11

Contemporary
Philippine Arts
from the Regions

WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY ART?

(Ferry Angelyne M. Sisracon)

Copyright 2019
WHAT IS THIS MODULE ALL ABOUT?

This module serves as a learning resource material in understanding the target

competency expected in the curriculum.

TOPIC
 Combination of different arts as seen in the modern times

CONTENT STANDARD
 The learner demonstrates appreciation of contemporary art forms found in various
regions by understanding the elements and principles

LEARNING COMPETENCY

CAR11/12IAC-0a-1

The presented activities or exercises and texts are developed in order to

meet the following objectives:

1. Define “contemporary art” based on historical and cultural perspectives;

2. Explain the difference between the “modern” and “contemporary” arts in the context of

Philippine history and culture; and

3. Evaluate an example of contemporary Philippine literature

LESSON PROPER

Pre-Test

A. Read and understand each item carefully. Then, select the letter of the best answer.

1. What artistic tradition combines different methods, materials and ideas that transcend the
traditional way of creating arts?
A. American Colonial Arts B. Modern Arts
C. Contemporary Arts D. 21st Century Arts
2. Which of the following sentences does not define “contemporary” in arts?
A. Produced by artists living today.
B. Done to copy and idealize reality.
C. Can be changed depending on the historical and cultural contexts.
D. Created to create illusions of depth, nearness and farness.
3. What are the factors that influence the development of contemporary art forms?
A. innovation, socio-economic and political environments
B. socio-economic and political environments
C. innovation, socio-political and cultural environments
D. social, political environment and culture
4. What is the contemporary art production that utilizes digital technologies in mass
production?
A. digital arts B. graffiti C. land art D. sgraffito
5. What is the French word that means “take off” or “to become unglued?”
A. collage B. decollage C. digital arts D. mixed media

B. Modified TRUE or FALSE. Write LIT if the statement is correct. Otherwise, write
WIT and underline the word(s) and/or phrase(s) that made the statement incorrect.
Write the correct answer on the space provided.

6. The practice of creating contemporary arts started in the years that the 6. _____________
Western world was significantly developing.

7. Modern art is total the same as contemporary arts since modern and 7. _____________
contemporary are synonymous to each other.

8. Before the colonization, the Philippines already has indigenous arts. 8. _____________

9. Avant-garde is a form of contemporary arts. 9. _____________

10. Modern art developed even after the World War II and led to the 10. ____________
contemporary way of art-making today.
Review

Study each picture below and identify the period or art tradition from which it came from.
Write the letter of the correct answer on the space provided.

P – Pre-Colonial M – Modern
S – Spanish C – Contemporary
A – American

1. __________ 2. __________ 3. __________

4. __________ 5. __________ 6. __________

Activity 1

During the lesson, students shall be grouped into five. They shall identify the various
mediums and techniques used in different historical periods.

STYLISTIC OVERVIEW
Pre-colonial Spanish American Modern Post-Modern/

Colonial Colonial Contemporary

Painting
Sculpture
Architecture
Performing

Arts

Discussion

Art plays an important role in the identity of the Filipinos and the Philippine culture,

in general. The various art forms, found even in the most remote and far-flung areas of the

archipelago, mirror the country’s history, cultures and traditions. Art draws inspiration from

the society and at the same time, art is honed by specific conditions that engendered its

production (Datuin et al, 2016)

Today, it is a common tendency of students and teachers alike to describe the current

art forms as “moderm.” Being modern means being up to date or relating to the present time.

Often, it is also considered as contemporary. However, a clear line must be delineated to

differentiate the two.

This module shall provide you with a ray of light on the differences between modern

and contemporary arts and the contexts of the latter. When we say context, it means not only

the background or backdrop but also what, how and why an art was made. Specifically, this

lesson gives you the difference between contemporary and modern arts in the context of

Philippine history and culture.

What is Contemporary Arts?

The present is always the modern. And being modern means being technologically

advanced—using laptop and smartphones effectively or being able to communicate well

using the latest internet application or being able to be adept with the current social media

craze. Often, being modern is also being contemporary. And contemporary art being “at

present,” “new,” is also modern. People, especially students, tend to confuse that modern

could also mean diverting from being “traditional,” “orthodox,” or conservative.” Therefore,

the terms could be interchanged.

