ART APPRECIATION

MIDTERM

FUNCTIONS OF ART
1. Personal Functions of Art (public display or expression) are varied and highly
subjective. This means that its function depends on the person----the artist who created
the art. An artist may create an art out of the need for self-expression. This is the case
for an artist who needs to communicate an idea to his audience.
2. Social Functions of Art (celebration or to affect collective behavior) Art is
considered to have social function if and when it addresses a particular collective
interest as opposed to a personal interest. Political art is a very common example of an
art with a social function. Art may convey message of protest, contestation, or
whatever message the artist intends his work to carry. Often, art can also depict social
conditions. Photography, as an art form, delivers this kind of function by taking photos
of subjects in conditions that people do not normally take a look at or give attention to.
Pictures of poverty may carry emotional overtones that may solicit action or awareness
from their audience. Moreover, a performance art like plays or satires can also rouse
emotions and rally people toward a particular end. In these and more, the social
function of art is apparent.
3. Physical Functions of Art (utilitarian) are the easiest to spot and understand. The
physical functions of art can be found in artworks that are crafted in order to serve
some physical purpose. A Japanese raku bowl that serves a physical function in a tea
ceremony is an example. Architecture, jewelry-making, and even interior design are all
forms of arts that have physical function.

Other Functions of Arts

Music as an art is also interesting to talk about in relation to function. Music in its
original form was principally functional. Music was used for dance and religion. Unlike
today, when one can adjust listen to music for the sake of music’s sake, the ancient
world saw music only as instrument to facilitate worship and invocation to gods. Music
also was essential to dance because music assures synchronicity among dancers.
Moreover, music also guarantees that marches, in the case of warriors, were
simultaneous.
Sculpture, on the other hand, is another functional art form that has long existed for
various purposes. Just like music, from the early days of humanity, sculptures have
been made by man most particularly for religion. People erect status for the divine. In
the Roman Catholic world, the employment of sculptures for religious purposes has
remained vital, relevant, and symbolic.
Sculptures were also made in order to commemorate important figures in history.
Jose Rizal’s monument in Rizal Park and Andres Bonifacio’s Monumento in Caloocan are
common examples.
Another art form that readily lends itself to multiple functions is architecture. In fact,
architecture might be the most prominent functional art form. Buildings are huge,
expensive, and are not easily constructed and replaced. Unlike other forms of art like
pots, furniture, poetry, or even paintings, buildings take so much time to erect and
destroy. A lot of investments is put into making mega structures like the pyramids of
Giza, the acropolis, or the great cathedrals of the Middle Ages. One cannot simply
dismiss taking into consideration the function of building before construction.

PHILOSOPHICAL IMPORT OF ART INTEGRITY: PROPORTION, CONSONACE,

RADIANCE AND CLARITY

ART AS IMITATION
Plato (2000) in his masterpiece, The Republic, particularly paints a picture of
artists as imitators and art as mere imitation. In his description of ideal republic, Plato
advises against the inclusion of art as a subject in the curriculum and the banning of
artists in the Republic. In Plato’s metaphysics or view of reality, the things in this world
are only copies of the original, the eternal, and the true entities that can only be found
in the World of Forms. Human beings endeavor to reach the Forms all throughout this
life, starting with formal education in school. From looking at “shadows in the cave,”
men slowly crawl outside to behold the real entities in the world.
For example, the chair that one sits on is not real chair. It is an imperfect copy of
the perfect “chair” in the World of Forms. Much is true for “beauty” in person, he refers
to an imperfect beauty in the World of Forms.

ARTS AS REPRESENTATION
Aristotle, Plato’s most important student in philosophy, agreed with his teacher
that art is a form of imitation. However, in contrast to the disgust that this master holds
for art, Aristotle considered art as an aid to philosophy in revealing truth. The kind of
imitation that art does is not antithetical to the reaching of fundamental truths in the
world. Talking about tragedies, for example, Aristotle (1902) in the Poetics claimed that
poetry is a literary representation in general. Akin to other art forms, poetry only admits
of an attempt to represent what things might be. For Aristotle, all kinds of art, including
poetry, music, dance, painting, and sculpture, do not aim to represent reality as it is.
What art endeavors to do is to provide a vision of what might be or the myriad
possibilities in reality. Unlike Plato who thought that art is an imitation of another
imitation, Aristotle conceived of art as representing possible versions of reality.
In the Aristotelian worldview, art serves two particular purposes:
A. Art allows for the experience of pleasure. Experiences that are otherwise
repugnant can become entertaining in art. For example, a horrible experience be made
an object of humor in a comedy.
B. Art also has an ability to be instructive and teach its audience things about
life; thus, it is cognitive as well. Greek plays are usually of this nature.
ART AS A DISINTERESTED JUDGMENT
(Immanuel Kant). In the third critique that Immanuel Kant wrote, the
“Critique of Judgment,” Kant considered the judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of
art, as something that can be universal despite its subjectivity. Kant mentioned that
judgment of beauty, and therefore, art, is innately autonomous from specific interests.
It is the form of art that is adjudged by one who perceives art to be beautiful or more
so, sublime. Therefore, even aesthetic judgment for Kant is a cognitive study.
Kant recognized that judgment of beauty is subjective. However, Kant advanced
the proposition that even subjective judgments are based on some universal criterion
for the said judgment. In the process, Kant responded to the age-old question of how
and in what sense can a judgment of beauty, which ordinarily is considered objective or
universal? How is this so? For Kant, when one judges a particular painting as beautiful,
one is saying that the said painting has induced a particular feeling of satisfaction from
him and that he expects the painting to rouse the same feeling from anyone.
There is something in the work of art that makes it capable of inciting the same
feeling of pleasure and satisfaction from any perceiver, regardless of his condition. For
Kant, every human being, after perception and the free play of his faculties, should
recognize the beauty that is inherent in a work of art. This is the kind of universality
that a judgment of beauty is assumed by Kant to have. So when the same person says
that something is beautiful, he does not just believe that the thing is beautiful for him,
but in a sense, expects that the same thing should put everyone in awe.

