Contemporary

philippine
arts
from the
regions
 Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions is not just a subject that has to
be learned. It wants Contemporary Philippine Arts to be viewed, to be understood and to
be appreciated in the context as they were created. As mentioned in the previous module,
the arts come in various categories and forms.

It is essential to know and understand the meaning of the term contemporary

when used in defining Contemporary Philippine Arts. Understanding it would pave the
way for better appreciation of the arts in the Philippine context. Understanding
Philippine Arts would provide a better perception of the details, context, meaning and
significance of the artworks placed in a cultural, political and historical context.

It is also important to differentiate Modern Philippine Arts from Contemporary

Philippine Arts. It would be easy to misunderstand the two by treating them as
interchangeably the same. The recent years revealed a conglomeration or mix of different
art forms and art media that are expressions of the times where we live in. Many art
forms are integrated to create artworks that are quite different from Classical and
Modern Arts. Integrative Art has become part of Contemporary Art. Contemporary Art is
evident when we go to the different regions and provinces of our country. Each artwork
exhibiting its own uniqueness and meaning.

Contemporary Art
Contemporary Art is influenced by the economic, social, political and
environmental context where the artist is immersed in. It can be said that Contemporary
Art is the artist’s expression of his perception and comprehension of these contexts.
Contemporary Arts in the Philippines is as diverse as our people. Contemporary
Philippine Art is not confined to the usual genres of the four main art forms, namely,
visual, literary, applied and performing arts. Genres are categories of artistic creation
and are characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. Many other genres
came up which include pure are forms as well as mixed art forms. The following are
examples from each art form:

Examples of Contemporary Art Forms

Visual Arts Performance Arts Applied Arts Literary Arts

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 • Pop Art • Music: blues, • Video Art • Illustrated Novel
electronic,
• Word Art • Photography • Digi-Fiction
experimental, funk,
• Conceptual Art hip-hop, jazz, • Computer Art • Graphic Novels
metal, pop, rock,
• Installation Art • Film and • Manga
roots
Broadcasting Art • Doodle Fiction
• Photorealism • Theater Art: stage,
film, street play • Architecture, • Text-Talk Novels
• Contemporary
Realism Design and • Chick Literature
• Dance: flash mob, Allied Art
• Flash Fiction
• Graffiti Art Street Dances
comprising hiphop, • Hyper Poetry
funk, house and
rave • Blog

Contemporary Art is prominent in the Philippines and has been appreciated by

so many people, and some of them were not even aware that they are looking at fine
examples of Contemporary Art. Many contemporary Philippine artworks have earned the
admiration and respect of viewers from here and abroad. These artworks are expressions
of the artist’s thoughts and feelings based on their experience of the here and now. These
include current events, issues and social concerns affecting the society where the artist
lives in.

Contemporary Philippine artists hail from the different regions of the country.
They use a wide variety of art media in their creations, some of the media are materials
that are readily available in the locality where the artist resides. Contemporary Philippine
artworks are multifaceted and are expressive renditions of the artist’s perception of what
were observed and experienced. These artists create, work and make art in their personal
context. Viewers can appreciate contemporary Philippine art more by employing all of
their senses. Viewing art is not just a detached experienced but a deep personal
experience of dwelling into the artist’s mind and heart.

Expressions of Contemporary Philippine Art are influenced by social, historical,

geographical, ideational, personal and technical factors. These factors are imbibed by
the artist and are combined to get immersed in the heart, to get molded in the mind and
to be propelled in the hands to create an expressive reality.

Elements of Contemporary Art

Contemporary Arts have different elements that are put together to come up with
a distinct artwork. These elements include:

1. Appropriation, this relates to the modifications made by the artist.

2. Hybridity, this refers in the use of different art mediums that are put together.

3. Technology, its application highlights the creativity of the artist.

4. Performance, carried out for viewers to experience.

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 5. Space, intricate use of space.

These elements are combined in different ways to come up with Integrative Art.
Integrative Art employs the use of different art elements used together in distinct
different expressions. Thus, it becomes a combination of different art forms for specific
groups of viewers. Integrative art is also a fusion of different art disciplines using
different styles and media in creating art. It can be found in different places of the
country, usually in urban areas where artists have ready access to different art forms
and media. Examples of Integrative Art include the use of computer applications
combined with other media, the use of non-traditional art materials in creating artworks
usually done with mixed art forms.

Contemporary Art Forms from the Philippine Regions

With modern technology and easy access to far-flung areas of the country, many
artworks have become known and many more are being created by present day artists
from the different regions. All forms of art can be found throughout the country.
Artworks coming from the seventeen regions of the three main island groups of Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao, have been exhibited in different exhibition halls and museums.
Viewers have come to know and, more importantly, to understand the present-day art
expressions of artists who want their culture, situation and issues be known through
their artworks.
The distinct features of Contemporary Philippine Art include:

1. Communal nature, as it reflects the relationships build around the bonds of

community and society.

2. Intuitive, as Filipinos are immersed in their consciousness of themselves, their

community and their culture.

3. Holistic, as individuals, groups of people and events are perceived in their

entirety as well as the unitive use of art materials and forms.

4. Creative process, as the artist puts more emphasis on now their artwork was
made than on the artwork itself.

5. Integrative, as it encompasses religious, moral, spiritual, social, and

environmental concerns.

6. Multi-focal, as it considers everything and everyone, the wide perspective of the

artwork as well as both artist and viewer.

