(WEEK 1:DAY 1)
TOPIC: Introduction to the Philippine Contemporary Art
MELCS: Describes various contemporary art forms and their practices from the various regions CAR11/12IAC0a-1
ABSTRACTION:
Contemporary art is the art that springs out of the present-day events and passions of the society. It is the
newest form of art, amusing people from the middle to the late 20th century up to this very minute. Authorities
in the arts place the emergence of contemporary art sometime during the start of postmodernism in the west,
around the late 1970s. This was the time when artists reacted to the previous art called modernism, whose idea
of using a pure, simplified, and a streamlined form and style was fundamental in creating something new at that
time. This gave birth to the idea that “less is more.”
The development of the Philippine arts comes in three major traditions. These are the Ethnic Tradition, Spanish
Colonial Tradition, and American Colonial and Contemporary Arts Traditions. Even before the colonization, the
Philippines already has its indigenous arts. In this era, art forms were primarily influenced by the area where our
ancestors prosper. However, the Spaniards came who tend to replace indigenous arts with western arts. For the
period of Spanish rule, art forms were primarily influenced by religion and secularization. Consequently, after
more than three centuries of Spanish colonization, Americans came. During American rule, development of
Philippine art forms was mainly influenced by education and governance. Subsequently, concept of modern art
was introduced and practiced by many artists. It is in this time wherein urbanization, consumerism, changes in
the political system, and rise of new technology influence the development of art. Due to the technological
advances, new forms of expression came in the field of arts and modern art continuously developed which led
to the contemporary arts nowadays (Luzviminda & Sayseng, 2016).
Tradition
Characteristic s/Features
Ethnic Tradition
Art forms are primarily
influenced
by
the
geographical location
and the experiences of
the
Filipinos
(Luzviminda
&
Sayseng, 2016). In this
time, the purpose of arts
is integral to life. Arts
reflected the pagan
beliefs and practices,
everyday activity such
as fishing and farming,
and specific decorative
art pattern to the
community.
Spanish Colonial
Tradition
Art
forms
were
primarily influenced by
religion
and
secularization. In this
time, Spaniards used arts
to
propagate
the
Catholic faith.
Various Art Forms from
The Region
 Angono Petroglyphs
The
Angono
Petroglyphs
is
situated
in
Binangonan, Rizal.
It was discovered by
the National Artist,
Carlos
“Botong”
Francisco, in 1965.
There are 127 human
and animal figures
engraved on the rock
wall and dated back
to
circa
late
Neolithic.


Manunggul
Jar
Manunggul jar is
found in Manunggul
Cave, Lipuun Point,
Palawan in the early
1960s. Manunggul
jar is a burial jar
which signifies the
belief
of
early
Filipino in life after
death.
Langit, lupa, at
Impyerno by Josef
Luciano Dans This
wall painting by
Josef Luciano Dans
will be found in St.
James the Apostle
PICTURES
REFER TO ADM
CPAR_WEEK-1
Church in Paete,
Laguna.
This
painting was dated
1850 and depicts the
heaven, crucifixion
of Christ; earth,
Adan and Eve; and
hell, sinners with
different
transgressions.
Modern Art Modern art
refers to the practice of
art from 1860s to 1960s.
the main theme of art
works in this time is
national identity.
American Colonial and
Contemporary Arts
Traditions
Contemporary
Arts
Contemporary art refers
to the practice of art
from 1970s to the
present. Contemporary
arts
mirror
contemporary
culture
and society. Diverse and
emerging art practices
were being introduced in
this era.

St.
Paul
Metropolitan
Cathedral St. Paul
Metropolitan
Cathedral is located
in Burgos, Vigan
City, Ilocos Sur. The
original
structure
was built in 1574 and
replaced as a church
in
1641.
The
cathedral follows a
Baroque
architectural design

Cinco Marias (Tres
Marias Series) by
Federico
Aguilar
Alcuaz
Federico
Aguilas Alcuaz was
born in Santa Cruz,
Manila.
Cinco
Marias (Tres Marias
Series) depicts the
variety of domestic
activities
(Guillermo, 2007).

