art concerned with combining vocal or
instrumental sounds for beauty of form
or emotional expression, usually
according to cultural standards of
rhythm, melody, and, in most Western
music, harmony.
FILM
 a motion picture made primarily for
aesthetic reasons rather than
commercial profit, often of an
experimental nature or having an
unconventional or highly symbolic
content, aimed typically at a limited
audience.
PERFORMING ARTS
 Performing arts refers to forms of art in
which artists use their voices, bodies
or inanimate objects to convey artistic
expression.
ELEMENTS/PRINCIPLES OF
 CONTEMPORARY ART
PRELIMS: FIRST QUARTER REVIEWER
CONTEMPORARY ART in a specific space such as public
places.
APPROPRIATION
 Existing artworks are appropriated to
produce another artwork.
 Usage of prints, images, and icons to
produce another art form.
 Combines past from the present.
 Revives interests to existing forms of
art.

Is appropriation still acceptable? Do you think

that the pre-existing artwork used in
appropriation is defaced or devalued?

HYBRIDITY
• Usage of unconventional materials,
mixing of unlikely materials to produce
an artwork.
• For example, coffee for painting;
miniature sculptures using crayons.

PERFORMANCE
 Performance evolved to “emphasize
spontaneous elements of chance”.
(Walker Art Center)
 Interpreting various human activities
such as ordinary activities such as
chores, routines and rituals, to socially
relevant themes such as poverty,
commercialism and war.

TECHNOLOGY
• Usage of technology in the creation
and dissemination of art works.
• Video phenomenon from MTV to
YouTube.
• Recording performances, video
posting, sharing, live streaming.

SPACE
 Arts transforming space. For example,
flash mobs, art installations in malls
and parks. Site specific art forms – art
form that is performed and positioned