UNIT 1:​ ​Integrative Art as Applied to Philippine
Contemporary Art
Table of Contents
Introduction
2
Lesson 1: Integrative Arts
Jump Start
3
Learn about It!
4
Check Your Understanding ​
5
Lesson 2: The Elements and Principles of Art
Jump Start
5
Learn about It!
6
Check Your Understanding
12
Lesson 3: Art Forms in the Philippines
Jump Start
12
Learn about It!
13
Check Your Understanding
16
Did You Know?
17
Let’s Create!
17
Check and Reflect
18
Wrap Up
19
Answers to Check Your Understanding
20
Bibliography
20
Glossary
21
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GRADE 11/12 |Contemporary Philippine Arts for the Regions
UNIT 1
Integrative Art as Applied to Philippine
Contemporary Art
Art is everywhere. In a modern world driven by rapid technological advancement, art is
usually categorized simply as painting, sculptures, and other similar forms. Little do we know
that art comes in various forms which we can integrate. Social media, print advertisement,
radio programs, and even noon time television shows are results of integrated art.
Fig. 1​. Sipat Lawin Collective in action (​Strange Pilgrims: Rizal + 150 Reverse Cosplay Parade Edition, i​ n
collaboration with Leeron New)
The artwork above is an example of an artwork done through an integration of various forms
of art. What are the art forms and elements present in the performance image above?
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Learning Target
In this unit, you should be able to identify various contemporary art forms and their practices
from the various regions.
Lesson 1: Integrative Arts
You might have heard of ​Nick Joaquin’s ​“T
​ he Portrait of an Artist as a Filipino​” ​from your
literature classes. It is an important literary piece that has been adapted into a musical and, in
2017, a screenplay entitled​, “​Ang Larawan​” ​(​dir. Loy Arcenas). This is an example of a creative
adaptation as a result of integrative art.
Think-Pair-Share
In pairs, discuss the function of art in your daily lives. After, answer the following question: Is
there an art form which you prefer? Why do you think so? ​What is in a specific form of art
that sets it apart from non-artistic objects?
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L
​ earn about It!
The word art is quite difficult to define and its definition has been highly contested
throughout history. The word originated from the Latin word ​ars ​which means skill and with
the Greek word ​techne ​which means technology. A common definition of art is that it is used
to express ideas or feelings through creative processes and imagination. This is often done
through the various forms of art discussed below.
Visual Arts
Visual arts is an expression of artistic ideas through images, structures, and tactile work.
Painting, sculpture, and architecture are considered as examples of it. Some visual artworks
are integrated - which means it combines several medium to create a new and unique
artwork.
Literary Arts
Literary arts is an expression of ideas through writing. There are many types of literary
artworks, and this can be categorized into:
● Poetry - It is considered as one of the oldest forms of literature characterized by its
imaginative and figurative language. Some poetic forms are strict with rhymes and
syllabic counts, like the sonnet, while contemporary poetry pieces now go beyond the
limits of form and more and more writers dwell more into free verse.
● Prose - When an imaginative literary piece is not written in figurative language, then it is
considered as prose. Prose is usually written in complete and grammatical narratives.
Examples of prose are short stories and novels among others. Generally, prose is a
literary piece that is not poetry.
● Drama - When a text is written to be performed and not just read, then it is considered
as drama. Usually, people refer to dramas as plays.
Performing Arts
Performing arts is an expression of an artistic idea through written lyrics, text, dramatization,
and multimedia production. Performing arts usually require the musical theatre, dance, and
drama, a combination of different art forms, such as literary art for the material and visual
arts for stage design.
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Different art forms are distinct from each other, but are not necessarily independent of each
other. This means that two or more disciplines of art can be used in the creation of an
integrated artwork.
This integration calls for a combined use of various disciplines to create an expressive work.
An example of a contemporary artwork is the spoken word poetry. It is when poetry is written
to be read on a stage, usually in intimate settings such as a coffee shop.
An integration of various art forms has become more and more evident in contemporary arts.
With people of different cultures having contact with each other, it is inevitable that artists lift
styles and techniques from different practices.
Check Your Understanding
Recall
1. The word art has its roots in the Latin word ars and the Greek word ______.
2. _________ is a literary form that is n
​ ot ​poetry.