ART AS A COMMUNICATION OF EMOTION

(Leo Tolstoy). He was the author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina. He
provided another perspective on what art is. In his book, What is Art (2016). Tolstoy
defended the production of the sometimes truly extravagant art, like operas, despite
extreme poverty in the world. For him, art plays a huge role in communication to its
audience’s emotions that the artist previously experienced. Art then serves as a
language, a communication, a communication device that articulates feelings and
emotions that are otherwise unavailable to the audience. In the same way that
language communicates information to other people, art communicates emotions. In
listening to music, in watching an opera, and in reading poems, the audience is at the
receiving end of the artist communicating his feelings and emotions.

Art has remained relevant in our daily lives because most of it has played some
form of function for man. Since the dawn of the civilization, art has been at the
forefront of giving color to man’s existence. The different functions of art may be
classified as either personal, social, or physical. An art’s function is personal if it
depends on the artist herself or sometimes still, the audience of the art. There is a
social function in art if and when it has a particular social function, when it addresses a
collective need of a group of people. Physical function, finally, has something to do with
direct, tangible uses of art. Not all products of art have function. This should not
disqualify them as art though. As mentioned and elucidated by some of the most
important thinkers in history, art may serve either as imitation, representation, a
disinterested judgment, or simply a communication of emotion.

Philosophical Import of Art

1. Integrity
 Integrity as a concept has to do with perceived consistency of our actions,
values, methods principles, expectation and outcome.
 Integrity means to complete what you say.
 Integrity means you stick to your personal code of conduct. What you have
decided is right or wrong.
 Integrity means honoring yourself.
 Integrity is a skill because its developed over time. It is developed with
experience and observation.
 Integrity must be maintained
 Integrity gives us a foundation from which to draw on for future projects.
 Integrity is our secret back up system
2. Proportion/Consonance
Proportion is the principle of art that refers to relative size. The principles of art
differ from the elements of art. Most, if not all of the principles of art deal with how the
elements art are arranged in a work of art.
Proportion is largely about the relationship of the size of one element when
compared to another. When drawing or painting realistically, proportion is important. If
the proportions are incorrect, then the resulting image will look less realistic or
abstracted.
Alternatively, artist can use proportion for effect. By manipulating proportion, the
artist can make his/her subject seem strong, weak, funny, mysterious, etc. We can
exaggerate proportions to emphasize a meaning or an element within the scene. For
example, a basketball and a baseball are different in scale but share the same in
proportion.
Proportion does not refer to overall size, but rather the relationship of the sizes
of two or more subjects or elements.
Its dimensions should suitably correspond to other physical objects as well as to
a metaphysical ideal, an end. Defined as an object being harmonized among its parts
and according to its final end.

3. Radiance/Clarity
The idea of clarity is based upon the principle that the individual form rendering
of each object does not leave the viewer puzzling about its identity.
It should clearly radiate intelligibility, the logic of its inner being and impress this
knowledge of itself on the mind of the perceiver
Defined as an object radiating its essence in a clear manner.
THE SUBJECT OF ART
The subject of art refers to any person, object, scene, or event described or
presented in a work of art. Some arts do not have subject, others do not. The arts that
have subject are called representational or objective arts. Those that do not have
subject are known as non-representational or non-objective arts.
Painting, sculpture, the graphic arts, literature, and the theater arts are generally
classified as representational, although a good deal of paintings, prints, and sculptures
are without subject. Music, architecture, and many of the functional arts are non-
representational. Some musical compositions have subject, though. They are generally
referred to as program music. This kind of music may imitate natural sounds, like
Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee”; set a mood, like Debussy’s “Claire de
Lune”; or narrate a story, like Dukas’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”
The non-objective arts do not present descriptions, stories, or references to
identifiable objects or symbols. Rather, they appeal directly to the senses primarily
because of the satisfying organization of their sensuous and impressive elements. Most
musical pieces are not imitations of natural sounds, but we enjoy listening to them
because the sounds have been pleasingly arranged and because they evoke certain
emotional responses in us.
To a majority of people, the appeal of most works of art lies in the
representation of familiar objects. Their enjoyment of painting, sculpture, and literature
comes not from their perception but from the satisfaction they get out of recognizing
the subject or understanding the narrative content.
The subject of art is the matter to be described or to be portrayed by the artist.
It refers to any person, object, scene or event described or represented in a work of
art.

There are two types of Subject of Art as follows:

1. Representational Art- represents objects or events in the real world, usually
looking easily recognizable. It uses “form” and its concerned with “what” is to be
depicted in the artwork. Example: painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature and
theater arts.
Examples:
A. Still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically
common place objects which may be either natural (food, flowers, plants, rocks, or
shells) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes and so on) in
an artificial setting.
B. Portraiture(portrait) is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic
representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant.
C. Landscapes, Seascapes, Cityscapes
2. Non-representational Art - those arts without any reference to anything
outside itself (without representation). It is non-objective because it has no
recognizable objects. It is abstract in the sense that it doesn’t represent real objects in
our world. It uses “content” and is concerned with “how” the artwork is depicted.
Some of these sources of art as subject are:
1. Nature - animals, people, landscape. These three are the most common
inspiration and subject matter for art.
2. History - Artists are sensitive to the events taking place in the world around
them. The dress, the houses, the manner of living, the thoughts of a period is
necessarily reflected in the work of the artist.
3. Greek and Roman mythology - These are the gods and goddesses. Its center
is on deities and heroes.
4. The Judaeo Christian tradition - religion and art, the Bible, the Aporcrypha,
the rituals of the church.
5. Oriental Sacred Texts - The countries of the orient, especially China, Japan,
and India, have all produced scared texts of one kind or another, and thesed inspired
various kinds of art. Most fruitful have been the texts and traditions of Hinduism and
Buddhism.
6. Other Works of Art - These are the subjects that can be found in those works
that take their subject directly from other works of art.

