UNIT 3

Philippine Contemporary Arts

Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

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LEARNING TARGETS

At the end of this unit, the learners should be

able to to do the following:

● Define contemporary arts.

● Identify different contemporary art forms.
● Describe various contemporary art forms according to
historical overview.
● Comprehend the artistic message conveyed through
subject and theme.
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VALUES AND ATTITUDES

In this unit, the learners should be able to do the

following:

● Develop self-confidence in knowing contemporary arts in the

Philippines.
● Appreciate the diversity of contemporary arts in the Philippines.
● Increase creativity by critiquing artworks according to the subject
matter and theme used by the artist.
● Explore and learn the significance of the subject matter and theme in
understanding the artist’s message.
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 ART IS EVERYWHERE

The contemporary arts in the Philippines encompass a vast range of forms, reflecting the
nation’s diversity. Filipino artists harness this diversity to create art that resonates deeply
and evokes strong emotions in their audience. Moreover, as society progresses
technologically and embraces innovation, artists become more adventurous and
resourceful in creating art, bringing a liberal perspective to their audience.

Understanding modern and contemporary art allows us to connect with the artist’s
intended message by looking at their social, historical, and cultural backgrounds. This
exploration reveals that art is an ever-evolving, dynamic process. It continuously
contributes to our cultural literacy and fosters a deeper appreciation for the arts.

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UNIT STIMULUS

Jingle Making

● Form groups with five members each.

● Each group will have 20 minutes to brainstorm ideas and
construct a simple jingle.
● The jingle must be relevant to contemporary art.
● Perform your jingle in front of the class.

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CENTRAL QUESTION

Why is contemporary art important in

society?

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Lesson 01
Contemporary Arts in the Philippines

Unit 3| Philippine Contemporary Art

Contemporary Arts in the Philippines

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DEFINING MOMENT

Instructions: 10 minutes

● Find a partner.
● Each pair will have 10 minutes to work on an acrostic
definition of contemporary art.
● Each word or statement in the acrostic should be connected
and relevant to the concept of contemporary art.

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ART LENS

The availability of new products, tools, and technological advancements

has expanded the creative possibilities for Filipino artists. They are
continuously improving their skills and exploring new ideas and
techniques using available materials. As a result, contemporary art
became a platform through which artists raise awareness and discuss
societal issues, effectively conveying impactful messages to their
audience.

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 Contemporary Art vs. Modern
Art

Magsasaka (Farmer) by Vicente Manansala

Commonly, the term modern is used to describe the present. Being modern implies being up-to-date
and technologically advanced, often associated with being contemporary.

Art that is new or current is often labeled as modern in contrast to traditional or conservative. These
terms are often used interchangeably in everyday language, indicating similar meanings.

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 Historical Overview
Historical Overview

American Japanese Postwar 1970s

Form Pre-Conquest Spanish Period
Period Period Republic Contemporary

religious and
pottery, body landscape,
ecclesiastical icon, wartime scenes
adornment, portraiture,
and secular (aggression,
Painting ornament genre,
portraiture nationalism,
interior, still
(See figure a) life atrocities,
(See figure b) symbolic modern, figurative, non-
protest, conservative, figurative, art for
aspiration for abstract, arts sake,
santos, furniture,
pottery, carving peace), experimental, multimedia, mixed
reliefs, altar pieces,
and woodwork, propaganda, public art media, transmedia
jewelry, metalwork,
metalwork, and free standing indigenizing
Sculpture fiesta,
expression relief, public and
ornamentation
orientalizing
(See figure c) works, genre
(See figure d)
 Historical Overview

Historical Overview

American Japanese Postwar 1970s

Form Pre-Conquest Spanish Period
Period Period Republic Contemporary

church, plaza city planning

complex, town parks,
dwellings and planning, waterfronts,
houses, shelters, fortification, civic and
real estate, safe housing,
worship areas, civic buildings government
accessories, tenements, informal
official and installations, structures,
settlers, convention arches,
Architecture residences, private public works, public works
commercial structures or
mosque, masjid, residences, apartments,
businesses, condominiums, malls,
state edifices commercial residences,
subdivisions, low cost housing
structures, offices, health
(See figure e) cemeteries, and public
bridges, education,
lighthouse business chalet
 Contemporary Art vs. Modern Art: Historical Overview

Figure a. Figure b. Figure c.

