Forms of Artistic Expression and Contemporary Art

Study Notes

Contemporary art is defined as the "art of today," although its temporal boundaries can be broad and ambiguous.
Origin of the word "art" is from the Latin "ars," meaning "skill," highlighting the technique involved in artistic creation.
Various art forms exist, including visual art, music, literature, theater, cinema, and dance, each appealing to different senses and expressing ideas through unique mediums.

Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain," a 1917 readymade sculpture made from a porcelain urinal, symbolizes the challenge to traditional artistic values.
Submitted to the Society of Independent Artists' exhibition, Duchamp's work sparked conversation around the definition of art.
Key artistic movements include modernism and the emergence of pop art in the 1960s, marking a significant shift in the art world.

Picture: A two-dimensional representation that can depict real-life subjects or abstract forms.
Sculpture: A three-dimensional artwork crafted from materials like stone, marble, wood, and concrete.
Architecture: Art heavily focused on functional structures, relying on both design and utility.
Music: An auditory art form created by harmonizing notes.
Literature: Language art that weaves meaning and experience through words.
Theater: Performance art that brings dramatic texts to life with actors, props, and stage effects.
Cinema: A technological art form resembling theater, utilizing special effects to enhance storytelling.
Dance: An expressive art form that choreographs the human body in time, form, and space.

Modern art is recognized as beginning in the 1860s, lasting until the 1960s, while contemporary art refers to works produced from the 1960s onwards.
Philippine art is exemplified through landscape paintings by Fernando Amorsolo and historical works by Carlos “Botong” Francisco, reflecting genuine Filipino perspectives.
Filipino literary contributions by N.V.M. Gonzales and Edith Tiempo further showcase the country's artistic expression.

Contemporary artists often utilize mixed media to explore the harmony of different elements within their works.
Painting remains the predominant form of contemporary art, with artists employing various pigments and techniques to manifest their creative visions.