KIND OF SUBJECT
Artist usually draw their arts through the different kinds of subject. These include:
1. Still life- is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically
common place objects which may be either natural (food, flowers, plants, rocks, or
shells) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, and so on)
in an artificial setting.
2. Portraiture (portrait)- is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic
representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant.
3. Landscapes, Seascapes and Cityscapes- Artist have always been fascinated with
their physical environment.
a. Favorite subject of Chinese and Japanese painters
b. Fernando Amorsolo is well-known for having romanticized Philippine landscape.
c. In Europe, the paintings of pure landscapes without human figures were almost
unheard of until the Renaissance period. They only served as backgrounds prior to this
Modern painter seem to be attracted to scenes in cities. Vincente Manansala, Arturo
Luz, and Mauro Malang Santos are some local painters who have done cityscapes.
4. Animals- They have been represented by artist from almost every ages and
places. In fact, the earliest known paintings are representation of animals on the walls
of caves. The carabao has been a favorite subject of Filipino artists. The Maranaos have
an animal form of sarimanok as their proudest prestige symbol. Sometimes, animals
have been used as symbols in conventional religious art, example:
a. The dove stands for the Holy Spirit in representation of the Holy Trinity.
b. The fish and lamb are symbols of Christ.
c. The phoenix is the symbol of resurrection.
d. The peacock is the symbol of immortality through Christ.
5. Figures- the sculpture’s chief subject has traditionally been the human body,
nude or clothed. The body’s form, structure and flexibility offers the artist a big
challenge to depict it in a variety of ways, ranging from the idealistic as in the classical
Greek sculptures to the most abstact.
6. Everyday Life- artist have always shown a deep concern about life around them.
Many of them have recorded in paintings their observation of people going about their
usual ways and performing their usual tasks. Genre paintings usually are
representations of the rice threshers, cockfighters, candle vendors, street musicians,
and children at play.
7. History and Legends- History consists of verifiable facts, legends of unverifiable
ones. Although many of them are often accepted as true because tradition has held
them so far. In so far, as ancient past is concerned, it is difficult to tell how much of
what we know now is history and how much is legend. History and Legend are popular
subjects of art. Example: Malakas and Maganda and Mariang Makiling are among the
legendary subjects which have been rendered in painting and sculpture by not a few
Filipino artists.
8. Religion and Mythology- Art has been a hand maiden of religion. Most of the
world’s religions have used the arts to aid in worship, to instruct, to inspire feelings of
devotion and to impress and convert non-believers. The Christian church commissioned
craftsmen to tell the stories about Christ and the Saints in pictures. It also resorted to
the presentation of tableaux and plays to preach and to teach. The term myth comes
from the Greek word “Mythos”, meaning story or legend. Myth tries to explain the
relationships between gods and humans. Although the events in a myth are usually
impossible, they try to send a message that has an important social or religious
meaning.
9. Dreams and Fantasies- Dreams are usually vague and illogical. Artists, especially
the surrealists have tried to depict dreams as well as the grotesque terrors and
apprehensions that lurk in the depths of the subconscious. A dream may be life like
situation. Therefore, we would not know if an art is based on a dream unless the artist
explicitly mentions it. But if the picture suggests, the strange, the irrational and the
absurd, we can classify it right away as a fantasy or dream although the artist may
have not gotten from the idea of a dream although the artist may have not gotten from
the idea of a dream at all but the working of his imagination. No limits can be imposed
on imagination.

DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MEANING

A subject matter has three different levels of meaning. These are:
1. Factual Meaning- the literal meaning or the narrative content in the work which
can be directly apprehended because the objects presented are easily recognized.
Examples: stones, river, house, etc.
2. Conventional Meaning- refers to the special meaning that a certain object has in
a particular culture or group of people. Examples: flag symbol of a nation, cross for
Christianity, crescent moon for Islam.
3. Subjective Meaning- any personal meaning consciously or unconsciously
conveyed by the artist using a private symbolism which stems from his own association
of certain objects, actions or colors with past experience.

THE DEFINITION OF ARTIST AND ARTISAN

1. ARTIST- The word “artist” is generally defined as an art practitioner, such as a
painter, sculptor, choreographer, dancer, writer, poet, musicians, and the like
who produces or creates indirectly functional arts with aesthetic value using
imagination. Artist is creative individuals who use their imagination and skills to
communicate in an art form. Artists look to many sources for inspiration. Some
look forward to their natural and cultural environment for ideas; others look
within themselves for creative motivation. Artist exhibit the courage to take risk.
They are willing to work intensely for long period of time to achieve their
goals. Some artist are self-taught (folk-artist) because of they are not educated
in traditional artistic methods. Just like the artists, the artisan learns skills and
techniques from some other artist but eventually, both artist and artisans,
develop their own unique styles.
2. ARTISAN- It is a craftsman, such carpenter, carver, plumber, blacksmith,
weaver, embroiderer, and the like who produces directly functional and or
decorative arts. Artisan helps us in meeting our basic needs, such as food,
clothing, dwelling, furniture, and kitchen utensils; they craft everything that
makes our life easy.
The artisan’s works are useful, relevant, and essential in our daily life. The
ARTISAN is basically a physical worker who makes objects with his or her hands,
and who through skill, experience, and ability can produce things of great
beauty, as well as usefulness. Artisans are devoted only to the creative part,
making visually pleasant work only for the gratification and appreciation of the
viewer.

KEY COMPONENTS OF THE ART MARKET

1. CURATOR- who is manager or overseer and usually a curator or keeper of a
cultural heritage institution (gallery, museum, library or archive) is a content
specialist charged with an institution’s collections, selecting art to be displayed in
museum, organizing art exhibitions in galleries or public places, researching artist
and writing catalogs and involved with the interpretation of heritage.
2. ART BUYER- It is a professional who is knowledgeable in art, who may scout
talents for an advertising agency seeking to employ an art director, or who may
look for an art for collector or company.
3. ART DEALER- It is a person or a company that buys and sells works of art. Art
dealers often study the history of art before starting their careers. They keep up
with the trends in the market and are knowledgeable about the style of art that
people want to buy. They figure out how much they should pay for a piece and
then estimate the resale price. To determine the artwork’s value, dealer inspect
the objects or paintings closely and compare the fine details with similar pieces.
 4. PRIVATE COLLECTION- This is personal owned collection of works, usually a
collection of art. In museum or art-gallery environment, the term signifies that a
certain work is not owned by the institution, but is on loan from an individual or
organization, either for temporary exhibition or for the long term. The source is
usually from an ART COLLECTOR, although it could be from a school, church
organization, from bank or from other private company or any institution.

