HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

Basic Education Department

Angeles City
SY 2023 -2024

Name: Estandian, Ericka Lana C. Grade/Score:

Grade and Section: 11- St. Lucia Date: 01-29-24
Subject: PHILARTS

Activity Title: Art Criticism

Learning Target: To discuss the importance of the government’s role in celebrating and
promoting Filipino Creativity and Culture.
To apply art criticism to a National Artist’s/GaMaBa Awardee’s Artwork.

1. Why is it important for the government to recognize the excellence of Filipino

Artists?

The existence of Filipino Artists in the Philippines has made great contributions to
the different aspects of our nation. Each of them has different agendas as to what they
want to share and convey to their co-Filipinos, such as passing down traditional and folk
arts to the younger generation, helping to navigate one’s national cultural identity,
preserving cultural heritage, enhancing the development of Philippine arts, and more.
With these contributions and attributes, Filipino artists have, it is only right, just, and
essential for the government to recognize their talent, passion, and knowledge to
continue to thrive and preserve what is ours and further widen them.

2. If you will nominate an artist to be awarded with the Order of National Artists,
who would you nominate and why?

If I were to nominate a Filipino artist for the Order of National Artist Award, it would
be Santiago Bose. He was a pioneer in using indigenous materials in his artworks, such
as found objects, bamboo, volcanic ash, and more in using what locally available
materials he had and not relying on the influence of Western media and aesthetics.
Notably, this was not just an economic statement, but also a deliberate act.
Furthermore, his artworks tackled social and political issues in a society inundated with
 HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Angeles City
SY 2023 -2024

foreign influence, especially in the Philippine culture. Although he passed away 22

years ago, his artworks deserve to be highlighted and recognized once again, and not
be forgotten as it is still relevant up to this day.

3. Choose one artwork from the following slides, then attach its image to your
answer sheet. Afterward, apply Art Criticism to your chosen artwork, specifically:
 What principle of design did the artists apply? What is the overall
style?
 How do you think is this artwork relevant in Philippine Culture?

The artwork presented in the image above is by Eduardo Mutuc. He is a

Filipino artist— a metalsmith and a sculptor who dedicated his life in creating religious
and secular art in bronze, silver, and wood. Most notably, he is a NCCA’s National Living
Treasure Awardee in the year 2005. This artwork crucifix was commissioned by Tesoro
in 2010 in a Spanish colonial-era style. This artwork has a perfect symmetrical balance,
where a piece of cloth hangs on both sides of the central point, giving it an equal amount
 HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Angeles City
SY 2023 -2024

of visual weight. Moreover, a sense of rhythm is also shown, where the repetition of
patterns through the piece of cloth is visible, giving it an elegant yet nostalgic feeling of
religious clothing, as well as the back piece of the cross. The central point and the
background piece of the cross emphasize the whole artwork in terms of being immersed
in the artwork and the message it wants to convey. In line with this, it also creates
harmony across the whole artwork. Religion is recognized as part of the Philippine
culture. It has existed for hundreds of years in this country. With Filipinos' same beliefs
and religion, they can gather together and create the spirit of culture. And this artwork
represents people’s beliefs and religion which greatly impacts their inclusion in the
Philippine culture.