First, a quick research on the history of the Philippines and looking into the art forms

and culture during pre-colonial until the modern periods (Fajardo and Flores, 2002). The

following table includes on the visual arts—painting, sculpture and architecture.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINE ARTS

(Fajardo and Flores, 2002)
FORM PRE- SPANISH AMERICAN JAPANESE POST-WAR 70s-
COLONIAL PRESENT
Painting >pots >religious >landscapes >wartime >modern >figurative
>body icons >portraits scenes >conservative >non-
ornaments >portraits >still life >propaganda >abstract figurative
>jewelries Indegenizing >experimental >arts for art’s
and >public sake
orientalizing >multimedia
Sculpture >pots >santos >free-
works >transmedia
>carvings >furnitures standing
>idylls
>woodworks >reliefs >reliefs
>metalworks >jewelries >public
>metalwork
>fiesta
Architecture >dwellings >church >city >public Real estate, safe housing,
>houses >plaza planning works accessories, tenements,
>shelters complex >parks squatters, convention arch,
>town >waterfronts commercial/ businesses,
>worship
planning condos, malls, subdivisions,
areas >civic/ govts
developments, low-cost
>official >fortification structures
housing
residences >civic >public
>mosque buildings and works
>masjid installations >apartmens
>state >private >residences
edifices residences >offices
>commercial >health and
structures public
>cemeteries education
>bridges >chalet
>lighthouses

Figure 1.1. Historical Overview of Philippine Arts

It's also ironic that many people say they don't "get" contemporary art because, unlike

cave paintings or ambahan, art made since 1960 reflects our own recent past. It speaks to the

dramatic social, political and technological changes of the last 50 years, and it questions

many of society's values and assumptions—a tendency of postmodernism, a concept

sometimes used to describe contemporary art. What makes today's art especially challenging

is that, like the world around us, it has become more diverse and cannot be easily defined

through a list of visual characteristics, artistic themes or cultural concerns. So, from the

Figure 1.1. contemporary art could literally be considered as works of artists living today.

Figure 1.2. “PORK-eating Cong,” by Pablo Baen Santos (2009)

Figure 1.2 was done in 2009 by Pablo Baen Santos, who believes in arts as an

exposition of the true conditions of the society. His oil panting in canvas was part of the

exhibition entitled, “Against the Current: Contemporary Social Realist Art in the Philippines”

at vMeme Contemporary Gallery in 2013. Whereas, Figure 1.3. a 1978 painting by Antipas
Delotavo of a man walking in front of a mural of a know company where the “C” of the

brand name aims at the chest of a seemingly tired factory worker.

Figure 1.3. “Itak sa Puso ni Mang Juan,” by Antipas Delotavo (1978)

Both works were considered contemporary at the time they were painted. But today,

they are referred to as examples of modern art, produced between the American Colonial and

the Post-War Periods. Some artists, who continue working these days have their artworks

considered contemporary by virtue of being made “in the present time.” For example, Arturo

Luz, National Artist for Sculpture, started creating arts in the 1950s. His works prior to the

present are considered modern, as seen in Figure 1.1. And his works at present, in this

particular decade, is contemporary. The term “contemporary” is fluid and ever-changing. Its

use can change from time to time depending on the context present. So, one must be careful

when using “modern” and “contemporary simulataneously or interchangeably.

What is Modern Arts?

According to Stancheva (2017), the history of modern Philippine arts is marked by a

conflict between the rules and views of the academy and the innovative methods of the

modernists. National Artist Victorio Edades led in challenging the neoclassic style—that

depicts reality as closely as possible—and the conservative arts of Fernando Amorsolo and
Guillermo Tolentino. But it must be noted that they aim not to copy reality but to change

colors and flatten the images to create illusions of depth and to possibly depict reality

although they are “ugly” and “unpleasant.” (Datuin et al, 2016)

For a time, modern art was both appaling and suprising while the traditional was

familiar and elegant. Artworks were considered classical as the modernists revived the

academic period. It continued until they penetrated the Philippine School of Fine Arts, now

the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts where Fernando Amorsolo and

Guillermo Tolentino, the Father of Philippine Arts were most influential. Their teachings

continued to impact different students in various schools through curricular offerings and

workshops and apprenticeships.

