CONTEMPORARY ARTS – GRADE 12 HUMSS AND STEM

CHAPTER 3: PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

NATIONAL ARTISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
 To qualify, the National Artists must have the following criteria:
1. Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination, as well as those who died after the establishment of
the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death;
2. Artists who, through the content and form of their works, have contributed in building a Filipino sense of nationhood;
3. Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus earning distinction and making an impact
on succeeding generations of artists;
4. Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of work and/or consistently displayed excellence in the
practice of their art form, thus enriching artistic expression or style; and
5. Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through-
a. prestigious national and/or international recognition, such as the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, CCP Thirteen Artists
Award, and NCCA Alab ng Haraya;
b. critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works;
c. respect and esteem from peers.

CHAPTER 4
PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ARTS: EXPRESSIONS
CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICES IN THE PHILIPPINES
• are actual practices of the arts in everyday life.
• They are expressed in different ways, by an individual or by a collaboration of several artists.
• The form and content of an artwork that is done by an individual artists are products of a single person`s
thoughts and emotions.
• One example of a collaboration product is jose tence ruiz`s “shoal”- The idea is the brainchild of Ruiz, but the
execution of the entire artwork has been done by several artists.

• A sample of a complete collaboration:

• An artworks that showcases different ideas from different persons-can be seen in the Chapel of the Holy
Sacrifice in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
• Four national artists were involved in creating the circular chapel:
-the design of the building by Arch. Leandro Locsin
-the main crosses at the Altar carved by Napoleon Abueva
-the Stations of the Cross by Vicente Manansala
-the mosaic floor surrounding the altar done by Arturo Luz

FESTIVALS AND RITUALS: REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE ARTS

• One collaborative art that is common to every region is the FESTIVAL.
• The Philippines have festivals of every kind:
-festivals honoring patron saints
-thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest
-commemoration of an event
-tribute to a special occasion or a local specialty
• The celebration for festivals have become a collaborative art that involves many art forms and styles.
• A festivals may be composed of street-dancing, singing competitions, architectural decors like floats and a lot
more.

RITUALS OR RITES
• Are also examples of Philippine folk tradition and art, practiced in almost every region. These are a part of the
culture.
• They are a series of ceremonies or prescribed actions performed for a specific purpose.
• There are ceremonial rites, religious rites, betrothal and marriage rituals, the rite of passage and others.
• Rituals can be simple or complex, private or public, and can last for a few minutes or stretch for days.
• The rituals are often accompanied by dancing.

MATERIALS
Materials for Filipino Art Forms:
• LITERARY ARTIST: paper and pen or typewriter
• VISUAL ARTIST: paint, paper, or canvas
• MUSICIAN: instrument and/or a musical sheet
 • PAINTER: oil paints and brushes
MATERIALS FOR VISUAL DESIGN COME IN TWO FORMS:
1. SUPPORT- it is the primary material or the secondary material of which the work of art is made.
 Examples of Primary Material: paper, canvas, stone, textile
 Examples of Secondary Material: paper glued, mounted on cardboard, textile over wood
2. MEDIUM- stands for the substance applied to the support.
 Examples: crayon, paint, dye
EXAMPLES
• The late Levi Celerio, National Artist for music, was fond of using a leaf with his lips in humming musical tunes.
• During the Christmas season, children sing Christmas carols with the help of their tin cans and sticks or stones.
• Various musicians and bands use alternative materials today. A number of Filipino bands that play with
unconventional musical instruments, like bamboo, have emerged. One of them is the BANDA KAWAYAN
PILIPINAS, formerly known as the PUP BANDA KAWAYAN.
TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
FROM MT. PROVINCE:
• GANGSA PLAYED IN THE CORDILLERA REGION
• KALALENG OR TANGALI (NOSE FLUTE) MADE OF BAMBOO
• TONGATONG
PALIPAL- USED BY IFUGAO
SOLIBAO-IGOROT DRUM TOPPED WITH PIGSKIN
IN MINDANAO:
 KULITANG-is a set of gongs placed on a narrow supporting table, played in particular by the Maranao and
Maguindanao people.
 KUTYAPI- is a two-stringed played by the Maguindanao people.
Today, there is a crossover, or hybridization of materials. Local and traditional ones have combined with contemporary
art forms. Now, whatever is available locally, suitable and applicable to the art form is the norm. Local, traditional, and
alternative materials have combined, creating a new unique Filipino style.

