Learning Objective/s

This lesson will help you in developing your knowledge and in arts of various contemporary art forms.

Learning competency:
• Research on various contemporary art forms. CAR11/12ICAP-0c-e-4

After going through this module, you are expected to:

a. Identify the various contemporary art form

b. Identify the major periods, artists and artworks of Philippine art history
c. Define contemporary art by situating these within Philippine art.
d. Illustrate local example of contemporary arts through an interview or through a place visit.
e. Distinguish traditional, modern, and contemporary styles in the visual arts be able to
interpret these by creating a self-portrait.

Lesson
3 Defining Contemporary Arts in the Philippines

Lesson Proper: Philippine Art History

I. Pre-Colonial Arts / Ethnic Arts

In Pre – colonial Philippines, arts are for ritual purposes or

for everyday use. Art of the ancient Filipinos were woven into the
fabric of everyday life. They do not refer to art as we do today. That
is, as an expression of an individual, and seen largely in galleries and
concert halls. They do not distinguish forms into different categories
like music, theater, visual arts, etc. Everyday expressions were all
integrated within rituals that marked significant moments in a
community’s life, like planting, harvesting, rites passage, funerary,
ceremonies, weddings, among others. (crafted from: Faludette May
Datulin et. al, 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 15)

The pre- colonial peoples of the Philippines already

possessed a varied and vibrant musicale culture. The
country’s indigenous cultures through the existence of
ethnic musical instruments such as pipes , flutes, zithers,
drums, various string instruments like kudyapi a three
stringed guitar, the kulintang – an array bossed gongs, the
gansa or flat gong, bamboo percussion instruments, and
the gong – large bossed gong.

The following are the native dance forms imitated from the movements of the animals:

1. Pangalay dance (Sulu) is mimetic movements of the sea birds

2. Mandaya’ Kinabua, Banog – banog (Higaonon & B’laan), and ma- manok (Bagobos in Mindanao is
imitated the movements of predatory birds.
3. Talip dance (Ifugao) that is used for courtship is mimetic of the movements of wild fowls.
4. Inamo dance (Matigsalugs) and Kadaliwas dance (T’Boli) represent the comedic movement of the
monkey
5. Tinikling dance evocative of the movements of the crane, balancing itself on stilt – like legs or
flirting away from the clutches of bamboo traps.

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Famous artworks during pre – colonial

1. Carving
• Bulul (Cordillera) a granary God that plays an important role in rituals
• Hagabi (Ifugao) a wooden bench
• Santos / sculptures of saints (Laguna and Pampanga)
• Okir (Tausug / Samal / Badjao) mythical sarimanok, the naga or serpent.
• Manunggul Jar discovered at Manunggul cave of Palawan

2. Weaving
• Textile weaving
a. Pis siyabit (Tausug of Sulu) a headpiece woven
b. Malong (Maranao of Lanao del Sur)
• Mat and basket weaving
a. Tepo mat (Sama of Tawi-Tawi) a double layered made of Pandan leaves.
b. Ovaloid basket (Itbayat, Batanes) a head sling made of nito or bamboo used to carry the harvests.
c. Bubo (Ilocos region) a sturdy bamboo strips used to trap the fish.
3. Ornamentation - representations of various ethnolinguistic groups.
a. Wearing gold jewelry (upper class Tagalog)
b. Tattooing (Visayan) it is believed to protect the individual from evil spirits, it is also a sign of
bravery and maturity.

II. ISLAMIC ERA (13TH Century to the Present)

Islamic is characterized by geometric designs and patter selecting

focus from the believers. Even before the coming of Spanish
colonizers, Islam was already well entrenched in Southern
Philippines. Filipino Muslims recognize that they belong to an ummah
or a community of believers. Central to the Islamic faith is the
doctrine of or unity of God. This belief emphasizes the impermanence
of nature and the incomprehensible greatness of the Divine Being.

In Islamic art we can observe how artist are influenced by

the notion of the Tawhid, we will find that the interior of mosques are covered with elaborate patterning
in the form of reliefs to draw the attention away from the concrete object, in other words away from
human forms and nature” toward the contemplation of the divine” ( source: Faludette May Datulin et. al
, 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 19)

Happenings during Islamic era

1. Sultanate of Sulu was established Sayyid Abbubakar

2. Qura or holy text was introduced
3. Building of religious school called Madrasah
4. Natives from Yakans , Basilan and Zamboanga were converted to Islam
5. Islamazation process In Mindanao became strong.
6. Islam became the religion and as a way of life of people in Mindanao (Tausug, Maranao,
Maguindanao, Yakan, Samal, Badjao)

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 III. SPANISH ERA (1521 – 1898)