Illustration of Visayan Pintado from the boxer Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Mindanao burial pottery
codex (left) and neolithic burial jar, Palawan (right) Rosario, Damian Domingo
founder of Academia de
Dibujo and Virgen del Rosario,
Peruvian 18th Century
Contemporary Art vs. Modern Art: Historical Overview

Figure d. Figure e.
Santos made from ivory wood Paoay Church VIII
 Contemporary Art vs. Modern Art

The term contemporary is flexible, and its usage can vary

depending on the context, particularly in terms of historical
and stylistic perspectives. While modern and contemporary
can be used interchangeably, using them thoughtfully and
accurately is crucial. Understanding these terms' historical
and stylistic contexts is essential to avoid careless or loose
usage.
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Victorio Edades, the national artist for
painting, pioneered the modern art movement
as a response to the neoclassic style. While the
neoclassical style aimed to faithfully depict
reality, modern artists viewed it as
conservative. Instead of seeking to replicate
and idealize reality, modern artists altered
colors and flattened images, and avoided
illusions of depth, proximity, and perfection. The Sketch (1928)
by
Victorio Edades

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 Neoclassical Style
● Modern art emerged as a groundbreaking and provocative movement,
while neoclassical art offered a sense of familiarity and comfort.
● Guillermo referred to neoclassical art and other established European
styles brought through Spanish colonization as academic.
● Neoclassicism continues to be taught in academic institutions like the
University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, maintaining its place
within the academic curriculum.

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 Fernando Amorsolo Guillermo Tolentino

● The neoclassical style, associated with prominent artists

like Amorsolo and Tolentino, continues to influence many
artists.
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 The Birth of Social Realists
● Modern artists such as Romeo Tabuena, Hernando
Ocampo, Vicente Manansala, Victor Oteyza, Ramon
Estella, and Cesar Legaspi actively addressed the social
conditions following World War II.
● These artists, as pointed out by Aguilar Cruz, portrayed the
issues and challenges faced by society.
● The social realists are recognized as inheritors of this artistic
tradition.
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 ● Social realism remains a significant
influence on contemporary artists.
● An example of this is Imelda
Cajipe-Endaya's artwork Filipina:
Dh, Installation (1995), which
embodies social realism. However,
it distinguishes itself through its
unique style and medium, as it
adopts installation art as a means of
Filipina: Dh, Installation (1995)
expression.
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 Stylistic Overview

Stylistic Overview

American Postmodern or
Form Pre-Conquest Spanish Period Japanese Period
Period Contemporary

incipient triumvirate,
collaborative,
13 moderns, abstract,
Painting hyperrealist, new
neorealist, surreal,
painting
expressionist
religious, devotional,
religious (animist or
secular, formal,
Islamic), community-
naturalistic classical,
based, interethnic junk or scrap,
(homegrown, nostalgic
relations, collective duchampian, arte
miniaturismo, guild),
history covera,
academic
Sculpture abstract expressionism neoindigenous,
site-specific
performance art,
hybrid
 Stylistic Overview

Stylistic Overview

American Postmodern or
Form Pre-Conquest Spanish Period Japanese Period
Period Contemporary

neoclassic, art
worship-related and Filipino
deco by Juan
religious (animist or residential, architecture, urban
Arellano, Juan
Islamic), community- earthquake, baroque, planning,
Nakpil, Pablo international,
Architecture based, interethnic Hispanic revivalist economic zone,
Antonio, Art industrializing, eclectic
relations, collective (neo-Gothic, neo neovernacular,
Nouveau,
history Romanesque, prefab, regionalist,
California
Islamic) cosmopolitan
mission style
 Cultural Overview

● Aside from style, it is also beneficial to understand the background

and circumstances of the artists and how their art is disseminated.

