ART APPRECIATION

LESSON: APPROPRIATION AND IMPROVIZATION

APPROPRIATION: Is the use of pre-

existing objects or images with little or no
transformation applied to them. It is as an
artistic strategy, the intentional borrowing,
copying, and alteration of preexisting
images, objects, and ideas. It has also
been defined as "the taking over, into a
work of art, of a real object or even an
existing work of art.

1. Post five acts of cultural appropriation

Cultural Appropriation - This means that a person with a certain culture
takes objects created by a person or a group of persons of another culture,
and uses these objects as his or her own.

TYPES OF CULTURAL APPROPRIATION

 Object appropriation- This refers to appropriation of concrete and

noticeable works of art.
It occurs when the possession of a tangible work of art (such as a
sculpture or a painting) is transferred from members of one culture to
members of another culture.
An example of object appropriation is transferring a totem pole from
North America to a museum in Europe.

 Content Appropriation- On the other hand, content appropriation

refers to adoption of works of art that are intangible. Examples of
these works of art are short stories, poetry, and musical compositions.
This happens when an intangible work previously expressed by people
from one culture was adopted and used by a person or a group of
persons from another culture.

Content appropriation can be further categorized into two, style

appropriation and motif appropriation:

A. Style Appropriation- Artists involved in style appropriation do

not replicate the works created by a person or a group of persons
 from another culture. However, they use the elements from those
works from another culture in creating their own works. For
example, a woman who grew up in the Philippines wrote original rap
songs, which is part of African-American culture.

B. Motif Appropriation- On the other hand, motif appropriation

happens when artists are inspired by the art from a different culture,
but they do not produce artworks using exactly the same style. An
example of this is a Filipino artist using ideas from Chinese art, but
not necessarily following the African style of art.

 Subject appropriation- subject appropriation occurs when a subject

matter from another culture is appropriated. An example of this is a
Filipino writer creating a story about Pacific Islanders. It may be
considered as the act of outsiders taking a subject matter that is meant
by insiders as a secret. Considering that outsiders only have access to
the elements of culture that they readily see and may be unaware of
some other elements of culture that are imbedded and are not visible,
they may have the tendency to distort the insiders' culture. This may
happen in an offensive way. Because of this, subject appropriation could
be morally unacceptable
 Improvisation in various art forms

IMPROVISATION is creating or performing something spontaneously

or without preparation, or making something functional from whatever is
available.

It is the process of creating new ideas or a new interpretation of an existing art.

Improvisation is not for everyone. Some artists never improvise and to others it
is the Holy Grail and a lifetime’s pursuit of the perfection of their art form.
Improvisation is found in most, if not all cultures. It usually comes in the
shape of traditional art forms that have been passed down through the
generations that are constantly reinterpreted and improvised upon by the new
breed of artist.

TYPES OF IMPROVISATION

Contact-body improvisation- It is a
form of improvised dancing that has
been developing internationally since
1972. It involves the exploration of one’s
body in relationship to others by using
the fundamentals of sharing weight,
touch, and movement awareness.

Contact Improvisation originated from

the movement studies of Steve Paxton
in the 1970s and developed through the
continued exploration of the Judson Dance Theater. It is a dance form based
on weight sharing, partnering, playing with weight, exploring negative space
and unpredictable outcomes.
Sound improvisation- Musical
improvisation (also known as musical
extemporization) is the creative activity of
immediate (“in the moment”) musical
composition, which combines
performance with communication of
emotions and instrumental technique as
well as spontaneous response to other
musicians. (Gorow, 2002).

Sometimes musical ideas in improvisation

are spontaneous, but may be based on chord changes in classical music, and
many other kinds of music. One definition is a “performance given extempore
without planning or preparation.”

Improvisation can take place as a solo performance, or interdependently in

ensemble with other players. When done well, it often elicits gratifying
emotional responses from the audience.

Improvised freestyle rap is

commonly practiced as a part of
rappers’ creative processes, as a
“finished product” for release on
recordings (when the improvisation
is judged good enough), as a
spiritual event, as means of verbal
combat in battle rap, and simply for
fun.

Theatre improvisation-
Improvisational theater, or
improve, consists of a comedic,
poignant, or dramatic stage
performance, usually with a
wide cast of actors and
actresses. These actors and
actresses will use spontaneous
acting techniques, including
audience suggestions to
contribute to the performance’s content and direction. In other words, the cast
erratically formulates the dialogue, setting, and plot without a formal
rehearsal.

Improvisation performers must incorporate a wide array of skills, including

listening and maintaining conscious awareness of other actors and actresses
on stage. It requires a sense of spontaneity, instinctive, and social
comprehension to improvise without a script. In fact, improvisational theater
has attracted many people across all walks of life for improvement in personal
and interpersonal development.