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Robert Fritz, enumerated the steps in the creative process, and said that creating
is a skill that can be learned and developed. Like any other skill, we learn by practice
and hands-on experience – we can learn to create by creating. Fritz presented three
stages in creative process.
1. Conceive the result you want to create. Creation starts at the end. We need to
have an idea of what we want to create. We need a vision – individual or collective –
that we want to realize.
2. Know what currently exists. It is difficult to create something novel and/or
original in any area of knowledge without being aware of what is being done in that
area.
3. Take action. Having a wonderful idea or vision is not enough. You have to do
something to make it real, generate criticism.
4. Develop your creativity. Every new creation gives you fresh thoughts and
knowledge of your own creative process.
5. Learn the rhythms of the creative process. There are THREE fundamental stage
in every creative process: Germination, Assimilation, and Completion.

THREE STAGES IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS

1. GERMINATION (Idea)- The most important and difficult thing in this stage is
choosing. You need to be more specific about what you want to do. You have to
give to your vision a first shape, from which you decide your next steps.
2. ASSIMILATION- It is crucial step in the creative process. During this phase you
will internalize and assimilate or incorporate the idea you want to create. Plan,
analyze it and cultivate it with all the available resources. The assimilation stage
of the creative process follows an organic path, with its own rhythms and needs.
3. COMPLETION- Completion is the time to finish you project, to give it the final
shape before you present it to the audience.

THREE STAGES IN ART

Art making can be associated with art exploration, concept development, and art
production. In the creative process, the artist undergoes three stage of experience,
which are popularly known as PREPRODUCTION, PRODUCTION, and
POSTPRODUCTION.
1. PRE-PRODUCTION or subject development – this ends when the planning
ends, and the content starts being produced.
2. PRODUCTION or medium manipulation – this is a method of joining diverse
material inputs and unimportant inputs.
3. POST PRODUCTION (completion) or exhibition – once an artwork is finish,
it will be displayed.

THE MEDIUM and TECHNIQUE

1. MEDIUM – It refers to the materials that are used by an artist to create a work
for art. The plural of media. Without the medium, an idea remains a concept, or
 it would just dwell in the walls of the artist imagination. It is challenging to
manipulate medium and transform it form its raw state.

MEDIUM DEFINED
A. Visual or space arts- those mediums can be seen and which occupy space.
These in turn are grouped into two categories.
- Two-dimensional arts such as painting, drawing, print-making-
photography.
- Three-dimensional arts, such as Sculpture, architecture, Landscaping,
industrial design and the crafts like ceramics and furniture making or others.
B. Auditory or time arts- those mediums can be heard and which are expressed
in time. These are music art and literature.
C. The Combined arts- Whose mediums can be heard and which exist in both
space and time. These include the dance, the drama, the opera, and the movies.
2. TECHNIQUE – It refers to the artist’s ability and knowledge or technical know-
how in manipulating the medium. It is the manner by which the artist controls
the medium to achieve the desired effect; thus, it is in the technique that artists
differ from one another.
Example:
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER of APO WHANGOD OGGAY

GAMABA Pambansang Alagad ng Sining

The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or the National Living Treasures Award was
created in 1992 under the Republic Act. No. 7355. Also under the jurisdiction of the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the NCCA (2015) “through the
Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Committee and an Ad Hoc Panel of Experts, conducts the
search for the finest traditional artist of the land, adopts a program that will ensure the
transfer of their skills to others and undertakes measures to promote a genuine
appreciation of and instill pride among our people about the genius of the Manlilikha ng
Bayan.”
As a group, these folk and traditional artist reflect the diverse heritage and cultural
traditions that transcend their beginnings to become part of our national character. As
Filipinos, they bring age-old customs, crafts and ways of living to the attention and
appreciation of Filipino life. They provide us with ourselves and of our nation, a vision
we might be able to realize someday, once we are given the opportunity to be true to
ourselves as these artists have remained truthful to their art. They are our National
Living Treasures.
 Hereunder are some of the GAMABA awardees and their work of art:
1. Darhata Sawabi- a Tausug weaver of Pis Syabit, the traditional cloth tapestry
worn as a head cover.
2. Eduardo Mutuc- an artist from Apalit, Pampanga who has dedicated his life to
creating religious and secular art in silver, bronze, and wood.
3. Haja Amina Appi- recognized as master mat weaver among the Sama
indigenous community for her unique designs, straightness of her edging
(tabig), and fineness of her sasa and kima-kima.
4. Alonzo Saclag- a Kalinga Master of dance and the performing arts who
mastered not only the Kalinga musical instruments but also her dance patterns
and movements associated with her people’s ritual.
5. Federico Caballero- a Sulod Bukidnon epic chanter from Kalinog, Iloilo who
ceaselessly works for the documentation of the oral literature particularly the
epics of his people.
6. Uwang Ahadas- a Yakan musician who is masters of the kwintangan, kayu,
and tuntungan instruments.
7. Lang Dulay- a T’boli traditional weaver of T’nalak or T’boli cloth made of
colorful abaca fabrics.
8. Salinta Monon- a Tagbanua Bagobo traditional weaver of distinct abaca fabrics
called inabal.
9. Ginaw Bilog- is a Hanunuo Mangyan poet who is considered as a master of
ambahan poetry.
10. Masino Intaray- a prolific and pre-eminent epic chanter and story-teller
recognized for his outstanding mastery of various traditional musical instruments
of the Palawan people such as basal, kulila, and bagil.
11. Haja Amina Appi- a master mat weaver among the Sama indigenous
community.
12. Teofilo Garcia- a Tabungan or gourd casque maker.
13. Magdalena Gamayo- Master Inabel weaver from the Ilocos region.
14. Whang-od Oggay- the oldest mambabatok or tattooed artist.
15. Masino Intaray- a master of various traditional musical instruments of the
Palawan people.
16. Samaon Sulaiman- a master of the kutyapi and other instruments.
This artists’ practice may fall under the following categories: folk, architecture,
maritime transport, weaving, carving, performing arts, literature, graphic and plastic
arts, ornament, textile or fiber art, pottery and other artistic expressions of traditional
culture.
To become a Manlilikha ng Bayan, a candidate must possess these qualities:
a. He/she is an inhabitant of an indigenous traditional cultural community anywhere
in the Philippines that has preserved indigenous customs, beliefs, rituals and
traditions and/or has syncretized whatever external elements that have
influenced it.
b. He/she must have engaged in a folk tradition that has been in existence and
documented for at least 50 years.
c. He/she must have consistently performed or produced over a significant period,
works of superior and distinctive quality.
Some of the incentives accorded to the awardee are the following:
1. A specially designed gold medallion.
2. An initial grant of 100, 000 Php. And a 10,000 Php. Monthly stipend for life.
3. Benefits such as a maximum cumulative amount of 750, 000 Php. Medical and
hospitalization benefits.
4. Funeral assistance or tribute fit for a National Living Treasure.
MEDIUM OF THE VISUAL ARTS
Understanding the Tools of Artistic Expression
The conscious use of the imagination in the production of objects intended to be
contemplated or appreciated as beautiful, as in the arrangement of forms, sounds, or
words.