Art became a hand maiden of religion, serving to propagate

the Catholic
6 faith and thus support the colonial order at the
same time. Religious orders were dispatched to convert the
natives to Catholicism as part of the larger project culturally
as religious art, lowland Christian art or folk art. During this
period, cruciform churches following the shape of the latin
cross were built. In keeping with the prevailing, they were
characterized by grandeur, drama, and elaborate details that
purposely appealed to the emotions. The use of adobe, limestone or brick and the construction of thick
buttresses or wing like projections reinforce the church structure to make it more resistant to earthquake.
In other words, the result is a fusion of both native and European elements, prompting some art historians
to refer to the style as colonial baroque or Philippine or tropical baroque. (source: Faludette May Datulin
et. al, 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 31)

Important Happenings related to art during Spanish era

• Chinese artisans were engaged in making icons or saints made in wood or ivory
• Colonial churches were built
• Western musical instruments were introduced, pipe organ, violin, guitar, and piano
• Catholic liturgical music was introduced in 1742
• Choral music to boys were introduced and created the first Filipino composers named Marcelo
Adonay (1848 – 1928)
• Musical form based on Catholic faith have emerge in the Pasyon – the biblical of Christ’s passion
chanted in an improvise melody.
• Secular music was formed; the awit and the corridor – these were the two musical forms based on
European literature and history.
• Kundiman became a vehicle for conflict – the lyrics were that of unrequited love, except that the
love object was the Philippines who would be cleverly concealed as beautiful woman.
• Mangyans made the baybayin script made of bamboo poles cut into smaller nodes that are carved
used to composed short poems, expressing one’s feelings and other emotional concers.Pomp and
pageantry of religious processions were introduced.
• Zarzuela was introduced, it was an opera which features singing and dancing with prosed dialogue
which allowed the story to be carried out in a song.
• Severino Reyes and Hermogenes Ilagan were awarded as the most distinguished playwrights as
they wrote zarzuela in Tagalog
• Honorata “ Atang” dela Rama awardeded as the most celebrated leading actress
• The first Senakulo was written in 1704 by Gaspar Aquino de Belen
• Komedya were also introduced; komedya de santo (it centers on life of Christ ) and Secular
Komedya.
• Folk dances such as carinosa, pandango, polka , dansa and rigodon, habanera, and tango were
introduced.
• Visual arts, and paintings must be visual interpretation of biblical texts center to Catholic devotion
ex. Heaven Earth and Hell by Jose Dans ( 1850)
• Reprographic art of printmaking was introduced, Doctrina Christiana is an example, the first printed
book in the Philippines compiling song lyrics, commandments, sacraments and other catechetical
material.
• Juan Luna ( Spolarium) won gold medals and Felix Resurrection Hidalgo (Virgenes christianas
expuestas al populacho) won silver medals

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 IV. AMERICAN ERA (1898 – 1940) to the Post war Republic (1946 – 1969)

In the American regime, commercial and advertising arts were

integrated into fine arts curriculum. Moreover, Americans favoured
idyllic sceneries and secular forms of arts. Because the lingua franca
of this period was English, poems and stories from books were
dramatize in classroom, to facilitate the teaching of the English
language. Unlike, the Spanish, the Americans passionate thought
their language through an efficient public school system.

In less than decade, Filipino playwrights began to write plays

th
in English. In the beginning of the 20 century, new urban pattern that responded to the secular goals of
education, health and governance was imposed. The new patrons of the arts included the Americans who
engaged in governance and education, business and tourism. The demand for artists who could do
illustrations in textbooks or graphic design to product labels thus emerged. The inclination towards genre,
still life and portrait paintings persisted. Landscapes on the other hand, became cherished as travel
souvenirs, especially those that captured the exotic qualities of Philippine terrain. In 1909, a year after the
establishment of the University of the Philippines, its School of Fine Arts was opened. It also offered a
course on commercial design to fulfil the aforementioned demand. For some time, the academic (a term
referring to the kind of art was influenced by European academies) tradition of painting and sculpture in
the manner of Amorsolo and Tolentino prevailed in the art scene.(crafted from: Faludette May Datulin et.
al , 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p.28 -29)

V. JAPANESE ERA (1941 – 1945)

Since the Japanese advocated for the culture of East

Asia, preference was given to the indigenous art and
traditions of the Philippines. This emphasized their
propaganda in Asia. Under the Japanese occupation of
Manila, the Modern Art Project would slow down in pace.
Early moderns and conservatives alike continued to
produce art and even participated in

KALIBAPI ( Kapisanan sa Paglingkod ng Bagong Pilipinas) sponsored art competitions.

Nevertheless, art production once again tilted to fulfill the agenda and demands of the new
colonial order. The Japanese forces led the formation of the greater East asia Co – Prosperity Sphere, a
propaganda movement that sought to create a Pan – Asian identity rejected Western traditions. The
productions of images, texts, nd music underwent scrutiny.

In music, the composer National Artist Felipe de Leon was said to have been commanded to write
AWIT SA PAGLIKHA NG BAGONG PILIPINAS. Declared as the anthem specifically for the period, it conveyed
allegiance to the nation reared in East Asia, where Japan was actively asserting its political power.