TECHNIQUES
 as the process or method that makes use of the materials on hand.
 as the skill of the artist to execute his or her work and produce the effect he or she wants to achieve.
There are diverse techniques for different art forms:
• A writing technique- is the way a writer arranges words and thoughts to create moods or atmospheres, or to
evoke the feeling he or she wants to express.
• A musical technique- is the way the musician handles his or her instrument to interpret a musical composition
and to express the feeling he or she wants to evoke.
• The visual artist`s techniques- is his or her approach in using the medium to come out with the desired result.
• An acting technique- is the manner of using facial expressions, gestures, and body movements to portray a
character.
• A dance technique- is the way of moving one`s body to express an emotion or a desired state or condition.

CHAPTER 5: PHILIPPINE CONTEMPORARY ARTS: EXPERIMENTATIONS

 EXPERIMENTATIONS
 It is a feature that is not as evident because it is a part of the creative process.
 It consists of several trial-and-error attempts until the desired result is achieved.
 The outcomes are usually original, unique, and innovative productions.
 For example, the recent performance of El Gamma Penumbra, a Philippine shadow play group, in AXN Asia`s reality
talent show, Asia`s Got Talent. El Gamma Penumbra has won the hearts of the masses because of their unique
presentation, experimental visuals and movements, and powerful themes and messages.
 In experimental cinema-there are the independent films, better known as indie films. It is oftentimes called an art
film for it bears the filmmaker`s personal artistic vision.
 In visual design- performance art (also called art in action or happenings) is usually done in public, where an artist
or several members perform the artwork on-the-spot. There is usually some element of discovery or even surprise.
If the project is done on a sidewalk or part of a street, it is temporary. Sometimes artists are allowed to paint along
cemented fences or walls of institutions where their murals can remain permanent.
-Examples: Metro Manila, Cubao-Aurora underpass, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Ninoy Aquino Parks
and Wildlife Center
 DIGITALIZATION
 It is the emergence of digital technology has given rise to new directions in the arts. It is the new medium. It has
solved many challenges to the artists from the previous decades. All the art forms to enhance, supplement, or
sometimes replace the content, form, and style of their works. Example: Take the case of architecture. The CAD
(Computer Aid Design) has taken over and replaced the work of the draftsman. This program does the architectural
or engineering drawings of the professional architect or engineer that will eventually become the blueprint for
construction. The difference between the time and effort to produce the drawing has been lessened drastically.
Digital technology saves time.
 In visual design-several types of digital media art have appeared, such as virtual reality, net art, virtual installation,
digital imaging and animation. However, these are techniques that require digital know-how, technical and
creative skills. For visual design, some software programs are InkScape, GIMP, MS Paint and Adobe Photoshop. For
video productions, there are the Windows Movie Maker, Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects and
Macromedia Flash.
 Another notable innovation in experimental art is the interactive art. This type of art allows the spectator to be
literally a part of the artwork. Oftentimes, the intensity of the art depends on the participation and the
interpretation of the spectator. Perhaps the most popular kind of interactive art is the optical art, better known as
“3D art” or “trick art”. Optical art is a two-dimensional type of art that gives illusion of depth to its spectators.
Example: One of the pioneers of 3D art in the country is the Guhit Visual Arts Group, a former university-based
visual arts group that propagates culture through art. It consists of artists who have masterminded the works in
Manila trick art museums like Tutuban Vitual Zoo and Seriland Trick Art Museum.
 In literature- there are e-books, animated poetry, interactive fiction, and hypertext fiction and poetry. Frank G.
Rivera, a theater director and playwright, popularized a poetry series that is written and read on mobile phones.
Called “textual”, his textual series has gained attention in social media, print media, and even in political rallies.
 Choreography-uses technology for dance notations and interactive techniques, breeding a new forms of
choreographic practice. Through social media, different kinds of choreography are now being viewed by
spectators-dancers and nondancers alike-worldwide.
 Theater and cinema use the same digital processes as music, but added to these, theater and cinema use this
technology to enhance and innovate visual, lighting and sound effects together with the performers onstage or on
the screen.

