Philippine Contemporary Art: Traditions

• Contemporary Art in the Philippine Context

What is Philippine Art?

• Defining Philippine art and determining what makes it Filipino has been a long-standing issue, especially in visual arts, talked about since the 1950s.
• Art critic Leo Benesa noted that "Genre used to be a major consideration in determining the 'Filipino-ness' of a work of art at least in painting."
• Benesa stated that portraying everyday life and surroundings without idealization capture the Filipino soul and native soil best.
• Philippine art can be defined as art depicting the everyday lives of Filipinos.

Philippine Arts and Design Traditions

• Philippine Arts and Design consist of Ethnic, Hispanic, American, and Global traditions.

Ethnic Traditions

• The oldest Philippine design tradition is ethnic, rooted in prehistoric times.
• Ethnic communities in the Cordillera highlands of Luzon, Bukidnon Plateau, and mountain ranges of Lanao, Davao Oriental, and Agusan have preserved this tradition.
• Ethnic designs were created to adapt to various climates and environments.
• The windowless Ifugao house of Mayaoyao with a low-hanging steep roof was created due to the cold and heavy rains of the Cordillera.
• Ethnic textile designs are created to identify specific groups or tribes.
• Example: the malong landap of the Maranao with narrow bands of supplemental weaves called landap
• Weaves join together separate pieces of plain cloth.
• Ethnic designs distinguish between social roles, political power, and sexes.
• Dress and bodily ornamentation like jewelry, tattoos differentiated ethnolinguistic groups.

Hispanic Traditions

• The Hispanic tradition refers to artistic and design influences from Spain, beginning in 1565.
• Spanish colonization introduced Filipinos to Baroque and Rococo styles through architectural handbooks.
• Friars and missionaries taught Hispanic paintings and sculptures to local artists.
• Filipinos became adept at the Hispanic mode, creating artworks focusing on the Catholic faith.
• Sculptors created images of saints, and painters painted religious elements and scenes from the Bible.
• Art academies opened in the latter half of the 19th century, allowing Filipinos to study in Europe.
• Local artists were introduced to Hispanic traditional materials like limestone and sandstone, fashioned into blocks, doors, and window jambs.
• Clay was fired in kilns to make teja (roof tiles), baldosa (floor tiles), and ladrillo (bricks).
• Lime from karst formation, oyster shells, or dead coral reefs was transformed into slaked lime using a high-temperature flame.
• The slaked lime was mixed with water to create a strong plaster for cementing stone blocks.
• A thin protective layer, paletada or palitada (Spanish term for the cement trowel), was applied over blocks.
• Factory-made construction products like sim or zinc sheets and metal stamped ceilings were imported from England by the 19th century.

American Traditions

• The signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, marks the start of this design tradition.
• Americanization of the Philippines led to redesign and exposure to mass media.
• Cartoons in magazines, comics, and films became a prominent medium.
• American also introduced art nouveau and art deco, which were variations of the neoclassical design or Beaux Arts.
• Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles became widely used in commercial buildings and private residences.
• In general, the federal style was used for government buildings.
• Exceptions included halls of Calumpit, Bulacan; Sariaya Quezon; and Jaro, Iloilo - designed using art deco style.
• The Americans sent pensionados/scholars to U.S. universities to professionalize the design field.

Global Traditions

• The emergence of modernism in art during the 1950s marked the beginning of this design tradition.
• Filipino artists were influenced by modern art styles like cubism, surrealism, abstract art, minimalism, and conceptual art.
• Philippine art shifted with President Ferdinand Marcos' declaration of martial law in 1972.
• The social realism art style emerged in response to hardships and challenges during martial law.
• Technology advancements in the 1980s opened the world to artists and designers.
• Filipinos were exposed to Japanese anime and manga, influencing Filipino comic artists and cartoonists.
• Global exchanges led artists to explore art forms and media such as installations, street art, digital art, performance art, and other contemporary styles.

Contemporary Arts in the Philippines

• Some cultural writers describe Philippine art as "derivative" or a "poor imitation of Western art" because the Philippines was colonized for a long time.
• Philippine art chartered a new course as Filipino modern artists explored new concepts of form and presentation.
• Modernism and technological advancements led Filipinos to the ideals of "internationalism".
• Filipino artists moved forward, pushing Philippine art to new directions.
• Philippine contemporary art utilized mixed media and installations.
• Artists such as Santiago Bose, Genara Banzon, Agnes Arellano, and Leeroy New explored and experimented with new representation methods.
• Some Filipino artists still incorporate historical design traditions and art techniques when they create their works, despite contemporary art appeal.