The Characteristics of

Contemporary Art
Lesson 1
Lesson Objectives
 This lesson will enable you to:

1. Describe the beginnings of contemporary art in

the Philippines
2. Discuss the characteristics of contemporary
art
3. Explain the importance of process in
contemporary art-making
Background
 Since the 1950s, artists have experimented
on a variety of techniques and different ways
of expressing their emotions, perceptions,
convictions, ideas, ideology and other things
that could be expressed through art.
Background
 Some of the famous art styles and movements from the 1950s
through 2000s are the following:

a. abstract expressionism
b. kinetic art
c. Op art
d. body art
e. performance art
f. environmental art
g. feminist art
h. digital art
i. video art
j. graffiti art
 M
P

Contemporary R

C
L
Questions to Ponder:
1. What is the difference between traditional and contemporary
art?
Contemporary Art Traditional Art
Short description Contemporary art is It is a folk art, which
an art produced at encompasses the art
the present period in produced from an
time. indigenous culture,
peasants or other
laboring trade’s
people.
Ideas Reflected They reflect modern They reflect the
ideas and thoughts, ancient ideas and
which are subject to thoughts in order to
implement the represent their
change in the standard of living to
society. the current
Questions to Ponder:
1. What is the difference between traditional and
contemporary art?
Contemporary Art Traditional Art

Represents Contemporary art can Traditional Art would

be represented in be representational
anything, and in any painting or sculpture.
medium.
Artist Types The artists here are The artists here
modernized thinkers. belong to a specific
2. When did contemporary art begin?group or community.
Contemporary Art in the Philippines
 Victorio Edades was
the first to break
the rules of art. He
did not show natural
forms nor
perspective and used
bold strokes and
bright colors.
The Builders (1928) by
Victorio Edades
Contemporary Art in the Philippines
 Carlos “Botong”
Francisco and Galo
Ocampo- they were
influence by Western
Artists. Abstraction,
expressionism, and
surrealism were evident
in their paintings.
 Katipunan (1964)
by Carlos “Botong” Francisco
Igorot Dance (1951)
by Galo Ocampo
 Romeo Tabuena was a
Filipino painter and
printmaker. His
aesthetic is often one
inspired by Cubism,
with a fractal-like
geometric patterning
imposed on
recognizable forms.
(Untitled artwork) by
Romeo Tabuena
Other Artworks of Tabuena
 Hernando Ocampo was a
Filipino artist best known
for his abstract
paintings. He used
geometric forms in
strong red colors
overlapping with shades
of yellow to brown.
Abstract in Green (1974)
Untitled Artwork (1973) by
Hernando Ocampo
Untitled Artwork (1971) by
Hernando Ocampo
Second Fortnight (1975) by
Hernando Ocampo
Untitled Artwork (1975) by
Hernando Ocampo
 Vicente Silva
Manansala was a
Filipino cubist painter
and illustrator. He
painted in abstract
cubism his human
forms engaged in
genre such as those in
the market scene.
Ang Magbabayo (1979)
by Vicente Manansala
Luksong Tinik (1973)
Market Vendors(1949)
by Vicente Manansala
Madonna of the Slums (1950)
by Vicente Manansala
Man, Girl and Cock (1953)
by Vicente Manansala
 Cesar Legaspi used his art
as commentary to the state
of hard labor in the
Philippines.

 He employed transparent
cubism with a lot of flowing
lines that give movement to
his human forms.
 Gadgets by
Cesar Legaspi
Asynchronous Activity Task1
August 24, 2021
Instructions: Write a single-page article about the
differences between Contemporary Art and
Traditional Art. Include one photo related to the
subject to make your article more interesting to the
readers.

Note: A catchy title is a major plus!

Format: Letter size/12-Cambria
Deadline: Anytime today
Send the file via messenger
File Name: Amante-001
 Asynchronous Activity Task 2
August 27, 2021
Instructions: Analyze Hernando Ocampo’s abstract artworks.
Give your own interpretation of the following:
a. Abstract in Green (1974)
b. Untitled Artwork (1973)
c. Untitled Artwork (1971)
d. Second Fortnight (1975)
e. Untitled Artwork (1975)

Format: Letter size/12-Cambria

Deadline: Anytime today
Send the file via messenger
File Name: Amante-002
 Characteristics of
Contemporary Art
 Contemporary art is not confined to the
museum.