Cultural Overview

Indigenous Islamic or Fold or Popular or Urban

Form Fine or World-Based
Southeast Asian Philippine Muslim Lowland and Mass-Based

Painting
museum-circulated,
Sculpture colonial and mass produced,
ritual and governance artist-centered, gallery-
post-colonial market oriented
distributed
Architecture
Stoplight

STOP CONTINUE START

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WHAT MAKES IT DISTINCT?

Instructions: 15 minutes
● Form groups with five members each.
● Each group will have 15 minutes to create a diagram illustrating the
similarities and differences between modern and contemporary art.
● After 15 minutes, each group must present the diagram to the class.

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HITMAKERS

Modern art and contemporary art are often associated, yet they possess
similarities and differences, such as the following:

1. Historical Differences. In terms of history, contemporary art refers

to the art created in the present era, constantly representing the
present. In contrast, modern art is often characterized by the
techniques and styles used by the artist during the art’s creation.
Nonetheless, the terms modern and contemporary can be used
simultaneously or interchangeably.
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HITMAKERS

2. Social Differences. Social realism heavily influences contemporary

art as it addresses current societal issues. On the other hand, modern
art is known for its unique artistic styles used by the artists. As
societal issues arise, artists increasingly experiment with techniques
to create groundbreaking art.
3. Cultural Differences. With the ever-changing landscape of
technology, contemporary artists often display their work in
traditional galleries. On the other hand, modern artists embrace
digital platforms to showcase their creations, although their work
predates the digital era. 27
PHOTO CREDITS
Slide 10: Magsasaka (Farmer) by Kandukuru Nagurjun is licensed under CC-BY-2.0 via Flickr.

Slide 13: Symbolism in Pre-Colonial Filipino Warrior by (no author) is licensed under CC0 via The Manila Times.

Slide 13: Neolithic Pottery Burial Jar, Palawan 890-710 BC by Gary Todd is licensed under CC0 via
Wikimedia Commons.

Slide 13:
Nuesra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, Damian Domingo founder of Academia de Dibujo and Virgen del Rosari
o, Peruvian 18th Century
by Carlos Indicó is licensed under CC0 via Quora.

Slide 13: Mindanao Burial Pottery - 32843892691.jpg by Gary Todd is licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Slide 14: Santos - made of ivory wood by (no author) is licensed under CC0 via Preceden.

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PHOTO CREDITS

Slide 14: Paoay Church VIII by lordartworks is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia.

Slide 16: The Sketch (1928) by Victorio Edades by (no author) is licensed under CC0 via HandWiki.

Slide 18: Fernando Amorsolo History & Famous Paintings of Artist by Ki is licensed under CC0 via Philippine News.

Slide 18: Everyday History by Philippine Star is licensed under CC0 via Facebook.

Slide 20: Filipina: Dh, Installation (1995) by Imelda Cajipe-Endaya by Imelda Cajipe-Endaya is licensed under CC0 via
Facebook.

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REFERENCES
Baclig, Cristina Eloisa. 2020. “Tattoos: The Art that Exhibits Philippine Culture and History.” Lifestyle Inquirer.
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/374686/tattoos-the-art-that-exhibits-philippine-culture-and-history/.

Eden Gallery. 2021. “Modern Art vs Contemporary Art.” Eden Gallery.

https://www.eden-gallery.com/news/modern-art-vs-contemporary-art#:~:text=Modern%20and%20contempor
ary%20art%20are,describes%20current%20works%20of%20art
.

Hernandez, Eloisa May P. n. d. “The Spanish Colonial Tradition in Philippine Visual Arts.” Filipino Kastila Tripod.
Accessed .
https://filipinokastila.tripod.com/paint.html#:~:text=For%20the%20first%20centuries%20of,of%20heaven%2C
%20purgatory%20and%20hell
.

Soliman, Michelle Anne P. 2022. “A Retelling of Stories of Filipinas and Histories of the Motherland.” BusinessWorld.
https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2022/09/07/472795/a-retelling-of-stories-of-filipinas-and-hist
ories-of-the-motherland/
.

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