LESSON 1.pdf

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS  INTEGRATIVE ART AS APPLIED TO CONTEMPORARY ART CONTEMPORARY ART is the art of the modern-day. It is the art of “now” since the artworks are produced in the present time. Let us have a quick look at the timeline to see the evolution of contem...

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS  INTEGRATIVE ART AS APPLIED TO CONTEMPORARY ART CONTEMPORARY ART is the art of the modern-day. It is the art of “now” since the artworks are produced in the present time. Let us have a quick look at the timeline to see the evolution of contemporary art. objects, animals and rituals that proved the existence of this civilization.  PREHISTORIC ART (40,000-4,000 B.C) The origins of art history can be traced back to the Prehistoric era, before the advent of written language. The earliest artifacts come from the Paleolithic era, or the Old Stone Age, in the form of rock carvings, engravings, pictorial imagery, sculptures, and stone arrangements.  ANCIENT ART (4,000 B.C. - A.D. 400) Ancient art was produced by advanced civilizations from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and the Americas when written language was established. The medium of a work of art from this period varies depending on the civilization that produced it — mostly served similar purposes that include telling stories, decorating utilitarian objects like bowls and weapons, displaying religious and symbolic imagery, and demonstrating social status.  MEDIEVAL ART (A.D. 500 - A.D. 1400) Often referred to as the “Dark Ages,” the Middle Ages marked a period of economic and cultural deterioration following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. Most of the artwork in the early years of this period reflects that darkness, characterized by grotesque imagery and brutal scenery. Over time, the artwork was centered on more sophisticated and elaborately decorated churches with windows and silhouettes adorned with biblical subjects and scenes from classical mythology.  RENAISSANCE ART (1,400 - 1600) This period was characterized by natural elements, individualism and realism. Artwork produced had attention-to detail and precision of the human anatomy. Italian designer Filippo Brunelleschi and sculptor Donatello were key innovators during this period. Influential artists such as da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, who brought creative power and led the ideals of emotional expression.  MANNERISM (1527 - 1580) Inspired by the ideals of Michelangelo, Raphael, and other late Renaissance artists, mannerists emerged but their focus on style and technique overshadowed the meaning of the subject matter. Figures had stylized features and exaggerated details instead of using the classical ideals of harmonious composition and linear perspective used by their predecessors.  BAROQUE (1600 - 1750) The Baroque period is characterized by ornate, over-the-top visual arts and architecture. Artwork depicted grandeur and richness, which described artists as stylistically complex. Baroque paintings were dramatic as seen in the iconic works of Italian painter Caravaggio and Dutch painter Rembrandt. Painters used an intense contrast between light and dark and had energetic compositions matched by rich color palettes.  ROCOCO (1699 - 1780) Rococo is characterized by lightness and elegance, focusing on the use of natural forms, asymmetrical design, and subtle colors. Painters like Antoine Watteau and Francois Boucher used lighthearted treatments, rich brushwork, and fresh colors.  NEOCLASSICISM (1750 - 1850) The Neoclassical period obtained the elements of classical antiquity where artists tried to recreate the great works of ancient art taken from archaeological ruins of ancient civilizations in Athens and Naples. Neoclassical artists include Italian sculptor Antonio Canova who used the classical elements in his marble sculptures but shunned the cold artificiality found in its early creations.  ROMANTICISM (1780 - 1850) From painting to music to literature, Romantic artists reject order, harmony, and rationality, which were embraced in both Classical Art and Neoclassicism. The individual and imagination are emphasized with an appreciation for nature that brought artists out of dark interiors and enabled them to paint outside. Artwork showed passion, emotion, and sensation over intellect and reason.  REALISM (1848 - 1900) Believed to the first modern art movement, this period was a result of the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, the rise of journalism, and the advent of photography, which in turn encouraged new interest in capturing activities of everyday life in a more precise manner. Hence, artwork featured detailed, lifelike depictions of the subject matter.  IMPRESSIONISM (1865 - 1885) Impressionist painters focused on encapsulating the impression of an exact moment. They used short, quick brushstrokes and an unfinished sketch-like feel in their artwork with modern life as their subject. Impressionists prefer painting situations like dance halls and sailboat regattas rather than historical and mythological events.  