VISUAL ARTS
Visual Arts encompass a diverse range of creative disciplines that rely on visual
elements for expression, communication, and aesthetic appreciation.

MEDIUM
The Role of Mediums in visual arts refers to the tools, materials, and techniques
artists use to create their works, shaping the visual and conceptual aspects of art, and
allowing artists to convey their ideas, emotions, and messages.
PAINTING
Painting is a visual art medium where artists use pigments, colors, and a surface
(such as canvas, paper, or wood) to create two-dimensional artworks. It's a versatile
medium that allows for the expression of a wide range of ideas, emotions, and
aesthetics.
Painting encompasses various techniques, including:
• Oil Painting
• Watercolor
• Acrylic Painting
• Impasto
• Landscape Painting
• Portrait Painting
• Abstract Painting

DRAWING
Drawing is a visual art medium that involves creating images, patterns, or
representations on a two-dimensional surface using various tools, such as pencils,
charcoal, ink, or pastels. It's a versatile medium with diverse applications in art.
Drawing employs, a variety of tools, including:
• Pencils
• Charcoal
• Ink
• Pastels
• Digital Tablets

SCULPTURE
Sculpture is a visual art medium that involves creating three-dimensional forms
and figures. Artists use materials like wood, stone, metal, clay, and more to shape and
mold sculptures. It adds depth, texture, and a physical presence to artistic expression.
Sculptors employ various materials to craft their works, including:
• Stone
• Wood
• Metal
• Clay
• Mixed Media

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography is a visual art medium that captures images through the use of a
camera and light-sensitive materials. It is a powerful means of artistic expression and
documentation, offering a unique blend of technical precision and artistic creativity.
Evolution of Photography
Photography has undergone a remarkable evolution since its inception in the
early 19th century. It began with cumbersome, large-format cameras and developed
into a versatile and accessible medium. Key milestones in its evolution include:
Louis Daguerre -The invention of the daguerreotype in 1839 by Louis Daguerre, one of
the earliest photographic processes.
Late 19th century- The introduction of flexible film, making photography more portable
and convenient.
Mid-20th century -The transition from black and white to color photography, adding a
new dimension to visual storytelling.
21st century -The digital revolution, which allowed for instant image capture and
manipulation, transforming photography in the 21st century.

PRINTMAKING
Printmaking is a visual art medium where artists create multiple, nearly identical
impressions from a prepared surface.
Key techniques of printmaking include:
Woodcut: Involves carving an image into a block of wood, applying ink to the raised
surfaces, and transferring it onto paper.
Lithography: An intricate process of creating images on a flat surface, typically a stone,
with the use of oil and water. The ink adheres to the image and not to the non-image
areas.
Etching: Artists use acid to create incised lines on a metal plate. After inking the plate,
it's pressed onto paper to create an image.
Linocut: Similar to woodcut but uses linoleum as the surface. Artists carve away areas
to leave behind the image.

DIGITAL ART
Digital art is a visual art medium that involves creating images, illustrations, and
designs using digital tools and technologies. Artists use computers, graphic tablets, and
software to produce artworks. It provides a versatile platform for artistic expression,
ranging from digital painting and
Digital artists use various tools and software, including:
• Graphic Tablets
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• 3D Modelling Software
• Digital Painting Software
• Vector Graphics Software

MIXED MEDIA ART

Mixed media art is a versatile medium that combines various materials,
techniques, and forms to create an artwork. Artists integrate different elements, such
as painting, collage, sculpture, and digital media, to produce rich and multi-layered
pieces.

Mixed media art encompasses a wide range of styles and approaches.

Examples include:
• Collage
• Assemblage
• Digital Collage
• Acrylic Pour Painting

Mixed media art offers artists creative freedom in several ways:

Versatility: Artists can choose from a vast array of materials, from traditional to
unconventional, to express their ideas.

Experimentation: It encourages experimentation with different techniques and textures,

leading to unexpected and unique outcomes.

Texture and Depth: The layering of materials and techniques adds depth and texture,
creating visually engaging and tactile pieces.

Expressive Potential: Artists can explore the juxtaposition of contrasting elements,

allowing for a more profound exploration of themes and concepts.

INSTALLATION ART
Installation art is a visual art medium that involves creating three-dimensional,
immersive environments or experiences within a specific space. It extends beyond
traditional artistic forms by transforming spaces into interactive and experiential
settings, often engaging multiple senses.

Characteristic of Installation art

Spatial Transformation: It radically alters the perception of physical spaces, transporting

viewers to alternate realities.

Audience Participation: Viewers become participants, engaging with and influencing the
artwork.

Multisensory Experience: Installations often stimulate multiple senses, such as sight,

sound, touch, and even smell.