 CONTEMPORARY ART PRODUCTION

1. The Production Team
-A masterpiece without a master is not an art.
- Every work of art has brain and a heart that have fueled it to life. Each art form has a production team.
-A production team may be composed of painters, drafters, muralists, and the like for a visual design; engineer and
architects for an architecture; directors, screenplay writers, and actors for film; playwrights, actors, and directors for
theater; and many others.
2. The Writers
- This team is responsible for putting into writing the entire plan, including the ideas of the director and
choreographer, turn the theme into a narrative, make the speaking lines of the actors clear, simple, easy to
understand, and aligned with the concept.
3. The Director
-The director is the overall supervisor of the team. He/she is responsible for turning the concept (and script) into
reality: He/she forms the cast and assigns roles to the actors; and chooses the venue, set design, color scheme,
costumes, props, lighting and sound effects.
-The director works with the actors and the entire crew to carry out their vision, and works with everyone involved
from start to finish. In order to maintain relationship with everyone in the production, the director moves everyone
to action in a pleasant and agreeable way. Aside from these, he or she must also be open-minded and willing to
accept suggestions.
4. The Choreographer
-The choreographer designs and arranges the dance steps and movements of the individual performers and
envisions the entire ensemble as a whole piece. He or she sees to it that he choreography matches or in line with the
theme.
-The choreographer provides the framework for the dance but allows the dancers the freedom to suggest and
demonstrate a step or a movement that can be incorporated into the choreography. Like the director, the
choreographer must also show pleasant, agreeable manner.
5. The Actors/ The Performers
- The actors or performers have more defined roles. They must do what the director or choreographer asks them to
do. The lead actors/ performers may improvise and make their own interpretation of the role.
-However, the supporting cast has to follow strictly the instruction of the director/ choreographer, or else it might
upstage the lead roles.
6. The Backstage Crew
-The backstage crew is in charge of the practical matters involving the show; the stage manager acts as a prompter,
making sure the actors are on cue; the props people are ready to hand the props or place them in the proper places;
the technicians test the lights and sounds beforehand, ensuring that the lights and sounds are on time and of the
right intensity; the designers and makeup artists check that the stage sets, costumes, and makeup are in proper
form; and many others.
7. The Concept
-When you are given a problem to solve, you start first with several ideas of how to solve it. How do you generate
ideas in a group?
-There are several ways, but the common way is to do some brainstorming, getting as many ideas as possible-from
the usual ones to the wild, crazy, weird, even nonsensical ones. All suggestions are respected and accepted in a
nonjudgmental manner. After the ideas are exhausted, the class selects the best one: the most realistic, practical,
and suitable for the production. This idea or concept is developed and becomes the theme. The theme is then
turned into a narrative for the production.
8. The Plan
-The first step in planning is setting objectives. After setting your objectives, then you can start planning. This is the
time to organize your human and material resources. List down the needs to make things happen. Assign persons to
do specific tasks. Create a time table for the tasks and for rehearsals-how many times and how long they will be. It is
imperative that everyone is present during rehearsals.
-Select members for specific tasks and be sure that the tasks match the skills and abilities of the members.
-Remember that his is a collaborative work and, therefore, team effort is much needed. Success means the
cooperation and assistance of everyone.
9. The Presentation
-The day of the performance arrives and everyone is tense. One of the job of the director is to keep everyone calm.
The audience trickles in. All the members are in the backstage and are not allowed to mingle with the audience. The
production starts at the designated time.
10. The Feedback
-At the end of the presentation, it is possible to ask a feedback from the audience. After that, all the members meet
to give and get feedback. Feedback is needed to get information on the result of the presentation.
-It should be given in an objective manner and must not be taken personally.
Read-Read-Read-Read and Understand
Good luck and God bless!!!.....
Prepared by Ms. MJ Ayyang