Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Region

Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Region

• Local Materials: Artists utilize readily available materials like bamboo, abaca, nito, pandan, rattan, and bakbak. Abaca fiber comes in various shades from white to dark brown, and is prevalent in Eastern Visayas. Nito is abundant in Mindanao. Pandans are processed into splints used in Visayas.

• Abaca: A banana family member, its fiber is naturally lustrous and ranges from white to dark brown. Eastern Visayas is a significant supplier.

• Nito: A fern family plant, abundant in Mindanao's hinterlands. Used for bags, bread trays, and lampshades.

• Pandan: A tropical plant, processed into splints. Significant in Calatrava, Visayas, for baskets, hats, mats.

• Rattan: Belonging to the palm family, comprises various types (high/low climbers, single/clustered). Used in furniture, picture frames, and baskets.

• Bakbak: The outermost covering of abaca stalks, a strong, durable sheath used for furniture, mats, and containers.

• Bamboo: A versatile material used in construction, textiles, musical instruments, and more, abundant in several Philippine provinces. Examples include kubing, bungkaka, and novelty items.

• Tikog: Native sea grass, used for mats, hampers, and other woven products.

• Buntal: A cylindrically shaped fiber, ivory-colored, durable, pliable, and dyeable. Notable producers are in Bohol, Pangasinan, Marinduque, and Quezon. Products include shoes, desk accessories, and wallets.

• Buri: Durable fiber from the buri palm leaves, resistant to moisture. Used for hats, baskets, and bags.

• Coir: Fibrous material surrounding coconuts. Abundant in CALABARZON, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region. Used for indoor/outdoor carpets, wall coverings, and doormats.

• Capiz Shells: Translucent, allowing light to pass through. From the windowpane oyster (Placuna placenta), found in Philippine coastal waters. Used in ornaments and decorations.

Art Mediums and Techniques

• Mediums: Materials used to create an artwork (e.g., metal, wood, stone, clay, glass, pigments, inks, etc).

• Techniques: Ways artists manipulate materials to achieve a desired effect or communicate meaning. Techniques vary based on medium, for example, wood is carved, stone is chiseled, thread is woven.

• Painting: Uses pigments on various surfaces (wood, canvas, paper).

• Printmaking: Process of transferring ink to a surface, creating multiple copies (wood, metal, silk screen).

• Music: Composed of sound and instruments, including the human voice.

• Dance: Utilizes the human body and movements.

• Theater: Integrates various arts (visual, musical, dance) on a stage, using a script.

• Photography: Uses cameras to capture images.

• Film: Combines cinematography, production design, sound, and script.

• Creative Writing: Encompasses various genres (novels, poetry, nonfiction, fiction).

• Collage: Assembling different materials to create a new whole work.

• Decalcomania: Applying gouache to a surface, then transferring a reversed image.

• Decoupage: Adhering cut images to a surface and coating with varnish.

• Eggshell Mosaic: Creates images or objects using small eggshell pieces.

• Trapunto Painting: A technique using padding, sewing, and embellishments on fabrics. Noted in the work of Pacita Abad.

Production Planning

• Method: The framework that provides a skeletal plan, including production objectives, materials, procedures, manpower, and target dates.

• Venue/Platform: The physical space for execution.

• Objectives: Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound goals (SMART).

• Target Audience: Intended recipients of the artwork.

• Procedures: Steps to be taken.

• Materials: Centerpiece of the concept for artworks (e.g., scripts, music, choreography).

• Machinery: Tools and equipment (e.g., stage lighting, sound systems).

• Manpower: Team members with designated roles.

• Art techniques: techniques used to create the production (collage, decoupage, eggshell mosaic).