 The practice of selling paintings has also

changed in contemporary art.

 In architecture, different shapes and forms

have emerged as a result of the use of
different materials.
Pueblo por la Playa’s office
 Characteristics of
Contemporary Art
 Originality is not an issue in contemporary art.
An artist can get another artist’s work and add
to it, redesign or interpret it using other
materials.

 For example, the portrait of Marilyn Monroe has

been interpreted by artist Andy Warhol in an
artwork where a series of faces of Monroe
appears in variety of colors.
Marilyn Diptych, 1962
by Andy Warhol
 In Bohol, artist Geovanni Abing used colorful
papers to make a collage portrait of Monroe.
 Characteristics of
Contemporary Art
 Originality is not an issue in contemporary art.
What is essential to contemporary artists
therefore, is the process of art-making. It is the
experience for example, of dipping one’s hand into
a pail of paint and making markings on a flat
surface that matters to the contemporary artist.

 Given these characteristics it can be said that

contemporary art is a statement that an artist
makes about life, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and
many other things that define human life.
 Collaborative Task 003 Sept 2
 Search the internet for contemporary artworks that are
based on one that has been done in the past. Paste the
original and new images and then do the following in writing:

1. Describe the artwork done by an artist in the past.

2. Describe the new artwork based on the previous artwork.
3. Compare the two. What qualities of contemporary art are
manifested in the new artwork?

Note: Be ready to share your presentation to the class; PPT is

expected 
Groupings
Group I- Banzuela, Villegas, Alvarez, Baraero
Group II- Cardenas, Eseo, Buiser, De Gula
Group III- Gatchalian, Seda, Pawig, Rayela
Group IV- Rustila, Gerundio, Andor, Pineda
Group V- Sarmiento, Carl Michael, Anuran, Harina
Group VI- Dy, Kelvin, Macaraan, Hidalgo
Group VII- Banaticla, Bilog, Sagario, Mantupar
Group VIII- Gajardo, De Leon, Enriquez, Cachero

Submission of PPT: Anytime today

Presentation: Sept. 3 (Friday)
Asynchronous Activity 004 10pts
Surf the net and answer the question below:
How do ancient people sell art back then? Compare
it to the art market today.

Format: Letter size/12-Cambria

Date of Submission: Sept. 7 (Tuesday)
Send the screenshot via messenger
 Project in Contemporary Arts
(Prelim)
 Create or publish your own magazine
featuring the following artists:
a. Victorio Edades
b. Carlos Francisco
c. Galo Ocampo
d. Romeo Tabuena
e. Hernando Ocampo
f. Vicente Silva Manansala
g. Cesar Legaspi
 Parts of the Magazine
1. Title
2. Cover Article
3. Cover Image
4. Body articles
5. Incorporate graphics
6. Feature articles
7. Back page

Deadline: Sept 24, 2021 (Friday – until 4pm)

Pointers to Review in Contemporary
Philippine Arts
 Characteristics of Contemporary Art
 Filipino Contemporary Artists
 Comparison of old artworks and contemporary

artworks (Report)
 Reporting (Midterm)
I. Subject matter and Style in Contemporary Art
(Pawig & Macaraan)

II. Materials used in Contemporary Art

(De Gula & Mantupar)

III. Skills, Techniques and Production in Contemporary Art

(Eseo & Rayela)

IV. Description Applied to Contemporary Art

(Hidalgo & Sagario)

V. Interpretation and Analysis in Contemporary Art

(Gatchalian & Alvarez)
 Activity # 006 20pts Sept. 20
Create a raw vlog about one contemporary Filipino
artist who had the most impact on you. Include his
artistic styles, artworks and his contributions to
influence other contemporary artists in the Philippines.

Length: 1-3 minutes

Rubric:
Content-15pts
Creativity- 5pts
Deadline of submission: Sept 20 (2:00pm)