Application
3. What art forms are present in the staging of a theatrical play?
Synthesis
4. Why is integrative art more and more popular in contemporary times?
Lesson 2: The Elements and Principles of
Art
There are certain elements which make an artwork an artistic piece. These elements and
principles are socially agreed on and, when followed, usually define what is formally known as
aesthetically pleasing. Knowing the elements of art is not only important to artists but also to
viewers of art as this can enable a deeper understanding of the artwork.
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Think-Pair-Share
Before understanding how to integrate art forms, you must first have an understanding of the
definition of art. In pairs, discuss what makes certain pieces art and others not. With that,
answer the question: what are the elements principles present behind an artwork?
Learn about It!
The Elements of Art
Space
When we say space, it can vary depending on what art discipline it pertains to. In visual arts,
this may pertain to emptiness which may either be ​positive space ​or ​negative space.
Positive space refers to a part which is enclosed in a shape, while negative space refers to the
opposite part which the shape is enclosing.
Fig. 2.1​. Positive vs. negative space
In other forms of art like literature and music, space may pertain to pauses and interval
between lines or notes.
Line
In visual arts, a line is a series of points. It may come in two characteristics:
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● Form - curved, dotted, or broken
● Direction - vertical, horizontal, or diagonal
Fig. 2.2​. Vertical curved lines vs. diagonal dotted lines
Different types of lines may convey different meanings. For example, a horizontal line usually
suggests calmness, as such is the case when viewing the horizon during sunset, vertical lines
may convey loftiness, while diagonal lines may pertain dynamism.
In other disciplines like theater, this may pertain to the lines in the script. While in dance, it is
the routine of steps as executed by the dancer.
Shape and Form
Shape is formed by connecting both ends of a line. Shapes are two dimensional figures with
height and width. There are also different kinds of shapes as described below.
● Geometric shapes are enclosed figures such as triangle, squares, and other structured
figures
● Organic shapes are shapes found in nature. They do not have a structured form as they
are usually free flowing. Examples of these are the shape of a leaf or a cloud.
● Abstract shapes are like organic shapes for they lack definition, but they are not
necessarily found in nature. They are also asymmetrical and free flowing.
Similar to lines, shapes may contribute to meaning making when used in an artwork. For
example, a circle is usually associated with love, harmony, and infinity such as the case of an
engagement ring. Triangles, when upright, are seen to suggest stability because of its solid
base, while it suggests tension when upside down. Meanwhile, a square or a rectangle
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suggests familiarity and equality.
Fig. 2.3.​ Shapes vs. forms
Forms are three dimensional; it has the same dimensions as a shape except with added
volume. Unlike shapes, it has more depth and does not feel flat.
Color
In visual arts, color is associated with the natural phenomenon in our environment.
Scientifically, when a light passes through a prism, it will produce different hues of different
wavelengths. These colors may pertain to lightness or darkness, coolness or warmth. Also,
colors may convey different meanings dependent to cultures and traditions of a region.
Value
In visual arts, value is considered a property of a color which pertains to its lightness or
darkness.
Fig. 2.4.​ Value pertains to the lightness or darkness of a color
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In music, this may refer to the pitch. It is the highness or the lowness of the sound.
Texture
In visual arts, texture is the tactile or illusory surface of the piece. In music, texture is the
mood or quality of the composition.
Principles of Design
The elements of art may be organized in a way that it can create a more compelling artwork.
This organization of elements is called principles of design. Understanding the elements and
how they may go together will be of great help in improving, not just your artistic skills, but
also your capacity to understand art.
Scale and Proportion
Scale and proportion refer to the relationship of the elements, specifically its relative size of
parts of a whole. For example, when drawing a human standing beside a house, it is
important to ensure that the human is proportional to the house, which means ensuring that
the size of the element suggests what they are - a human standing beside a house, as
opposed to a human standing beside a doll house.
Fig.2.5.​ The golden ratio is believed to be a universal principle of good structure and design.
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Harmony
In general, you can say an art piece is in harmony when the different parts produce an overall
positive impact or effect. In visual arts, harmony is the unity of the artwork, specifically in
reference to the arrangement of its parts, while in music, harmony refers to the simultaneous
sounding or playing of different notes to produce a sound.