Temporal Elements: Some installations change over time, incorporating elements of

performance and impermanence.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

It defined as the units of “building blocks” of matter. It is a combinations and

formations; they have the ability to create molecules such as water, or the more
complex sucrose. These elements of art are generally produced when something is
done to the medium after the technique is carried out. It must be underscored,
however, that all works of art require all elements to be present. For example,
sculptures automatically have the following elements with or without the decision of the
artist to include them: shape, form, and space. Without these elements, there is no
sculpture to begin with. Elements are the necessary preconditions for the creation of
art.
To enumerate, the elements of art and design are the following: line, shape
and form, space, color, and texture.

1. LINE A line is an element of art. It is a mark made upon a surface. In order to

be a line, the mark’s length must be longer than its width. There are many
different types of lines, including horizontal, vertical, wavy, diagonal, and more.
Line may be two or three-dimensional, descriptive, implied, or abstract.

Did You Know!

 Known for using lines to provide the outline or contour of the figures he portrays in
his work, Keith Haring first executed the public mural “Todos junto podemos parar el
sida” (Together We Can Stop Aids) in Barcelona in 1989. In 2014, it was created at the
foyer of the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (Barcelona Museum of the
Contemporary Art) to commemorate it. Haring battled with HIV/AIDS to which he
succumbed to in 1990.

A quality that is ascribed to lines is its ability to direct the eyes to follow movement
or provide hints as to work’s focal point.
a. Horizontal and Vertical Lines- refers to the orientation of the line. Horizontal
lines are normally associated with rest or calm. It also alludes to position of the
reclined body at rest. Vertical lines, on the other hand, connote elevation or
height, which is usually taken to mean exaltation or aspiration for action.
Together, these lines communicate stability and firmness.
b. Diagonal and Crooked lines- diagonal lines convey movement and instability,
although the progression can be seen. Crooked or jagged lines, on the other
hand, are reminiscent of violence, conflict, or struggle.
c. Curved lines- these are lines that bend or coil. They allude to softness, grace,
flexibility, or even sensuality.

Did You Know!

In “The Raft of Medusa”, the position and orientation of the bodies that
are predominantly diagonal in direction. This creates not only movement but
2-3. Shape and Form-These two are related to each other in the sense that they
also tension
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categories can be used as a broad distinction:
 a. Geometric- these shapes find origin in mathematical propositions. As such, its
translation and use are often man-made. These include shapes such as squares,
triangles, cubes, circles, spheres, and cones, among others.
b. Organic- Those readily occurring in nature, often irregular and asymmetrical.
The design of vase is foliage, a sample from a series that made use of morning
glories.

Did You Know!

Raphael’s famous painting “The Madonna of the Meadows” depicts three
figures: Mary, the young Jesus (right), and the young John the Baptist (left).
The positions in which the group takes allude to a triangular shape reinforced
by the garb of Mary.

1. Space- related to shape and form is space. It is usually inferred from a sense of
depth, whether it is real or simulated. Real space is three-dimensional.
Sculptures are a perfect example of artworks that bear this element. However,
this can only be manifested in two-dimensional artworks through the use of
different techniques, or the use (or non-use) of area around a drawing or
pictures.
 Did You Know!

In the middle of the AT&T Plaza at the Millennium Park in the Loop
Community area in Chicago, the iconic “Cloud Gate” occupies a considerable
space. Shaped like a bean, hence its other referent, the public sculpture was
unveiled in 2004. The dent in the middle offers a gap in which people can pass
through and gaze at sculpture in different perspectives.

However, not all works are sculptures. In two-dimensional artworks they may be
implied.
a. Positive and negative space- usually identified with the white space is the
negative space. The positive space, on the other hand, is the space where
shadow is heavily used.
b. Three-dimensional space- can be simulated through a variety of techniques
such as shading. An illusion of three-dimensionality can be achieved in a two-
dimensional work.
2. Color- Perhaps one of the elements that enhance the appeal of an artwork. Its
effect has range, the following the viewer to make responses based on memory,
emotion, and instinct, among others. This element is property of light, as it is
reflected off the object. Color is not intrinsic to an object and without light, one
cannot perceive color.

Did You Know!

Colors begin with the notion of a Color Theory that was first unraveled
by the experiments undertaken by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666. A ray of sunlight
passing through a prism reveals an array of colors akin to that of a rainbow. An
upshot of this color theory is the creation of a color wheel.

The color wheel corresponds to the first property of color, hue.

a. Hue- this dimension of color gives its name. It can be subdivided into:
 Primary colors- red, yellow, and blue.
 Secondary colors- green, orange, and violet
  Tertiary colors- six in total, these hues are achieved when primary and
secondary colors are mixed.
b. Value- refers to the brightness or darkness of color. Often, this is used by artists
to create the illusion of depth and solidity, a particular mood, communicate a
feeling, or in establishing a scene (e.g., day and night).
 Light colors- taken as the source of light in the composition.
 Dark colors- the lack or even absence of light.
We can identify the color even when a range is presented to us. Expectations are
also established based on the notion that yellow is within the light value; whereas,
violet is in the dark. Each primary color has a range of values based on the addition and
diminishing quantity and quality of light.
 Tint- this is a lighter color than the normal value (e.g. pink for red)
 Shade- this is a darker color than the normal value (e.g. maroon for red)
c. Intensity- this is the color’s brightness or dullness. It is identified as the strength
of color, whether it is vivid or muted. To achieve a specific intensity of a color,
one may add either gray or its complementary color.
 Bright or warm colors- positive energy
 Dull or cool colors- sedate/soothing, seriousness or calm

To better understand intensity of color, color harmonies are to be

considered. In interior design, we often her designers refer to color schemes
—a guide for selecting not only wall paint but also furniture and decor.
However, color harmonies are also integral considerations not only for
pictorial arts but also for other art forms.
 Monochromatic harmonies- use the variations of a hue. An example is Claud
Monet’s “Houses of Parliament.”

 Complementary harmonies- involve two colors opposite each other in the

color wheel. Since they are at contrary positions, the reaction is most intense.
An example is Giovanni Battista Cima “Three Saints: Roch, Abbot and Lucy.”
  Analogous harmonies- make use of two colors beside each other in the color
wheel. An example is Edgar Degas “Before the Race”.