EXPRESSIONISM (1905 – 1920) Due to the growing conflict in world views and loss of spirituality, this period sought to display anxieties and raw emotions through the artists’ works that show distortion of form and strong colors. CONTEMPORARY ART (1970s – present) This period is marked by the exploration of Postmodernism, Feminist Art, Neo-Expressionism, Street Art, Appropriation Art, Digital Art and other small movements. Jeff Koons is the leading contributor of this period whose famous work is Michael Jackson and Bubbles in 1988. CONTEMPORARY ART (1970s – present) CONTEMPORARY ART (1970S – PRESENT) Neo-Expressionism opened the First, contemporary art is inspired by opportunity to revive the original Postmodernism, where artworks aspects of Abstract Expressionism to reflect skepticism or doubt, irony, and create highly textual, expressive and philosophical critiques, in response to large works. modernism. Graffiti-like art on surfaces in public places such as sidewalks, buildings, and Of course, there was the attempt to overpasses also shaped contemporary transform stereotypes and break the art. Also known as Street art, typical male-dominated art history, contemporary artwork also tries to which prompted Feminist Art. convey a message related to political ideas, social commentary or confrontation (Nery & Cruz, 2018). CONTEMPORARY ART (1970S – PRESENT) Appropriation Art has an effect on contemporary art as well. This movement focused on the use of images in art with little transformation from their original form. The advent of the camera led to the infusion of art and technology (like computers, audio and visual software, sound, and pixels) and paved the way for Digital Art, also a great influencer of contemporary art. Now that you have learned the different art movements throughout the history of Western art that led to contemporary art, it is important to realize that each period has a distinct and diverse style, technique, and medium across the globe which is why we see a lot of unique painting, sculpture, architectural achievements, and other defining works of art. Though the term contemporary art is a bit subjective, it refers to the recent and current practice of art ranging from the 1970s up to the present. It is also defined as art created by those living today since the term “contemporary” means existing or occurring at present. In vernacular English, “contemporary” is synonymous to “modern” but contemporary art is different from modern art. Any art produced by artists in this day and age is contemporary art – which is why it is called the art of today. Sometimes, it is called the art of the 21st century.  WHY DO ARTISTS CREATE ART? There are many reasons why people make art – probably as many as people making art. As mentioned in the earlier part of this lesson, art has been primarily used as a tool for communication. However, throughout history, art has come to serve other purposes. Let us learn some of the few reasons why people create art.  FOR WORSHIP As seen in many religious structures like churches, pyramids, temples (such as the nearly barren Rock Garden at Ryoan-ji temple near Kyoto, Japan), and so on, art functions to enhance religious contemplation. Religious institutions incorporate artists’ creative skills into their sacred rituals such as the singing of worship songs. The stained glass windows and sculptures that you see in churches are designed to communicate biblical teachings. Christian iconography and Christian-themed artworks are also evidence that art is used to glorify one’s deity. To Evoke Emotions and Feelings Using the elements and principles of art (be it visual, audio or performing arts), the artists (through their creative skills) convey feelings such as anger or happiness in their artwork, which become the message of the artwork to show the desired emotion or experience. To Reinforce Cultural Ties and Traditions People of different cultures express their identity through their artwork. The place they live, their way of life, their beliefs, and traditions are also seen among their works of art. Through art, different cultures of different times communicate with each other via images, sounds, and stories – making art a vehicle for social change as it influences society by translating experiences across time and space.  For Adornment Various art has been used to beautify not just the human body but the surroundings as well. A sense of face-lift is given to one’s body through fashion, jewelry, and tattoos just as flower arrangement and decorative art pieces do to give a make-over to the environment. Note that adornment does not only reflect culture, but also the trends within a culture.  To Tell Stories Just as authors or songwriters use words to tell stories; and dancers use actions and steps to depict a tale; artists use paint or charcoal to describe scenes, characters, actions, or conversations. Notice, too, that when you listen to your favorite music, you can relate to the story that it tries to portray or imagine looking at a photo and understanding its narrative without having to read a text about it. To Capture Historical Events and People Before cameras were born, artists used painting or sculpture to capture portraits of important people or important events. Aside from these, artists of today take photographs, or create drawings or sketches, or even come up with entertaining video clips to pay tribute or to express their feelings and opinions about an important person or event. Have you seen editorial cartoons about our government?  For Recognition Gaining fame and fortune has also become a reason for artists to create art. TV and movie stars, musicians, and several visual artists have used art as their bread and butter due to the potential for huge earnings. Some artists have earned financial success and have become critically acclaimed because of their talent and reputation. Unfortunately, not all artists are as fortunate – many still struggle to make ends meet as their income depends on who patronizes their art.  