Improvisational theater introduces an interactive relationship between

the cast and the audience. For instance, most improv groups will engage the
audience by asking questions or pulling volunteers from the crowd to induce
excitement. This can sometimes create doubt in some audience members,
provoking skeptics to question whether the act was planned all along.
LESSON: Textile art soul, dreams and imagination

Textile Art: The process of creating something using fibers gained from
sources like plants, animals, insects or synthetic materials

T’nalak weaving - A unique weaving

pattern that illustrates geometric
patterns depicting both art and a
definite paradigm of culture dreamt to
life by T’boli people, an ethic tribe in
the Philippines.

-It is made of abaca fibers with

miniscule knots and dyed red
and black with striking
profundity.

- The process starts by tediously

stripping the abaca fiber from the pulp and gently coaxing the fibers to
become soft and workable. The fibers are then carefully aligned on the
loom much like a blank canvass for the initial stages of translating a
dream into a work of art.

T’boli art- T’boli art for the T’boli weaving - another skill that has been raised
to the level of art

- The traditional cloth, the t’nalak is made of krungon (abaca fiber)

extracted from the mature fruit bearing wild abaca.
Dagmay- a handwoven textile made from abaca.

- Making it involves a mud dyeing

techniques wherein tribe members soak
their tannin -dyed yarns into iron rich mud
for days.

- The Mandaya women weave the fibers into

intricate figures and patterns depicting their
folklores and beliefs.

Pis-yabit- the multicolored cloth of the Tausug

- traditionally worn by the Tausug men as a

headdress or clothing accessory folded neatly
and draped over the left shoulder

- It is worn along the lapi or upper garments

and the sawal or loose trousers - symbolizes the
wearers elevated position in the society

Seputangan- a handwoven square

cloth used as a headcover by women
or as a sash. Traditionally it has an off
white background usually with square
patterns which are “stood up on end” o The patterns are of great variety and so
cannot be pre programmed as for other types of weaving about one meter wide
it is very difficult to weave

Inaul- also pronounced as inol - a time

honored weaving tradition of the
Maguindanao people usually made into
malong or wrap around skirt commonly
and regularly used by both sexes.

- The Maranaos of Marawi City has this

weaving tradition
LESSON: The Philippine Indigenous Art, Muslim Art, Christian Art

 Indigenous Art

o It is the artwork created by the Indigenous people (the traditional

people) who come from the land.

Sculpture- a three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining

hard materials, typicallystone such as marble, metal, glass, or wood, or
plastic materials such as clay, textiles, polymers and softer metals.

 Bul-ul - are carved Anito figures of the Ifugaos: these

represent their ancestral spirit and granary gods. A
seated ifugao "bulul" at the conclusion of the
annual Ifugao harvest ritual "bululs" placed in rice
granaries are consideredguardians of the harvest.

 Hagabi - is a bench that is only used among

the rich Ifugao. Usually carved out of asingle
tree trunk, it is a symbol of wealth and
prestige.

Pottery- these are objects that are first shaped of wet clay, then hardened
by baking.

 Manunggul Jar - A National Treasure of the

Philippines. A secondary burial jar. The jar was
found in Chamber A of the Tabon Cave, one of
the Manunggulcaves in Palawan.
  Palayok – it is a clay pot used as the traditional food preparation
container in the Philippines.

Weaving- Weaving means to make cloth and other objects. Threads or

strands of material are passed under and over each other.

Weaving in the Philippines has different forms, functions and

materials. They also vary in design and techniques used. Most of
the common forms of weaving in the
Philippines are in the form of hats, mats,
bags, baskets and textiles (clothes and
blankets).

Malong – a bearing okir designs. The

Maranaos call their ornamental design okir, a
general term for both the scroll and the geometric
form. The scroll is the dominant feature in the
men’s work composed of various spiral forms.

Physical Ornaments- can be categorized to three

areas specifically the use of traditional costumes (textile), jewelries and
tattoos. The designs vary depending on the location, users and function of
the ornaments.

Linglingo – used as either an earring or a

necklace pendant by Filipinotribes on the
island Luzon in northern Philippines. The
Ifugao, Bontoc,Kalinga, and Gaddang tribes
wear them as pendants on necklaces or
asearrings.

The Kalinga are called the “peacocks of the

north” because of their attention to appearance
and dressing. “Kalinga” means enemy, a name
that the bordering inhabitants called this
tribe because of their head hunting attacks.
 

2. Muslim Art

 Islam as a religion has long been established since the early A.

 Calligraphy is used as the main form of expression.

 It place emphasis on creating an artform that is built on the beauty

and respect for the teachings of Islam.

 It is characterized by designs of flowers, plant forms and geometric

designs. It is used in calligraphy , architecture painting, clothing and
other forms of fine art.

 A traditional art form known as Okkir. This art form

is believed to be of Hindu and Chinese influences.
Okkir uses geometric and floral artwork. One popular
motif of this art form is the use of an imagery of a
dragon or serpent.

 Buraq , a winged horse with a head of a woman.

This imagery relates Prophet Muhammad’s
ascension to heaven.

 Other famous creature -- the sarimanok , a symbol

for bravery and nobility.
 Philippine Muslim homes represents their identity therefore Islamic art is
seen in their houses. These houses usually contains framed calligraphy of
Qur’an passages in its walls.