Other harmonies, triadic harmonies, which make use three colors from
equidistant sites within the color wheel.

3. Texture- like space, texture can be either real or implied. This element in an
artwork is experienced through the sense of touch (and sight). This element
renders the art object tactile.

In the portrait rendered by court painter Frans Pourbus the Younger,

Princess Margherita’s garb is adorned in opulent bead and stitch work that are
befitting her rank. This was achieved using the employed by the artist in
creating the artwork.

a. Textures in the two-dimensional plane- texture can be implied using one

technique or a combination of other elements of art. By creating this visual
quality in artwork can be imagined how the surface will feel it was to be touched.
Some of the words used to describe texture are the following: rough or smooth,
hairy, leathery, sharp or dull, etc. To be able to simulate the texture of a surface
in a flat, two-dimensional plan is one important skill that an artist must be
familiar with, especially if his idea or concept necessitates it.
b. Surface texture- refers to the texture of the three-dimensional art object.

Planes and Perspectives

 Some art forms work with actual spaces, such as sculptors, architects, and stage
designers. Picture plane is the actual surface of the painting or drawing, where no
illusion of a third dimension exists. During the Renaissance, chiaroscuro was
developed. It made use of light and dark contrasts and tones in which paintings not
only looked three-dimensional, but also more dramatic. Linear perspective changed the
way pictorial representation was done. Credited to Renaissance artists, its early
proponents include Leon Battista Alberti, Paolo Uccello, and architect Filippo
Brunelleschi in the early fifteenth century, who were published in Alberti’s On Painting
in 1435.
Its use was based on the following observations:
1. As forms and objects recede, the smaller they become.
2. We were taught that parallel lines never meet. However, when they, too, seem
to converge when they recede in to distance, at a point, they both disappear.
This point of disappearance is called the vanishing point.

An example often used to illustrate linear perspective is the railroad

where tracks disappear off at a distance.

A viewpoint may also be constructed as normal (view standing

up), low view for a lower angle), or high (view looking down on a
scene) depending on the position the viewer takes.

There are three types of perspective, grounded on the number of

vanishing points used by the artist:
a. One-point perspective- often used in depicting roads, tracks, hallways, or
rows of trees; this type of perspective shows parallel lines that seem to converge
at a specific and lone vanishing point, along the horizon line.
 b. Two-point perspective- pertains to a painting or drawing that makes use of
two vanishing points, which can be placed anywhere along the horizon line. It is
often used in depicting structures such as houses or buildings in the landscape
that are viewed from a specific corner.

Gustav Caillebotte, “Rude de Paris, temps de

plure” (Paris Street in Rainy Weather)

c. Three-point perspective- in this type of perspective, the viewer is looking at a

scene from above or below. As the name suggests, it makes use of the three
vanishing points, each corresponding to each axis of the scene.

Berenice Abott, “Chanon Building, New York,”

(1935)

Elements of Art: Auditory

Together with literature, music as an art form is classified as a auditory art. It is
under the broad category of performance art. Music is sound organized in a specific
time. It is considered an implement to cultural activities, answering a specific role or
function. Singing or dancing to music was also often included in opportunities for
members of society to gather and interact. Some are adept with the skill and sense to
produce music, while others consume it as listeners, audiences, and even performers.
 Some of the common elements of music are the following: rhythm, dynamics,
melody, harmony, timbre, and texture.
1. Rhythm- often associated to the terms beat, meter, and tempo, rhythm is
the element of music while tempo refers to its speed (beats/second). Beats can
be organized into a recognizable recurrent pattern, which is called the meter.
Classical terms are used to refer to the variations in tempo, some which are:
 Largo- slowly and broadly
 Andante- walking pace
 Moderato- at moderate speed
 Allegro- fast
 Vivace- fast
 Accelerando- gradually speeding up
 Rallentado- gradually slowing down
 Allargando- getting slower, broadening
 Rubato- literally “robbed time”, rhythm is played freely for expressive effect
2. Dynamics- is the element of music that refers to the loudness or quietness of
music. Classical terms are used to refer to the different level pertaining to this:
 Pianissimo [pp]- very quiet
 Piano [p]- quiet
 Mezzo-piano [mp]- moderately quiet
 Mezzo-forte [mf]- moderately loud
 Forte [f]- loud
 Fortissimo [ff]- very loud

When composers indicate an increase, or decrease in loudness, they use the

terms crescendo for the former; and decrescendo or diminuendo for the
latter.

3. Melody- refers to the linear presentation (horizontal) of pitch. By horizontal, it

means that in musical notation, it is read in succession from left to right. Pitch is
the highness or lowness of musical sound.
4. Harmony- If melody is horizontal, harmony is vertical. It arises when pitches
are combined to form chords. When several notes are simultaneously played,
this refers to a chord. Harmony can be described in terms of its “harshness”:
dissonance is the harsh-sounding combination while consonance is the smooth-
sounding combination.
5. Timbre- is often likened to the color of music. It is quality that distinguishes a
voice or an instrument from another. Dependent on the technique, the timbre
may give a certain tone or characteristics to music, much like how a painter
evokes different effects or impressions onto the canvas.
6. Texture- the number of melodies, the type of layers, and their relatedness in a
composition is the texture of music. It may be:
 Monophonic- single melodic line
 Polyphonic- two or more melodic lines
 Homophonic- main melody accompanied by chords

Principles of Art/Design
These principles are: balance, scale and proportion, emphasis and contrast, unity
and variety, harmony, movement, rhythm, and repetition and pattern.

To reiterate, the appreciation and engagement of art relies substantially on

being equipped with the appropriate language that allows it to be more
comprehensible.
Note: if the elements of art were like the letters (example: combining these
letters will form words, phrases, and sentences), then the principles of art
 1. Balance- This principle refers to the distribution of the visual elements in view
of their placement in relation to each other.

