Philippine Art Techniques: Wood Carving, Pottery

Art Techniques

• Technique involves how artists manipulate materials to achieve a desired effect and communicate meaning through their unique style
• The medium dictates the technique used in art

Medium and Technique Examples

• Stone is chiseled to create sculptures
• Wood is carved for artistic and functional objects
• Clay is modeled and shaped to form pottery
• Molten metal is cast into various forms
• Threads are woven to create textiles

Traditional Philippine Art Techniques

Wood Carving

• Involves using tools to shape wood into aesthetic objects

Molding

• Shapes liquid or pliable materials like clay
• Pottery in the Philippines is a long-standing tradition using this technique

Burnay Pottery

• Features unglazed clay pottery from Vigan, used for food and water storage

Manunggul Jar

• Served a funerary purpose for ancient Tagalogs, holding remains of deceased loved ones
• Intricate carvings on the jar depict two figures in a boat, symbolizing the journey to the afterlife
• This artifact provides insights into ancient Tagalog burial practices and showcases Filipino craftsmanship

Weaving

• Creates fabrics by interlacing two sets of yarns (warp and weft)
• Various weaving techniques yield unique textures and patterns
• The Ilocano people still practice hand-weaving using the pedal loom
• Inabel is a fabric made of cotton fiber
• T'nalak is a sacred cloth woven by the T'boli people

Basketry

• Includes four main methods: coiling, plaiting, wickering, and twining
• Basket weaving terms are loops, twining, ribs, and spokes
• Materials include rattan, abaca, nito, tikog, buri, bamboo, pandan, coconut leaves, palm leaves, and beeswax

Philippine Materials for Crafts and Arts

• Various local materials are used in the Philippines for creating crafts and art

Abaca

• Belongs to the banana family and has fibers with a natural luster with colors ranging from white to dark brown
• Used for clothes, decorations, and baskets

Bamboo

• Comes from a bamboo tree
• It is used in creating a product
• It is used in construction, textiles, musical instruments
• Used for kitchen utensils, home decor, and furniture

Sea Shells

• Protect marine mollusks and are crafted into personal and home decorations

Rattan

• Belongs to the palm family with high or low climbing, single-stemmed, or clustered species
• Used for furniture, Sepak Takraw balls, and pageant costumes

Capiz Shells

• Translucent shells from window-pane oysters of the Philippines
• Used for plates, window panes, and chandeliers

Buri Palm

• Fiber is durable and moisture-resistant for hand fans

Puni or Palm Folding

• Originated in Bulacan and enhance objects aesthetically

Singkaban or Bamboo Art

• Bamboo arch signage often decorates town fiestas in Bulacan and some provinces of the Philippines

Taka

• Originated in Laguna
• Carved wooden sculptures are used as molds
• Brown craft paper final layer provides export quality

Art Criticism

• Analyzes and evaluates art objectively exploring era, movement, style, and context

Critiquing Art: Describing the Work

• Gather background information about the art like title, artist, creation date, origin, media, measure
• Describe the artwork objectively

Discussing Art Elements

• Analyzing line
• Analyzing color
• Analyzing Space
• Analyzing Light
• Analyzing Shape
• Art uses line, color, space, light, and form

Art Interpretation

• Identify and describe the artwork's intended purpose with supporting examples

Art Judgment

• Evaluate the artwork and explain why it's effective or ineffective

Art Purposes

Art for Delight

• Evokes positive emotions like happiness and wonder
• Fosters community enjoyment through installations, performances, and festivals

Art as Mathematical Expression

• Uses geometry and symmetry in compositions
• Incorporates complex fractal patterns

Art in Worship and Ritual

• Artistic creations used in religious or spiritual practices to express devotion, enhance ceremonies, or symbolize beliefs

Art for Commemoration

• Honors significant events, people, or traditions

Art as Therapy

• Uses creative activities to improve mental and emotional well-being and promote healing

Art as Self Expression

• Artists to convey their personal feelings or worldview

Artistic Presentation Examples

River of Life (1954)

• Painted by Galo Ocampo
• Used intense colors to depict a desolate landscape and extreme suffering

Polyp

• Uses industrial materials to resemble marine life's complexity in an installation

Chrysalis

• Bamboo installation referencing a local myth and a Spanish galleon wreck

Aliens of Manila

• Site-specific installation responding to a New York headquarters

Music

• Structured arrangement of sounds using melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre
• It evokes emotions and is essential to cultures worldwide
• Elements include rhythm, dynamics, melody, harmony, tone color, and texture

Dance

• Rhythmic body movement set to music
• A form of expression, storytelling, cultural tradition, entertainment, or ritual

Contemporary Dance

• Blends modern, ballet, and jazz elements
• It emphasizes creativity, emotion, and freedom of movement