 Clothing reflects the stlye and colours of their ethnic

background. A design related to Islam that is used in the
Philippines is the batik cloth design.. It contains abstract
themes with geometric and floral design. However, human
and animal depiction is a rare motif in batik.

3. Christian Art

Historical Overview

Though the South have been resistant, the Spanish Colonizers gained control
in the Central part, which they classified them as “Lowland Christians.” Art
forms, as they demanded, are under the strict rule of the church and the
colonial state, and by Religious orders they dispatched to convert all the
natives to Catholicism.

 Architecture

 Saints and interpretations are the essentials

into worship.

 As the process of engraving, painting and

sculpting they are highly supervised in
accordance to imposing scale and overall
visual appeal.

 The friars brought the Western models for

our local artists to copy which are most
likely made from either ivory or wood and
portrays classical and baroque models.
  In the 17th century, Chinese artisans are engaged in making icons or
saints or santos, building churches and houses, making furniture which
later on spread throughout Cebu, Batangas, Manila, and Ilocos

 It drew upon Chinese features and techniques like in Nuestra Señora del
Rosario in Bohol which Kuanyin, the deity of mercy in East Asian
Buddhism.

 Sculpture and Ornamentation

 Saints or Santos are displayed

most on decorative altar niche,
which are called retablo’s patron
saint implies with architecture
and sculpture which embellished
with rosettes, scrolls, pediments
and Solomonic columns and are
color dependently classified
(gilded or polychromed).

Via Crucis (14 paintings or relief

sculptures) is series of reliefs which shows Christ’s crucifixion and
resurrection

In other churches, Holy Family, the Virgin Mary, and the four
evangelists proliferate in the ceilings and walls in an ornate manner of
trompe l’oeil.

 Music

 Western musical instruments like the pipe organ, the violin, the guitar, and
the piano gives a very new European flavor with new rhythms, melodies and
musical forms.

 Pasyon or pabasa which are biblical narration of Christ’s passion chanted

(sometimes read)

 Lowland Christian communities of Pampanga, Ilocos, Bicol, and Iloilo, on

another hand, has awit and the corrido which musical forms chanted, based
on European literature
 Balitao - sentimental love songs and lullabies in the latter half of the 19th
century

4. Contemporary Art

A. KNOWN FILIPINO CONTEMPORARY ARTIST AND WORKS

1. FERNANDO AMORSOLO
- Grand Old Man of Philippine Art

2. CARLOS “BOTONG” FRANCISCO

- One of the greatest Filipino visual artists and muralists

3. VICENTE MANANSALA
- Filipino cubist painter and illustrator

4. VICTORIO EDADES
- Father of Modern Art in the Philippines

5. FELIX RESURRECCION HIDALGO

- One of the greatest Filipino painters of the late 19 th century.
- Famous artwork: Christian Virgins exposed to the Populations

6. JUAN LUNA
-Famous Artwork: Spoliarium

7. FABIAN DELA ROSA

- He is regarded as Master of Genre in the Philippines
- Famous artwork: Women working in a rice field
LESSON: Practices and Movements in Contemporary Philippine Art

 Philippine Modern Art 1946 - 1970

 This is set by the creation of the Art Association of the Philippines

(AAP) that in a way has a strong leaning with the Modernist than the
Conservatives (the traditional art)

 Philippine Contemporary Art 1980s to Present

 It was on the on-set of the sudden rise of personal computers and new
technology created a new art medium for the arts and human
expression. But there were also countless revivals of old styles being
done. This started a new direction for the arts, thus setting the name,
momentarily, the Philippine Contemporary Period.

Key Movements in Philippine Art

 Baroque - This movement was

characterized by extravagant imagery
through use of extensive decoration
and ornamentation.

Example: Paoay Church

 Neoclassicism – Followed soon after

Baroque movement. It harkens back
to the style of the Classical period of
the Greeks and Romans, with an
emphasis on symmetry, order, and
simplicity.

Example: Baguio City Hall

  Romanticism- Characterized by an emphasis on the senses and
emotion.

Example: Spoliarium- Juan Luna

- This art movement from the 19th century

heavily pushed
for the art style of Naturalism that aimed to
represent nature the
way it truly appears. Notable artists here
are Felipe Roxas and
Fernando Amorsolo. Amorsolo, however, was
one of the artists in
the realism movement to paint nature such
that he perfects it, with
some stylized depictions
 Realism- An art movement that heavily pushed for the art style of
naturalism that aimed to represent nature the way it truly appears.

Example: Tinikling- Fernando Amorsolo

 Cubism – Made famous by Pablo Picasso; which

utilized the use of figures like cubes, cones, and
cylinders.

Example: Madonna of the Slums, Vicente Manansala

 Pop art- is a distinctive genre of art that is primarily characterized by an

interest in popular culture and imaginative interpretations of commercial
products. The movement presented a challenge to traditions of fine art by
including imagery from popular and mass culture, such as advertising.