Art and Imitation: Forms of Artistic Expression

• Art imitates life and the world, beautifully rendering pleasure.
• Aristotle linked art to human instincts, claiming humans possess instincts for imitation and harmony, lying deep in our nature.
• Humans are considered "Most Imitative of living creature".

Forms of Artistic Expression:

• Picture: Two-dimensional representation of subjects, from real-life to abstract.
• Sculpture: Three-dimensional artwork created using materials like wood or concrete.
• Architecture: Structures designed as shelter, emphasizing design and purpose.
• Music: Art form appealing to hearing, combining notes into harmony.
• Literature: Language art combining words to create meaning and experience.
• Theater: Art form of performance.
• Cinema: Technological interpretation of theater.
• Dance: Art using human form, mobilized and choreographed through time and space.

Philippine Art and Leo Benesa:

• Leo Benesa described Philippine art depicted scenes of everyday life and surroundings without idealization, which was closest to the Filipino soul and native soil.
• Benesa described Amorsolo's works as expressive depictions of the race's ethos and the agricultural countryside
• Most Amorsolo's paintings showcased scenes of life in the fields, portraying hard work with smiles, within rural Philippine landscapes filled with vegetation and nature.
• Literary works in Filipino or regional languages regarded as more Filipino than those in English.

Contemporary Art:

• Contemporary art reflects the world we live in, not restricted to the artist's individual experience.
• According to the J Paul Getty Museum, contemporary art is "art made and produced by artists living today."
• Today's artists respond to a culturally diverse, technologically advancing, and multifaceted global environment.

Elements and Principles of Contemporary Arts:

• Appropriation: Existing artworks are "appropriated" to form another artwork
• Performance: Contemporary artists emphasize spontaneous, unpredictable elements of chance, interpreting human activities and social themes.
• Space: Contemporary artists now occupy how art transforms a space.
• Hybridity: Not defined

Contemporary Artists:

• As innovation has advanced, artists use coffee for painting or crayons for miniature sculptures.
• Technology is used as a tool in the creation and spread of art, where artists use video and the Internet as ways of propagating art.

Philippine Contemporary Art:

• Dr. Patrick Flores describes the Philippine contemporary as a constantly extending and deepening constellation of art.
• Contemporary art allows Filipino artists to express Filipino identity through innovative and skillful means.
• Contemporary art is present even in unexpected locations, defying conventional notions of space and medium.

Award Winning Films/Directors:

• Brilliante Mendoza is described as a neorealist. His films depict the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
• In 2014, the French bestowed Mendoza the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres for world cinema contributions.
• Masahista: Won the Interfaith award at the 15th Brisbane International Film Festival
• Tirador: Won the Caligari Film Prize at Berlin Film Festival
• Serbis: Won the Golden Kinnaree Award at the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival.
• Kinatay: Won the Prix de la mise en scene at the 2009 Canne Film Festival.
• Thy Womb: Won the La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award at the 69th Venice Film Festival
• Adolf Alix Donsol won Special Jury Prize.

Emerging Artists of the Philippines:

• Ronald Ventura is known for applying multiple layers of mixed media techniques and has exhibited worldwide.
• His sample works use graffiti, cartoons, hyperrealism, surrealism, and pop art.
• His paintings are depictions of contemporary upbringing of Manila's iconic urban elite.
• Annie Cabigting's works include painting other people's artworks and are historical perspectives on the constitution of art.
• Angeli Bayani is a theater and film actress who gained acclaim for her role in Lav Diaz's "Norte: The End of History."
• Joshua Lim So is a Palanca winning fictionist and playwright and one of the founders of the Destiyero Theater Commune.

Philippine Playwrights:

• Ed Lacson directed Glen Mas's "Games People Play," using children's games to explore childhood memories and create back stories for characters.
• Sophia Lee is the 2014 Scholastic Asian Book Awards grand prize winner for "What Things Mean," which defines a life in many ways.
• Raymond Abracosa (Abra), a hip-hop artist, gained popularity with his "Gayuma," which received over 26 million views on YouTube.
• Abra hopes his musical standards will inspires others.

