LESSON 1: WHAT IS ART TO ME?
8
Do you agree with the assumption that our
generation today is called the “ANXIOUS
GENERATION? When you talk to those who were
born during the age of “BABY-BOOMERS”, most of
them would probably describe a life formed out of
simple choices to make: going to school, study,
work, and getting married. However, the times today
pose a stark contrast to such simplicity. We are
often distracted by illusions and “IDEAL LIVES” that
the internet age suggest.
These are some proposed functions of art in our lives but are
not supposed to limit other presumed ideas. There is definitely
more, but consisting the scope and limit of time, we will focus
on the following:
1.Beauty
2.Happiness and Hope
3.Identity and understanding one self
4.Grief and healing
5.Remembering and mark-making
6.Raising awareness
7.Culture and togetherness
Inspired by the book “ART AS THERAPY” by Alain de Boton,
this version of the seven functions of art are common human
experiences with which, I believe, we as Filipinos can mostly
adhere to. Hence, by taking off from these ideas, we can all
relate to the role of art through our shared humanity.
1. BEAUTY
The connotation of beauty is a debatable topic, but let us
talk about prettiness and the aesthetic value of art. One
of the innate qualities that “PRETTY ART” can give is
that is makes our dull, lifeless wall come to life. The
contrast of having something “ALIVE” and dynamic to
look at on something ordinary and common, let us say a
pristine white wall, evokes in us an affinity towards its
beauty. Though we have different notions of beauty, still
is a common denominator when we are talking about
appreciating forms of art. Beauty makes sense to most
of us.
2. HAPPINESS AND HOPE
There is something about art that mirrors the soul of those willing to confront it. In a
societal tone, artwork tend echo the hopes and anxieties of an age. There is a wide
range of properties of art why it gives a sense of joy and hope to its audience. These are
examples:
a. when paintings are placed in a daunting environment such as hospitals;
b. the experience and process of creating art itself;
c. the bliss of looking at a pieces of imagery evoking a happy memory: the painting of a
do;
d. direct words from typography and graphic messages that are so relatable as if the
author has read your mind and feeling; and
e. identifying oneself with the properties of an artwork: a homage to something; works
addressing diaspora, displacement, and other social issues.
3. IDENTITY AND UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
today’s generation, being the “me” generation, is also sometimes
tagged as the “anxious generation” a lot of social issues evidently reflect this
struggle for identity; gender issues, disconnectedness brought on by social
media, regionalism, and even mental health issues. How do you think art can
be a tool to address such challenges? Sometimes we see ourselves in an
artwork. Sometimes we see ourselves in the process. Art can serve as a
powerful tool to help us communicate and relay our confusion. Even
psychological interventions use art as therapy to aid in processing some
sensitive experiences.
4. GRIEF AND HEALING
Many of the most poignant and humanistic products of art were after
the World War II. Twentieth-century art mostly expressed human suffering and
darkness in its themes. Artists such as Rachel Whiteread talked about this
haunting remembrance of holocaust victims in her work “Ghost Library”.
Here, she an experiential type of artistic expression, exploring the themes of
place and memory in an architectural setting.
throughout the years, artists have interpreted these shared
human experiences in different ways, which also help us process our
grief. Some may use art as a tool to express pain and process it in
therapy. Nonetheless, it plays an important role in making grieving
somehow dignified.
5. REMEMBERING AND MARK-MAKING
How do you think has art helped us remember? How have a
artists shaped our landscape? The monument of Rizal in Luneta park
is one example of a type of art that helps us remember. Without the
tangible characteristic of art, we will not be able to sustain our
nationalistic values well enough. We have pictures, films, and
paintings that depict heroism and nationalism. Try to look up these
artists: “Angel of the North” by British sculptor Antony Gormley and
Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Gate” in Chicago. Gormly’s work has been
considered as the largest sculpture in the world and one of the most
popular. The humongous figure of a person with airplane-like wings is
situated in Gateshead, England, and was commissioned to become
and identifying
Landmark of the region. On the other hand, Kapoor had this
humongous, bean-shaped metallic sculpture placed at that certainly
builds a sense of mark and identity to that place where the traffic of
pedestrians is usually heavy.
6. RAISING AWARENESS
Have you seen large sculpture effigies (those papier-mache-
made-to-be-burned protect art) during rallies in manila? Some art can
be categorized as activist art. But not all are as load and garish.
Some are subtle paintings which might use satire. In Philippines,
many socially-concerned artist have emerged in the age of
modernism portraying politicians and the governments system in
their most hateful actions. A more subtle type of including awareness
can be observed in architecture such as the stained glass windows
of Gothic churches and even their illuminated manuscripts. Such is
also the case of our local churches with large domes at the altar part
and huge stained glass windows.
7. CULTURE AND TOGETHERNESS
lastly, forms of art often localized so that they bring
identity also to certain regions. This is very evident here
in the Philippines, which is geographically separated by
thousands of islands-we are very regionalized. In a way,
there is a sense of redemption for the past weakness of
the Philippines when the Spaniards strategized the divide
and conquer method. Do you wear the “whole
Philippines,” Miss Universe 2019? Here, we see how
reigning queen Catriona Gray wore the “whole
Philippines,” symbolically uniting us through her Luzon-
Visayas-Mindanao-inspired national costume. Indeed it is
an attempt to represent our unity and national identity as
Filipino.
