Module 1:

What is
Philippine
Art?
What is
ART?
• Aristotle – Greek Philosopher Aristotle may
have been provided the earliest
assumptions of art as linked to human
instinct. In his politics. Aristotle claimed the
humans have instinct for imitation and
harmony. He described that these instincts
are “lying deep in our nature”. He argued
that human beings are the most “imitative
of living creatures,” and through imitation,
human learn and experience pleasure. Art,
then, may be defined as a human pursuit to
imitate life and the world into something
pleasing or beautiful.
• Picture(Drawing, Painting, Print
Making, and Photography)
- this is a two dimensional
image of various subjects
ranging from real life images to
the visually abstract. It may be
created using different media
such as chalk. charcoal,
graphite, ink, oil paint, and water
colour.
• ARTS ARE THE EVALUATION OF SKILLS
USERS IMAGINATION.
• SCULPTURE-
• ARCHITECTURE
• MUSIC
• LITERATURE
• THEATER
• CINEMA
• DANCE
PHILIPPINE ART AS A FILIPINO
Many scholars debate on the identity of a
produced by a Filipinos. Are they 100% authentic
Philippine art? Many questions the rootedness of the
artwork produced by Filipino artists. Are the lands
escape painting of Fernando Amorsolo or the
historical depictions of Carlos “botong” Francisco
genuinely Filipino? This speculation on the “Filipino-
ness” of works by Filipino artists is caused by our
colonial history and migrant reality, the plethora of
influences brought by the spaniards, americans,
and other asian countries has become part of our
identity that is evident in our art: Spanish inspired
architecture, American influenced poetry and
music and so on. The migrant reality of globalization
also shaped Philippine art. Across the world, Filipinos
have Adapt6ed to foreign culture.
• Leo Benesa, a Filipino poet ,
essayist, and art critic, said that
there is a certain characteristic
of Filipino art. He said, “ The
idea was that the depiction of
scenes of everyday life and
surroundings without idealizing
them was closest in spirit to the
Filipino soul and native soil.
• Benesa’s observation claims are not to be left
accepted and questioned. Many art critic still
doubt the “Filipino-ness” of the artwork
produced by Filipino artists. They mainly argue
that the tradition where these works and artists
are coming from makes one to question their
authenticity. For example, the fact that our
renowned painters have a western tradition,
which means the way that they learned and do
painting (with the use of and canvas, paintbrush
and easel) blemishes the authenticity of their
work as 100% Filipino. In the case of Philippine
literature in English, where language casts doubt
on the “Filipino-ness” of the literary works.
Write a 500-word essay comparing a stanza
from Rolando Tinio’s “Cantico Profano” in
Filipino and its English translation “Profane
Canticle”. Make sure that you answer the
following questions in your essay.
1. Which work is more appealing to you?
Why?
2. Which work do you think captures the
true Filipino experience? Explain
3. If you were to change any words in the
translation, what would they be and
why?
 Cantico Profano Profane Canticle
Sambahin ang katawan Worship the body
Ituring na sagrado Consider it sacred
Balutin, balumbunan Wrapped, swaddled
Ng sedang poliyestro In fabric, polyestered
Tapikin nang marahan Tap itt mildly
Ang kilikili, siko The armpits, elbows
Nang tumakbo ang dugo To let blood bleed
Hanggang puno ng kuko To the tips of the claws