National Artist of the Philippines:

• NCCA administers the nomination and selection of exemplary artists.
• Presidential Proclamation No. 1001, s. 1972, created the "Award and Decoration of National Artist" to recognize and give prestige to Filipinos
• This award is the country's highest honor, embodying the nation's ideals in the humanities and aesthetic expression.
• This award is given to Filipino citizens for their contribution in works that contribute to nation-building, have an impact on succeeding generations, excel in their artistic practice, and have prestigious local and international recognitions
• The award includes: Rank and title of National Artist, Gold-plated medallion, Lifetime emolument as well as material and physical benefits, Cash award, Lifetime monthly stipend, Life insurance coverage, State funeral benefits, Place of honor

National Artist Insigna:

• Contains a grand collar adorned by circular links representing the arts, commemorates the sun, and is the color of the Philippine flag.
• The Insigna has highly stylized letter Ks ( ) stand for “katotohanan, kabutihan, at kagandahan”.

National Artist for Literature:

• Francisco Arcellana: Pioneer of modern Filipino short story in English, known for lyrical prose and poetic form.
• N.V.M. Gonzalez articulated the Filipino spirit in rural and urban landscapes and appropriated the English language to express, reflect and shape Philippine culture and sensibility.
• Nick Joaquin wrote in English and enriched it with distinct reinventions of the language and explored the colonial past under Spain.
• F. Sionil Jose consistently espoused the aspirations of the Filipino for national sovereignty and social justice.
• Jose Garcia Villa introduced the reversed consonance rime scheme and comma poems
• Edith Tiempo: Characterized by a remarkable fusion of style and substance and language marked as descriptive but unburdened by scrupulous detailing.
• Virgilio S. Almario redefined how Filipino poetry is viewed and created the Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT) and the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA).
• Amado V. Hernandez was known for his disapproval of social injustices in the country.
• Carlos P. Romulo's multifaceted career of 50 years was spent in public service, writing 18 books for his efforts.
• Carlos L. Quirino has the distinction of writing one of the earliest biographies of Jose Rizal and was the first Filipino correspondent for the United Press Institute.
• Alejandro R. Roces focused on the neglected aspects of Filipino cultural heritage and led the campaign to change Independence Day from July 4 to June 12.
• Lazaro Francisco was an icon in Tagalog writing through his nationalist and social criticism.
• Bienvenido Lumbera introduced Tagalog literature what is now known as Bagay poetry.
• Cirilo F. Bautista: His essays provided insights into the craft of writing and correctives to misconceptions about art.

National Artist for Architecture:

• Pablo S. Antonio works are simple and function. His designs made use of clean and smooth lines and maximized natural light.
• Leandro V. Locsin changed the city with his architecture style that reflects Philippine art and culture has been called unequaled.
• Juan F. Nakpil with strong faith and belief in, Philippine Architecture, espousing architecture that reflect the traditions and culture.
• Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr pioneered the practice of landscape architecture.
• Jose Maria Zaragoza advanced modernism and rebuilt the Philippines in the mid-20th century.

National Artist for Visual Arts:

• Ang Kiukok's art imbues nationalist fervor and sociological agenda, with praised work by critics.
• Victorio C. Edades is the Father of Modernism in Philippine Art, known for his dark and gloomy works with working class subjects.
• Cesar Legaspi used geometric fragmentation to weave social commentary with the mythical and modern.

Philippine Painters:

• Fernando Amorsolo used the rich rural landscapes to depict defense and planting scenes.
• Carlos "Botong" Francisco was a muralist with massive murals and an outstanding depiction of his outstanding depiction of historical pieces.

Visual Arts other:

• Lauro "Larry" Alcala spiced comedic strips.
• National Artist for Visual Arts Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio is known as the Grand Dame of Southeast Asian children's theatre.
• National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab is known for music that reflects life and human happiness.
• Kidlat Tahimik is the National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts and known for films about cultural imperialism.
• For all of his more than 60 years of architectural life, National Artsist for Architecture, Francisco T. Mañosa had developed a legacy of Philippine architecture, which is essential to our Filipino identity.