Indigenous Art in the Philippines

Indigenous Art in the Philippines

• Indigenous art in the Philippines reflects the community’s cultural values and practices.
• Examples include various visual arts, song, dance, handicrafts, tapestries, clothing, and pottery.
• The Ata-Manobo tribe is one of the Lumad indigenous communities found in various regions in the Philippines.

Indigenous Art and Materials

• Indigenous art in the Philippines is characterized by the use of local materials.
• Abaca is a strong fiber used to create mats, dining tables, boxes, jars, armchairs, and bins.
• Clay is used for pottery, such as the Manunggul jar from Palawan, which was used for burial about 2,700 years ago.
• The Ilokanos use clay to make burnay, a traditional water and food container.

Weaving in the Philippines

• Weaving is a traditional art form in the Philippines and utilizes local raw materials such as cotton, fibers, abaca, and pineapple.
• The Banton cloth is the oldest existing textile in the Philippines, dating back to 1400-1500 AD.
• The tanhaga of Kalibo, Aklan is the earliest existing specimen of warp tie-dyed textile in Southeast Asia.
• The Kadangyan is a burial cloth for the wealthy in the Mountain Province.
• The Inabel, handwoven by the Ilocanos, is known as “Abel Iloco”.
• There are roughly 450 weaving groups across the Philippines.

Woodcarving in the Philippines

• Paete is known as the “Carving Capital of the Philippines”.
• Woodcarving is an art form that involves sculpting wood into decorative bas-reliefs, life-size figures, furniture, and architectural decorations.
• Woodcarving traditionally involves hand tools, but power tools are also used in contemporary times.

Contemporary Filipino Artists

• Contemporary artists continue to explore and incorporate indigenous art forms and materials into their work.
• Gabriel Barredo: A contemporary artist who utilizes various threads to create his artwork. He utilizes machine-sewn and handwoven threads.
• Angelo L. Bautista: An architect and craftsman known for his woodcarving.
• Bautista’s work is inspired by Filipino identity and incorporates elements of artistry, architecture, environmentalism, and functionality.
• Bautista’s work embodies the following philosophies:
  • Utilizing art to tell individual stories.
  • Creating ergonomic designs.
  • Integrating human value, functionality, and meaning into design.