There are three forms of balance:

a. Symmetrical- the elements used on one side are reflected to the other. This
offers the most stable visual sense to any artwork.
b. Asymmetrical- the elements are not the same (or the same weight) on each
side, putting the heaviness on one side.
c. Radial- there is a central point in the composition, around which elements and
objects are distributed.
2. Scale and Proportion- Scale pertains to the size in relation to what is normal
for the figure or object in question. Sculptures of exaggerate scale are common
all over the world as many artists are taken by the whimsical quality of these
objects. One cannot help but smile upon seeing them in public spaces. In the
Philippines, Arturo Luz has created enormous sculptural versions of the paper
clip. For a long time, it occupied a prominent spot at the entrance of the Ayala
Museum.
3. Proportion is the size of the components, or of objects in relation to one
another when taken as a composition or a unit. This can also refer to values such
as amounts or number of elements or objects in the composition.

Did You Know!

One of the most common cannons asserted relates to the proportion of the
body. This varies from one culture or tradition to another. For the Egyptian
artists, the human form follows a square grid and is informed by the palm of
the hand as a unit of measure. To complete a standing human figure, 18
units (squares) are needed from head to foot. On the other hand, Greeks
held that numerical relationships—the golden ratio—was the key to beauty
or to perfection. In the golden ratio, the figure is divided into two unequal
segments wherein the smaller is the same ratio to the larger segment, and
that the longer segment is the same ration in relation to the whole. In
figures, it can be valued at 1:1.618.
 Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” is an exploration on the ideas of the Roman
architect Vitruvius, in which the human body is an example of a classical proportion in
architecture. For da Vinci, man’s body can be used to better understand the symmetry
that exists in nature and the universe.

Proportion can be:

a. Natural- relates to the realistic size relations of visual elements in the artwork,
especially for figurative artworks. When it is the accuracy in relation to the real
world that the artist is after, this is now referred to as the principal of scale.
b. Exaggerated- refers to the unusual size relations of visual elements,
deliberately exaggerating the immensity or minuteness of an object.
c. Idealized- most common to those that follow canons of perfection, the size-
relations of elements or objects, which achieve the most ideal size-relations.
3-4 Emphasis and Contrast- Emphasis allows the attention of the viewer to a focal
point (s), accentuating or drawing attention to these elements or objects. This can be
done through the manipulation of the elements or through the manipulation of the
elements or through the assistance of other principles, especially that of contrast.
Contrast is the disparity between the elements that figure into the composition. For
instance, space, specifically the use of negative and positive space is an example of
contrast. Another example is the use of complementary colors in a work of art.

5-6 Unity and Variety- it is compositions are intended to imbue a sense of accord or
completeness from the artwork. Variety is the principle that aims to retain the interest
by allowing patches or areas that both excite and allow the eye to rest.

Vasudhara Mandala (dated to

1777; Samvat 897) Distemper on
cloth. Gift of Stephen and Sharon
Davies Collection, 2015. The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York.

7. Harmony- unity and variety is related to the principle of harmony, in which the
elements or objects achieve a sense of flow and interconnectedness.
8. Movement- It refers to the direction of the viewing eye as it goes through the
artwork, often guided by areas or elements that are emphasized. These focal
points can be lines, edges, shape, and color within the work of art, among
others.
 9. Rhythm- This is created when an element is repeated, creating implied
movement. Variety of repetition helps invigorate rhythm as depicted in the
artwork.
10-11 Repetition and Pattern- Lines, shapes, colors, and other elements may
appear in an artwork in recurring manner. This is called repetition. In addition, the
image created out of repetition is called pattern. With repetition, there is a sense of
predictability that is conveyed, which in turn imbues the feelings of security and
calmness.

Vincent Van Gogh, “La Berceuse”

(Woman Rocking a Cradle;
Augustine-Alix Pellicot Roulin, 1851-
1930). Oil on Canvas. The Walter H.
and Leonore Annenberg Collection,
Gift of Walter H. and Leonore
Annenberg, 1996, Bequest of
Walter H. Annenberg, 2002. The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York.

Combined or Hybrid Art

Whose mediums can be heard and which exist in both space and time. In a
broad sense, it is easy to decipher visual arts from auditory art. In contemporary art,
these developments were mirrored in the multifaceted nature of artworks that were
created. It is not surprising that themes, subjects, and the problematique addressed
shaped and produced new kinds of articulation in which two or more art forms and
styles are combined. These include dance, theater, installation art, film, video art,
documentary, photography, puppetry, design, and other forms of production.
A clear example of combined art is a theatrical performance that taps into many
art forms such as music, 2D and 3D art, literature, lighting and set design, among
others. Hybrid arts are reminiscent motivations of the Renaissance and whose
emergence is hinged on the frontiers of science and technology. Referencing and
tapping into the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, natural and
computer sciences, telecommunications, information, digital and interface technologies
(software programs, speech and face recognition, social media and online platforms,
among many other emergent developments), artists whose works tread under this
movement disrupt the norms in terms of what is considered as art, and even the way
people envisage artistic production.
More than anything else, hybrid arts are driven by the expansion of the
imagination and what is possible through the “blistering pace of scientific and
technological development” (Piirma, 2014).

Art/Performance Art

Graffiti, form of visual communication, usually illegal, involving the unauthorized

marking of public space by an individual or group. Although the common image of
graffiti is a stylistic symbol or phrase spray-painted on a wall by a member of a street
gang, some graffiti is not gang-related. Graffiti can be understood as antisocial
behaviour performed in order to gain attention or as a form of thrill seeking, but it also
can be understood as an expressive art form.
Poetry Performance, is poetry that is specifically composed for or during
performance before an audience.
Performance Art, While the terms ‘performance’ and ‘performance art’ only became
widely used in the 1970s, the history of performance in the visual arts is often traced
back to futurist productions and dada cabarets of the 1910s. Throughout the twentieth
century performance was often seen as a non-traditional way of making art.
Digital Art, The first use of the term digital art was in the early 1980s when computer
engineers devised a paint program which was used by the pioneering digital artist
Harold Cohen. This became known as AARON, a robotic machine designed to make
large drawings on sheets of paper placed on the floor.
Trans-creation
Trans-creation is the merger of two words: translation and creation. It's an
intricate form of translating that preserves the original intent, context, emotion, and
tone. Trans-creation is a concept used in the field of translation studies to describe the
process of adapting a message from one language to another, while maintaining its
intent, style, tone, and context.