Art Installation in
Sand Dunes
of
Paoay by Leeroy
New Leeroy New is
one
of
the
Philippines
contemporary
artists. He is born in
General SANTOS
City.
This
art
installation
of
Leeroy New was
made for the La
Milagrosa Festival in
Ilocos
Norte.
According to Leeroy
New,
the
art
installation
symbolizes the great
festivals, feasts and
celebrations
(Lape𝑛̃a, 2012).
(WEEK 1: DAY 2)
TOPIC: Art Forms and Its Practices in the Various Regions
PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ARTS
Philippine contemporary arts can be described into visual arts, literary arts and performing arts. Visual art is
an expression of artistic ideas through images, structures, 9 and tactile work. Some visual artworks are integrated
which means it combines several mediums to create new and unique artwork. Painting, sculpture, architecture,
and film are examples of visual arts.
A. Painting the expression of ideas and emotions, with the creation of certain aesthetic qualities, in a twodimensional visual language. The elements of this language – its shapes, lines, colors, tones, and textures –
are used in various ways to produce sensations of volume, space, movement, and light on a flat surface. The
first paintings here in the Philippines are commissioned works during Spanish colonization. Here are some
paintings from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The sculpture is an art form in which hard or plastic materials are worked into three-dimensional art objects.
Filipino sculptors came to be known in the middle of the 19th century. These are some of the sculptures in the
Philippines.
B. Architecture is the art and practice of designing and constructing buildings (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary & Thesaurus). In relation to that, Philippine architecture was characterized as simple, rational,
and functional. In the 20th century, the young Filipino who studied in American colleges and institutes
introduced the neoclassic style in building structures. However, after World War II, real estate development
started to take place (Sandagan & Sayseng, 2016). To illustrate these architectural designs, these are some
examples from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
C. Film is a form of visual art use to imitate experiences that communicate ideas, stories, or feelings with the
use of moving images. It is also called a movie or motion picture. Moreover, the art form that is the result of
the film is called cinema (Faber & Walters, 2003). The film industry in the Philippines started in 1897. In
the contemporary period, martyr wife, superhero, action, melodramas, and comedies are some of the usual
subjects and themes in the Philippine films. Some films in the Philippines are presented below.
D. Literature According to Lombardi (2020), literature is a term used to describe written and sometimes spoken
material. Derived from the Latin word literature meaning "writing formed with letters," literature most
commonly refers to works of the creative imagination, including poetry, drama, fiction, nonfiction, and in
some instances, journalism, and song. These are some examples of Philippine literature.
Furthermore, there are also Philippine contemporary art forms that can be described as performance arts. A
person doing certain actions and movements in front of an audience that go along with sound in a space and time
is called Performing Arts.
E. Music and Theater. Music is a collection of coordinated sound or sounds. According to Ramon P. Santos
in his article entitles Contemporary Music, Contemporary music in the Philippines usually refers to
compositions that have adopted ideas and elements from twentieth-century art music in the West, as well as
the latest trends and musical styles in the entertainment industry. Filipino Music had already a rich and
unique musical tradition long before westerners set foot on our native land. Music was present in every stage
of our ancestors’ lives — from birth to death, in blissful or tragic times. Below are some Music from the
different Regions of our country.
F. Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or
imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience
to the audience through combinations of 12 gesture, speech, song, music, or dance. Some of the Theater Play
in the Philippines are the following.
G. Dance, the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given space, for the
purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing energy, or simply taking delight in the movement itself.
Dances in the Philippines vary from Region to Region and below are some dances of the different regions.
FOR PICTURES AND OTHERS, REFER TO CPAR_WEEK 3 VARIOUS ART FORMS