Activity 1.1 Analyzing Contemporary Philippine Arts

Contemporary Philippine Art considers not only the artist but also the
participation of the community through the viewers. The experience is not solely
confined to the creator of the artwork but also to its viewer. Being member of the
community and a viewer, you can also take part in creating art. There is no established
or fixed standard in creating contemporary art. The artist is free to render his artwork

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with the use of various materials, traditional or non-traditional, any combination of style
and technique, and choice of form either singly or in combination.

Observing Art: Understanding the Form, Media and Style

Integrative Art comes in different sizes and shapes, forms and styles. This art can
be observed in Junk Art. Junk Art is a sculptural rendition using discarded or used
materials usually scrap plastic, cartons, paper, metal or glass. Observe and analyze this
artwork and answer the questions:

What is being depicted in this artwork?

What kind of art is this?

What materials were used in creating this

artwork?

Cite the significance or importance of this

kind of artwork.

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Junk_Art_at_Havenstreet_-_geograph.org.uk_-_835576.jpg

Processing:

1. What kind of media or materials were used in this kind of art?

2. What other media or materials can be used aside from those identified in the
picture?

3. If you will be given the chance to create this kind of art, what would you create?

4. What media or materials would you use in creating your artwork?

5. Cite the possible obstacles or difficulties you might encounter in creating this
artwork.

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 What I Have Learned

1. The artworks and styles of the past have evolved and have adapted to a dynamic
changing world, a world immersed in the latest technology and emerging
ideologies to become the Contemporary Art of today.

2. Contemporary Art refers to art of any form and genre that produced in our
contemporary time, simply put as “art created today.”

3. Genres are categories of artistic creation and are characterized by similarities in

form, style, or subject matter.

4. Contemporary Art is expressions of the artist’s thoughts and feelings based on

their experience of the here and now which current events, issues and social
concerns affecting the society where the artist lives in.

5. Contemporary Philippine artists hail from the different regions of the country and
they use a wide variety of art media in their creations. These are materials that
are readily available in the locality where the artist resides.

6. Contemporary Arts have different elements that are put together to come up with
a distinct artwork like Performance, Appropriation, Technology, Hybridity and
Space. (Mnemonics: PATHS)

7. The distinct features of Contemporary Philippine Art include Communal, Holistic,

Intuitive, Multi-focal, Integrative and Creative Process. (Mnemonics: CHIMIC)

8. Contemporary Philippine Art considers not only the artist but also the
participation of the community through the viewers wherein the experience is not
solely confined to the creator of the art but also to the viewer of the art.

9. Integrative Art comes in different sizes and shapes, forms and styles as observed
in Junk Art which is a sculptural rendition using discarded or used materials.

10. The combination of resourcefulness and creativity can bring out the artist in
everyone.

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 Assessment

Direction. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers
on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Contemporary artworks and styles are created, witnessed and experienced in our
lifetime by artists and style experts catering to _____ .
a. Baby Boomers c. Millennials
b. Generation Z d. none of the above

2. Art of any form and genre that is produced in our time refers to _____ Art.
a. Contemporary c. Modern
b. Integral d. Temporary

3. The artworks and styles of the past have evolved and have adapted to a _____
world.
a. dynamic changing c. lethargic weakened
b. inert lifeless d. sluggish stagnant

4. Contemporary Philippine art is an expression of the Filipino artist’s thoughts and

feelings based on their _____ .
a. biases c. experience
b. birth d. indifference

5. Categories of artistic creation and are characterized by similarities in form, style,

or subject matter refers to _____ .
a. gender c. genre
b. generality d. gentile

6. Pop Art is an example of _____ Art.

a. Applied c. Performance
b. Literary d. Visual

7. Literary Art is expressed in ____ .

a. Blog c. Graphic Novel
b. Digi Fiction d. all of the above
8. The fusion of different art disciplines using different styles and media in creating
art refers to _____ Art.
a. Contemporary c. Literary
b. Integral d. Temporary

9. Different factors are imbibed by the artist and are combined to get immersed in
the heart, to get molded in the mind and to be propelled in the hands to create
_____ .
a. a contorted reality c. an artificial reality

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 b. a pseudo reality d. an expressive reality

10. The element of Contemporary Art that uses and puts together different art
mediums refers to _____ .
a. appropriation c. space
b. hybridity d. technology

11. The distinct feature of Contemporary Philippine Art that reflects the relationships
build around the bonds of community and society refers to _____ nature.
a. communal c. integrative
b. holistic d. multi-focal

12. One is resourceful if he has the ability to find quick and clever ways to get art
materials from one’s surroundings.
One is creative if one can use his or her imagination in coming up with an artwork.
a. Both statements are FALSE.
b. Both statements are TRUE.
c. The first statement is FALSE, the second statement is TRUE.
d. The first statement is TRUE, the second statement is FALSE.

13. There are established or fixed standards in creating Contemporary Art. The artist
is free to render his artwork with the use of various materials, traditional or non-
traditional.
a. Both statements are FALSE.
b. Both statements are TRUE.
c. The first statement is FALSE, the second statement is TRUE.
d. The first statement is TRUE, the second statement is FALSE.

14. Integrative Art comes in different sizes and shapes, forms and styles as observed
in Junk Art.
Junk Art is a sculptural rendition using discarded or used materials. a.
Both statements are FALSE.
b. Both statements are TRUE.
c. The first statement is FALSE, the second statement is TRUE.
d. The first statement is TRUE, the second statement is FALSE.

15. Intuitive is one of the features of Contemporary Philippine Art. Appropriation is

another feature of Contemporary Philippine Art. a. Both statements are FALSE.
b. Both statements are TRUE.
c. The first statement is FALSE, the second statement is TRUE.
d. The first statement is TRUE, the second statement is FALSE.