Genre paintings were the most widely produced, particularly those that presented a neutral
relationship between Filipinos and the Japanese through works that showed the normality of daily living.
(crafted from: Faludette May Datulin et. al, 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 15

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 VI. MODERN ERA (Neo Realism, Abstraction Modern styles)

What is Modern Art?

Modern art is quite different from contemporary art

especially when in terms of history and styles.

Modern era in the Philippine art began after World War 2 and
the granting independence. Writers and Artists posed the
question of national identity as the main theme of various art
forms.

It is referred to as “traditional compared to

contemporary art. The styles of modern art for example are now part of art and curricula and have become
academic.
The most well- known proponent of Modern art painting is Victorio Edades whose work were
initially rejected and misunderstood but later on his modernist sensibility was shared by several artists. In
this era artists explored various mediums, techniques and themes that were at that time considered “new”.
There was an exploration of subject matter, content, and form. Using modernists figuration, many
of the artists explored folk themes and also crafted commentaries on the urban condition and the effects
of the war.

Modern artists do not aim to copy and idealize reality; instead, they change the colors flatten the
picture instead of creating illusions of depth, nearness and farness. They depict what might be thought of
as “ugly “and unpleasant instead of the beautiful and pastoral.

Another strand of Modern art is abstraction. It consists of simplified forms, which avoided mimetic
representation. It is sometimes referred as nonrepresentational or non-objective art as it emphasizes the
relationship of colors, line, space or the flatness of the canvas rather than an illusion of three
dimensionality. (crafted from: Faludette May Datulin et. al, 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the
Regions p. 15)

Modern Architectural structures:

1. Church of Holy Sacrifice (1955)

2. Church of the Risen Lord
3. Chapel of Saint Joseph the worker

VII. CONTEMPORARY ART.Contemporary art is much

different from Modern art as it said earlier modern art
is referred “traditional” compared to contemporary
art. How would that be? An example is the work of
Fernando Amorsolo, he painted his painting “Harvest
Scene in 1942. At that time, the painting was
considered contemporary. Today, we refer to that
work as an example of Modern art produced during
Japanese era. But some of the artists continue to
produce work ‘til today and in that sense their works can be describe as contemporary by
virtue of being of the present.

What contemporary really is? Contemporary art is an art of today produced by artists living of
today. It is a fluid term, and its use can change depending on the context.

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 Philippine Contemporary Art was an offshoot of social realism brought about by Martial Law. Arts
became expression of people’s aspiration for a just, free and sovereign society.

Artists use mixed media. Their artworks are site specific, process - based and they integrate
various art forms.

Contemporary art has the following characteristics;

a. collaborative / participative
b. interactive
c. Process - oriented (meaning that there is less emphasis on the finished product and a single author
or creator. There is a wide range of strategies, media and techniques)
d. Site specific (they cannot be experienced in the same way if we remove from their original place.

Contemporary art is distinguishable from Modern art in historical, stylistic, and cultural terms. (crafted
from: Faludette May Datulin et. al , 2016. Contemporary Philippine Arts of the Regions p. 15

Important Happenings during the rise of Contemporary Art

• Many cultural projects ensued amid the backdrop of poverty and volatile social conditions under
the leadership Of Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos in 1965
• Martial Law was Declared on September 21, 1972
• New Society or Bagong Lipunan was built by Marcos in which the main focus is to rebirth the lost
civilization and aspiration to modernization and development in which the main vision is to
combine the fine arts, architecture, architecture, interior design, tourism, convention city building,
engineering , urban planning, health and among many others through an art and culture program.

ACTIVITY: The Remnants

Select an area where you can find the remnants of the plaza complex, church, or any tourist spots
included in the history that still exists today. Could it be near in your house, community or neighbouring
city from where you live. If possible, visit the area and observe it. What is the current complex/site
comprised of? How it is valued based on the way people interact with it as space? Draw a map or take a
picture of the complex or site and write a short reflection about your visit.

Please be guided with this criteria:

Relevance to the task given - 30points

Organization of ideas - 15points
Presentation - 5points
TOTAL - 50points

ASSESSMENT
Multiple Choice. Select the letter of the best answer from among the given choices.

1. It is considered as a pre – triumph era.

A. Japanese era B. Pre – Colonial era C. Modern era D. Contemporary era
2. It is anything printed from raised or sunken reliefs and plane surfaces
A. Civic art B. Commercial art C. Practical art D. Graphic Art
3. It is the changing of raw materials into some significant products
A. Industrial art B. Practical art C. Graphic Art D. Commercial Art
4. Pis siyabit is an example of __________.
A. ornamentation B. tatooo C. weaving D.Carving
5. A period in which focuses on idyllic sceneries and secular forms of arts
A. Modern era B. American era C. Contemporary era D. Pre – colonial

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 Answer Key

Pre test / Post Test

1. B
2. D
3. A
4. C
5.

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