Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VIII
DIVISION OF NORTHERN SAMAR
District of San Jose

SAN JOSE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

Senior High School Department

Grade Level: 11 – GA A, GA B, HUMSS, SMAW

Subject: Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Quarter1, Week 1, Module 1:
Contemporary Art Forms and their Practices
LESSON 1: What is Contemporary Art?
MELC: Describes various contemporary art forms and their practices from the various regions.
CG:
1. Identifies various contemporary art forms and their practices from the various regions (CAR11/12IAC-0a-1).
2. Classifies various art forms found in the Philippines (CAR11/12IAC-0b-2).
3. Defines contemporary arts in the Philippines (CAR11/12CAP-0b-3).

Module Content
This module will let you know the individuals who made significant contributions in the Philippine Arts. Here, you will
get to know the two well-known organizations in the Philippine Arts who was established to give appropriate
recognition to our local or national artist in the country. We have, the Order of the National Artist of the Philippines
and the National Living Treasures or Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA).

WHAT’S NEW

Activity 1. Jumbled Letters Below are words with jumbled letters. Each word gives you an idea about Contemporary
Arts in the Philippines. Try to arrange them and provide the correct answer on the space provided below.
1. LolacHtierage _____________ 6. Sionprofe _____________
2. Tancerihein _____________ 7. Sureplea _____________
3. Rycotammen _____________ 8. Litysripitua _____________
4. Branmemrence _____________ 9. Brekinga of nomrs _____________
5. Fels-exssionpre _____________ 10. Apptionropria _____________

WHAT IS IT
Contemporary art generally refers to art being created now. Contemporary is derived from the Latin prefix
con, which means “together” or “with”, plus tempus, which means “time”. The chronological view defines
contemporary art as related to this current period in art history, and refers to art that is new, recent, modern, or
pertains to the present moment. The historical usage, meanwhile, regards contemporary art as a specific stage in the
story of the evolution of art, referring to a specific location in space and time.
Contemporary art emerged in the Philippines in reaction to social and cultural realities during the 1970’s
which is an era of repression and censorship of artistic expressions. Philippine art became a means to oppose the
regime, and the political art of social realism flourished at this time. Socio realism is an art movement which sought
to expose the real condition of Philippine society and used art to transform it. Progressive art developed a culture
that would convey the authentic aspirations of the Filipino people.
The end of Martial Law in the wake of EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 brought the Philippines into
the contemporary period, and the art produced in this periodis regarded as contemporary art.
Contemporary art as a Breaking of Norms - Contemporary art can be seen as a transgression of established norm
and rules. Established art forms are scrutinized and contemporary art reworks them to see them with fresh eyes.
Contemporary art is ruled by the cult of the new, endeavoring to create works of art that are “radical” and
“interdisciplinary”.

Appropriation is an important preoccupation in contemporary art which is the practice of creating a new
work by taking a pre-existing image or from another context and combining the borrowed image with new ones.

Contemporary art and Local Heritage - Contemporary art professes an awareness of local heritage which is
something that can be passed from one generation to the next, can be conserved or inherited, and has historic or
cultural value. These are physical objects, places of heritage and the various practices of heritage unique to the
region or locality that are conserved or handed down from one generation to the next.

FUNCTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART:

Contemporary art for Pleasure –

A visual delight in the work of art, can take many forms including an appreciation of beauty or decoration, or delight
in an element of surprise. Most cultures that have a definition of beautiful, define it as something pleasing to the
eye, and often resembling an ideal of some sort.

Contemporary art as Profession-

Artists earn a living through their art since art and ideas are never free. They possess value in the complex web of the
creative industries that combine the creation, production and commercialization of creative contents which are
tangible and cultural in nature.

Contemporary art as Commentary –

Art has been used to answer our need for information. Artists who fulfill our need for commentary often speak in a
language easy to understand, they view art as primary goal to communication by means of subject matter.

Contemporary art in Spirituality –

Artists may create art to express spiritual beliefs about the destiny of life controlled by the force of a higher power.

Contemporary art as Remembrance –

Art can be a remembrance which is something done as an aid to memory. We need to commemorate important
events and people that have shaped our history and show reverence for those who have gone before us.

Contemporary art as Self-expression –

Art fulfills an expressive function when an artist conveys information about his or her personality, feelings or
worldview.

What’s More

Activity 2. It’s Your Turn Give the functions of Contemporary arts.

What I Have Learned

Reflective Question: Among the functions of contemporary art, which in your view is most significant?

Remember these key points:

These are functions of contemporary art:
 Contemporary art for Pleasure
 Contemporary art as Profession
 Contemporary art as Commentary
 Contemporary art as Spirituality
 Contemporary art as Remembrance
 Contemporary art refers to art being created now.
 Contemporary art emerged in the Philippines in reaction to social and cultural realities during the 1970’s.

What I Can Do

Activity 3. Identifying creative work

Identify a creative work in your community which can be considered an example of contemporary art. Discuss its
aspects and how it relates to contemporary. Capture and print the identified artwork.

REMINDER:
Submit Activity 3: Identifying Creative Work in a short bond paper. Use the following format:

Subject: Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Name:
Grade: 12 - SMAW
Quarter 1, Week 1, Module 1, Lesson 1: What is Contemporary Art?