Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Lesson 1
● Orientation to the Course
● Traditional and Contemporary Arts
● Form, Content and Context of Art

Course Description
The subject covers various contemporary arts practices of the region where the school is located.
It aims to provide students with an appreciation of a broad range of styles in the various disciplines
with consideration on their elements and principles and engage them to an integrative approach
in studying arts. Through this subject, students will broaden and acquire the necessary creative
tools that open opportunities in pursuing their individual career goals and aspirations.

What is Contemporary Art?

Contemporary art is generally considered to include art that is being created at present.
Contemporary Art may be considered as art produced in our lifetime or may refer to works of art
made during the contemporary period of art history.

Contemporary Art in the Philippines

Contemporary art in the Philippines emerged at the end of the Martial Law period. The return of
democracy, improved political and economic conditions, and advent of new technologies and free
access to media contributed to the emergence of contemporary Philippine Art.

Contemporary Art as a Breaking of Norms

Contemporary art is characterized by a transgression of established norms and rules, and the
rejection of established institutions, traditions and history. It emphasizes the new, modern, and
progressive.

Contemporary art blurs distinctions between traditional, discipline-based art forms. Contemporary
artists freely mix media or use media in unconventional ways.

It not only celebrates the beauty and technical achievement in the use of the medium, it also
infuses timely social issues into the works of art. Artworks also utilize existing forms and
appropriate them into new works; embrace and utilize innovative materials, media and technology
and engage the past by utilizing ancient techniques and materials.

Contemporary Art and Local Heritage

Awareness of local heritage is a significant aspect of contemporary art. Local traditions, history
and contemporary issues influence the creation of art.

Contemporary Art as a Critique of Society

It poses questions and critiques of society, everyday life, and concerns of the day. The social
nature of art is underscored as many contemporary artworks utilize public spaces and emphasize
the participation of the audience.

Functions of Contemporary Art

It can be utilized to provide pleasure. It is also a profession and an important aspect of creative
and cultural industries. It acts as commentary by providing an account of events and people, as
well as expressing opinion. It is also used to express spiritual beliefs and for commemoration and
persuasion. Finally, the contemporary art fulfills the artist’s need for self-expression.
Traditional Art versus Contemporary Art

Form of an Artwork
Refers to the description of what you see/hear in an artwork at the surface level. An analysis of
this is usually anchored on the elements of the art form.

Content of an Artwork
• The meaning derived from the form.
• Any visual clues that provide an understanding of what the art tells us.
• Sometimes it is vague or hidden and needs more information than is present in the work
itself.
• To interpret is to establish meaningful a connection between what we see and what we
feel in a particular work of art.
• We find the message of the work by making assumptions and guesses connect to what
we see.
• In doing so, we make sense of our physical and emotional encounter with art pieces and
not merely report what we saw. For every artwork, there is a concept of multiple
interpretations.
• Interpreting the meaning of the work requires you to connect WHAT YOU SEE with your
assumption or guess. There is that interconnection of the elements and principles to the
mood or intent of an artist. An artwork with more shades than tints tends to exude a
 negative emotion in contrast with an artwork with colors leans toward creating a positive
vibe.
• The work may exude the mood of that is playful, sad, joyful, mysterious, peaceful or
terrifying. An artwork may also present any specific ideas like truth, pride, honor, courage,
wisdom, authority or compassion. Varied states such as calmness, excitement, power,
conflict, suspense, or tension could be expressed in art.
• What is the artist trying to communicate?
• We answer questions that would help us establish our assumptions and guesses.
• What are the symbols in the artwork? What do I see? If I connect everything I see
in the artwork, what could it possibly mean?
• Is it relevant to the technical choices of the artist?
• What is the main idea or overall meaning of the work?

Context of an Artwork
● it consists of all the things about the artwork that might have influenced the artwork or the
artist. These would include the sentiments and concerns of the artist, when was the work
made, where it was made culturally and geographically, why it was made, and possible
information on history, politics, and economy.
● It has two kinds: primary context and secondary context
o Primary Context
▪ It is a personal type, for it concerns the sentiments of the artist: his beliefs,
values, interests, attitudes, emotions, education, psychology, and
biography which influence the artist’s artwork.
o Secondary Context
▪ It refers to the circumstances or to the place and period in which the artist
has made his work: the social, political, and economical environment he is
in; his and his society’s religious and philosophical convictions; the climate
and geography of the area in which the work is made; and his purpose in
creating the artwork.
● Knowing the context of an artwork usually starts on the little labels that include the artist’s
name, the title of the work, and the birthdate and place of the artist.
● You can also ask some questions to determine the context of an artwork, such as:
1. When was the work made?
2. What was happening at that time in the artwork even if it’s made this year?
3. Where do you think the artwork was made?
4. What do you think are the personal reasons of the artist why he made such artwork?
● Artists produce work that responds to the world they’re immersed in every day, so the
“when” and “where” will give clues as to what was happening.