Variety
In other terms, variety may be referred to as diversity. This means adding multiple, different
elements to break the monotony of an artwork and make it more interesting.
Movement
Movement is a basic principle of nature and is associated with the environment. All living
things, non-living things, and heavenly bodies move naturally. Movement serves as one of the
fundamental principles in dance and theater. In visual arts, an artwork has movement when it
incorporates the passage of time, even in an illusory manner.
Fig.2.6.​ Movement in visual arts is when the piece suggests the passage of time.
Rhythm
This refers to the repetition of certain elements to produce a pattern. In visual arts, repeated
design elements may create a certain flow and may lead the viewer’s eyes. In music, this
refers to the even distribution of notes.
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Balance
Balance refers to the even and equal distribution of elements. There are two types of balance
in visual arts:
● Informal balance, also called asymmetrical, is present when the designs are not equally
distributed on both sides.
● Formal balance, also called symmetrical, is present when the weight of the designs is
equally distributed.
Emphasis and subordination
Emphasis is a principle which may refer to the greater impact given on a certain element.
Subordination serves as the opposite of emphasis as it refers to how certain elements only
serve as a supplement to the emphasized element in a design.
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Check Your Understanding
Recall
1. ________ refers to the lightness or darkness of color.
2. A form is different from shape because it has the added dimension of _______.
3. Informal balance is also called ________.
4. What type of line is usually associated with dynamism?
Application
5. How can you say that a visual artwork has movement?
6. When do you say that an artwork has harmony?
Synthesis
7. How can your knowledge of the elements and principles of art help you in appreciating
art better?
Lesson 3: Art Forms in the Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago with more than 7,000 islands. These islands are the home of
people with different languages, beliefs, cultures, and distinct histories. The country’s diverse
ethnolinguistic groups is testament to its rich culture and traditions. This diversity is
observable in the country’s artworks. More than the geographic influences, art in the
Philippines is also influenced by a rich history of its people.
Think-Pair-Share
Are you aware of any cultural practices or artistic productions such as festivals from your
region? With a partner, discuss these practices and answer the question: What are the
historical and cultural roots of the artistic practice?
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Learn about It!
Pre-Colonial Art
Artistic production in the Philippines started even before the colonizers reached the Philippine
islands. Art was often used by the people in their daily living. Our ancestors weaved fabrics for
dresses, made weapons for battles, and chanted to bring good harvest. Unlike today,
indigenous art are not classified strictly into disciplines. Art, for them, had social utility;
indigenous people integrated art into their communal ceremonies. Planting and harvesting,
weddings, funerals, and rites of passage are examples of communal ceremonies.
Fig.3.1.​ The Manunggul Jars is a burial jar excavated in the Tabon Cave in Palawan.
Rituals played a significant role in the everyday life of Filipino ancestors. The ​Kashawing
ritual ​in lake Lanao, for example, acts as a prayer for abundance during harvesting season. It
involves a reenactment of a legendary pact between ancestors and unseen spirits. A similar
type of ritual for planting rice is performed by the Tagbanwas of Palawan.
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Filipino ancestors harvest and hunt for a living. Their hunting experience also served as an
inspiration to create drama, poetry, music, and dance by imitating the movements of an
animal. This is considered a ritual to prepare for hunting.
To accompany these rituals, the indigenous peoples also had their own musical instruments.
An example of this is the agung ensemble​. Musical instruments, when played, are usually
complemented with dances that imitate the movements of animals. Higaonon and B’laan have
banog-banog​, and the Bagobos have the ​man-manok ​dances which imitate the movement of
the birds. Meanwhile, courtship ritual in Ifugao is represented through the ​talip​.
Mostly, indigenous arts were inspired by animism. Indigenous peoples created statue and
symbols for their beliefs. The Ifugaos carved the ​bulul ​which they depict as their granary god.
Meanwhile, in the Southern Philippines, ​okir, ​a curvilinear decoration, is an evidence of Indian
and Islamic influences.
Spanish Colonial Art
During the 16th century, upon the arrival of the Spaniards, indigenous art changed. Spanish
colonization brought Catholicism and imposed their Western culture. This conversion caused
the birth of the ​religious or Christian and folk arts. ​Towns or pueblos were created in a
structure of ​plaza complex, with the church at the center of each towns. Churches and
government offices were built, and the rise of Hispanic baroque structures were built across
the Islands.