At present, the modern might be considered “traditional” because that period has been

gone. It already became part of the academic and the curricula. Whereas, the contemporary,

being “at present” is continuously moving ang changing.

Activity 2

After the lesson, assume you are all contemporary artists. Create an collaborative and

integrative art using a local myth that the teacher will provide. Divide the class into five groups and

discuss the local myth-- taking note of the subject, mediums and elements. Each group will be given

ten minutes to improvise. And another one to two minutes to present.

Group 1: dance

Group 2: tunog-tao

Group 3: skit

Group 4: spoken poetry

Group 5: poster

The groups will come together to integrate their outputs with a composite piece. It will be polished on

the succeeding meeting.

Analysis

Explain the difference between modern and contemporary arts using thefollowing

https://camdencivilrightsproject.com/c6faff11a8fc4e5e https://www.pinterest.ph/allan4beginners/philippine-
9e1be2ca159f7a1e/ social-realism/

Abstraction

Contemporary arts is distinguishable from the modern arts by looking at its historical and

cultural perspectives. Modern arts identify itself with the academe and the traditional whereas

contemporary arts identify itself with the present but it is also open to many other possibilities that is

why it is ever changing, it is not fixed.

Application
You may ask around your community and find out if there are contemporary artists. Ask them

if they can show you their works. Consult also if you can create your own art inspire by their works.

You may then use either a photo collage or photo essay and upload your work with a blog containing

your personal view on the “contemporary-ness” of your artwork and how does it differ from other art

works from the modern and other periods.

Summary of Learning

The different places in the country are home to various arts, cultures and traditions. And these

forms reflect the inspirations why and how art works were made in a specific period of time. Given

this, being modern means being advanced and adept with the latest in the society. In the

context of Philippine art history, modern arts means works made after the war making it kind

of academic and traditional. Contemporary arts, on the other hand, are forms made in the

current period by this generation. Simply put, contemporary arts means art works made by

artists living today.

The difference between the two is somewhat confusing. The terms could actually be

interchanged. However, looking on to the historical and cultural perspectives of both provides

the characteristics needed to decipher one after the other.

ASSESSMENT
A. Write P if the description belongs to the Pre-Colonial; S for Spanish Colonial; A for Americal

Colonial; M for Modern or C for Contemporary Period

1. The geographical location and experiences of Filipinos were the main factors in art

production. ____
2. Awit and comedia were popular in this period. ____
3. Technological innovations affected art-making resulting to non-conventional

artworks. ____
4. This period was highly influenced by idyllic and nostalgic encounter of people in ____

this period.
5. Mass production of arts and crafts are essential for the market-oriented public ____

B. Identify the period where the following art forms thrived.

6. Burnham Park

7. “Spoliarium” by Juan Luna

8. Pintados

9. Maragondon Church

10. “Spoliarium” by Eraserheads

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
If you have access to the internet, search for Lourd de Veyra’s “Word of the Lourd.” Watch some

episodes. Is it an example of contemporary art? Why? Your output can be a blog entry or a video

using the same format (as WOTL).

Answer Key

Pre-test Post-test
1. C 1. P
2. A 2. S
3. C 3. M
4. A 4. A
5. B 5. C
6. LIT 6. Americal Colonial Period
7. WIT, Modern and Contemporary Arts are 7. Spanish Colonial Period

entirely different stylistic periods

8. LIT 8. Pre-Colonial Period
9. LIT 9. Spanish Colonial Period
10. LIT 10. Contemporary Period

References

Datuin, Flaudette May, et al. 2016. Contemporay Philippine Arts from the Regions. Rex
Bookstore.

Fajardo, Brenda and Patrick Flores. 2002. Arts, Man and Society. UP Press.

Mendez, Mario L. Jr.,Contemporary Philippine Art from the Regions, DIWA Learning
Systems Inc.

Sandagan, Luviminda D.and Sayseng, Ayesha H., Contemporary Philippine Art from the
Regions. JFS Publishing Services.