With the rise of Catholicism, religious icons like the ​santos, retablos​, ​and others ​became
essential for religious rituals. Paintings also focused on visually representing the writings of
the Bible, and therefore conveyed religious messages. Music, an essential part of worship,
thus focused on liturgical music. Apart from worship music, the ​pasyon ​or ​pabasa​, a narration
of Christ’s passion portrayed during Lent season, were also observed in some places. There
was also a massive emergence of secular music in Iloilo, Pampanga, Ilocos, and Bicol when the
Spanish tradition of ​awit ​and ​korido ​became popularized. Spanish colonization also marks the
rise of the ​kundiman ​and the balitao. ​This development in music also affected theatre arts, and
soon the ​sarsuwela, senakulo,​ a
​ nd the k​ omedya w
​ ere born in the Philippines.
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During then, Filipinos became enlightened of the continuous abuse by the colonial
government and the friars. This resulted in a rebellion. Thus, revolutionary and subversive
themes became prominent. A popular example of such artwork is Noli Me Tangere ​and ​El
Filibusterismo​ by ​Dr. Jose Rizal.
American and Japanese Colonial Art
Americans introduced the public education system in the Philippines. Their schools, however,
required students to learn English. This brought forth Philippine Literature in English. Initially,
these pieces are characterized by a poor use of language as the Filipinos only mimicked their
American teachers. Soon, in 1925, ​Paz Marquez Benitez published the short story ​Dead
Stars​, m
​ arking the birth of modern Philippine Literature in English.
The Americans also popularized secularism, as evidenced by popular art forms of the century
such as the ​vaudeville or bodabil ​in theatre. School of Fine Arts, alongside the establishment
of the University of the Philippines (UP), was also founded thus giving birth to Filipino artists
educated in the Western ways. For example, ​Fernardo Amorsolo, known for his
craftsmanship in the use of light, was educated in UP’s School of Fine Arts and is highly
influenced by Western artists.
When the Japanese briefly occupied the Philippines during the 1940s, nationalism became
more pronounced. This is the effect of the war and repression on the Filipino people.
Contemporary Arts in the Philippines
When the late former president Ferdinand Marcos started his administration, the birth of
Contemporary Arts in the Philippines began. Culture and the arts were given focused in his
vision of the “New Society.” Cultural Center of the Philippines was then established and urban
planning and architecture were given more focused. However, the declaration of Martial Law
(1972 - 1981) gave birth to dictatorship and numerous human rights violations. With that
emerged social realism. Underground cultural circles and writers hiding in pen names were
popular as censorship was popular during that time. Literary arts, visual arts, and performing
arts were used to express dissent. An example of this is the poem ​Prometheus Unbound
written by ​Jose Lacaba under the pen name Ruben Cuevas. The piece is an acrostic, which
means the first letter of each line form a message. The acrostic revealed a strong sentiment
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against the administration and became a popular slogan against the regime as the piece was
published, the editor unaware of its hidden message, was published in Focus Magazine.
When Martial Law was lifted and the Marcos regime ended, democracy was reintroduced to
the Filipino people. This new found freedom paved the way for a more diverse and more
expressive Filipino artists. No longer did the Filipinos exclusively made art for or against the
government; now, art is a tool mainly used for self-expression. With the rapid rise of
technology and the popularity of social media, Filipinos find more platforms and ways to
express themselves, thereby continuously changing the art scene. Contemporary art is distinct
because of how it blurs the lines across artistic disciplines, and how it integrates various
elements and principles.
Check Your Understanding
Recall
1. _____ is the narration of Christ’s passion portrayed during Lent season.
2. ______ is a curvilinear decoration influenced by Islam and Indian culture and popular in
the Southern Philippines.
3. What piece, written by Paz Marquez Benitez, marks the maturity of the Philippine
literature in English genre?
4. What is the real name of Ruben Cuevas?
Application
5. How did the lifting of Martial Law affect Philippine Contemporary arts?
6. How did the implementation of the public school system by the US affect Philippine
literature?
7. What makes contemporary Philippine arts distinct from other artworks in other periods
of time?
Synthesis
8. What is the importance of understanding the history of Filipino art in understanding
contemporary art?
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Let’s Create!
Gather everyday objects from your homes and bring them to class. In groups of five, create an
art piece that mainly uses the gathered objects. The artwork must depict ​contemporary
Filipino culture. ​Remember to integrate various practices, elements, and principles of art as
discussed in the previous lessons. Once you are done with the piece, have a show-and-tell
with your classmates and discuss what makes your piece distinctly of your generation and
uniquely Filipino.
The following rubrics will be used to evaluate your work:
Traits:
4
3
2
1
100-75
75-50
50-25
25-0
The production
features slightly
novel ideas and
is recognizable
among a body of
artworks.
The production’s
idea
is
interesting, but
not necessarily
new
and
is
barely
distinct
among a body of
artworks.
The production
features generic
and
overused
ideas and is not
at
all
recognizable
among a body of
artworks.
The production
Novelty
and features
novel
Originality
ideas and can
easily be set
apart among a
body
of
artworks.
Effort and rigor The
production The
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production The
production The
production
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Cultural
relevance
evidently went
through rigorous
planning and a
strong
collaboration
process.
went
through
planning
but
with slight need
of improvement.
Collaboration
among
members
is
mostly evident.
went
through
poor
planning
with
collaboration
among
members barely
evident.
went
through
poor planning, if
at all, with little
to
no
collaboration
among
members
involved.
The production
is
easily
associated with
Filipino
contemporary
culture due to
evident
and
successful
integration
of
elements.
The production
can
be
associated with
Filipino
contemporary
culture.
Integration
of
elements
is
evident.
The production
can barely be
associated with
Filipino
contemporary
culture due to
unsuccessful
attempts
at
integration.
The production
is disconnected
from
Filipino
contemporary
culture
and
barely
any
integration
is
seen.
Check and Reflect
Skills
I think I need more
time and assistance.
I have a minimal
understanding of it.
I am confident that I
can do this with ease.
I can identify various
art forms
I can assess an
artwork based on its
use of elements and
principles
I can draw
connections between
historical and cultural
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events and various
artworks.
Reflect
I find __________________________ the most interesting because ______________________.
I got ____ checks because _______________________________________________________.
I need to improve on _______________________because _____________________________.
I need to practice _________________________ because _____________________________.
I plan to _____________________________________________________________________ .
Wrap Up
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Answers to Check Your Understanding
Lesson 1: I​ ntegrative Art as Applied to Philippine Arts
1. Techne
2. Prose
Lesson 2: T
​ he Elements and Principles of Art
1. Value
2. Volume
3. Asymmetrical
4. Diagonal
Lesson 3: A
​ rt Forms in Various Regions
5. Passion o Pabasa
6. Okir
7. Dead Stars
8. Jose Lacaba
Bibliography
Cousins, Carrie. "The (Sometimes Hidden) Meaning of Shapes." Design Shack. May 12, 2015.
Accessed February 01, 2018.
https://designshack.net/articles/layouts/the-sometimes-hidden-meaning-of-shapes/.
Datuin, Flaudette May, Roberto Paulino, Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez and Louise Marcelino.
Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions. M
​ anila: Rex Book Store, 2016
Haley Drucker. "The Five Main Genres of Literature." Bright Hub Education. May 27, 2014.
Accessed February 01 , 2018.
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/100292-the-five-main-genresof-literature/.
Lyn Yusi. "The Development of Art Galleries in the Philippines." National Commission for
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Culture and the Arts. April 16, 2015. Accessed February 1, 2018.
http://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-heritagesch/art-galleries/thedevelopment-of-art-galleries-in-the-philippines/​.
Perez, Angelita Perez. ​Philippine Contemporary Arts: Expressions and Experimentations. ​Quezon
City: Brilliant Creations Publishing Inc., 2016
Sayseng, Ayesha. C
​ ontemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions. ​Pasay: JFS Publishing Services,
2016
Glossary
Martial Law​ - Known as Proclamation No. 1081, Martial Law in the Philippines as an
imposition of military rule declared by former president Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. Martial
Law in the Philippines was lifted on January 1981.
Social Realism​ - an art movement focusing on the plights of the working class and the poor.
Secularism​- a principle that is for the separation of the government and any religious
institution.
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