To Bring Attention to Ordinary Objects Some artists choose to focus on ordinary objects and give us another view of what the object could be and what art is. As a modern trend in art, we see all kinds of everyday objects turned into art making ordinary objects unique as they become the focus of the artwork. Indeed, art comes in various forms such as literary art (like poetry, short stories, novels, essays, and plays) and applied art (which includes fashion design, interior design, graphic design, and many more). But the most common among these forms are VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.  VISUAL ARTS Artworks that are primarily visual in nature are considered as visual arts. In other words, these are art forms that are perceived and appreciated using our sense of sight. Among these include fine arts, decorative arts, and contemporary art forms. Let us learn in brief about each form on the next page. FINE ARTS When we think of artworks, we readily associate fine arts with art. Initially, fine arts are artworks that are developed for aesthetics or beauty. These art forms are primarily created for their appearance and ability to stimulate the intellect rather than their functional value. However, as time passed, the term “fine art” extended its definition as it embraced new artworks that emerged from new technology and artistic inventions. Truly, the definition of fine art changes with time but most artworks under it encompass the following examples: a. Drawing d. Printmaking g. Architecture b. Painting e. Graphic Art c. Sculpture f. Calligraphy DECORATIVE ARTS These art forms are created because of its aesthetic design and practical use. Unlike fine arts whose function is to be looked at, decorative arts are utilitarian in nature - they are both beautiful and functional. Makers of these artworks starting from the Renaissance period up to the 20th century were not considered as artists Examples of decorative arts include Textile Art, Book Illustration, Pottery, Glassware, Embroidery, Tapestry, Jewelry, Floral Arrangements, Interior Design, Furniture and accessory furnishings, Metal Craft, Fashion Design, Earthenware CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS Considered as a special type of art that cannot be easily categorized as fine arts or decorative arts because of the newly conceived art styles and techniques that did not exist in the first two art forms, which were discussed earlier. New and unusual, these art forms include recent art styles and techniques that appear to be difficult to distinguish as it usually lacks a single objective or point of view. Examples of contemporary art forms partly include: a. Assemblage d. Performance Art g. Conceptual Art b. Collage e. Digital Art c. Installation f. Land Art PERFORMING ARTS This is an art form in which artists make use of their voices, body movements, or non-living objects to express one’s emotions and feelings. Performing arts are meant to be performed in front of a live audience to provide entertainment in theatres or opera houses, open-air stages, on stages in tents such as circuses, and on the street. Artists who participate in this form of art in front of an audience are called performers. They are usually more known as actors, circus artists, comedians, dancers, magicians, musicians, and singers. THEATER ARTS Also known as play, this branch of performing arts involves the integration and combination of the visual and performing arts. Theater Arts involves performers who act out stories that are based on reality or imagination using a combination of speech, gesture, music, dance and visual arts as props to convey the story in front of an audience. Common examples include: a. Mime d. Opera b. Puppetry e. Musical Theater c. Tragedy f. Traditional Theater DANCE Dance is defined as a regulated or deliberated order of body movements. This form of performing arts typically refers to human movements that have aesthetic value and are often performed with music accompaniment. Dance comes in various forms and styles and the art of making dances is called choreography while the person who practices this art is a choreographer. Among the many styles of dance are: Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Modern Dance, Ballroom Dance, Folk Dance, Traditional Dance Belly Dance, Improvisational Dance, Break Dance and Hip-hop Dance. MUSIC Being a universal form of art, music is defined as the manipulation of sound and silence. This form of art combines different elements such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, and texture to create sound, which happens to be the material of music. It is performed using musical sounds from various musical instruments, or using the human voice with style or technique, or a combination of both. Further, a music can be improvised or planned, and can occur in recorded formats or even performed live.  GENRES OF MUSIC Art POPULAR Traditional music music Music – is the umbrella term used – generally refers to music – are musical forms that are to refer to music that stems that is accessible and community and culturally from Western Classical commercially available to based. It is diverse with one Music. It is usually presented the public. It is played or community or group often and preserved through disseminated through having a different form from another. It is learned and written musical notations different mass media outlets preserved by passing it to one that were developed in such as radios, television, generation to another through Europe. and the Internet. oral communication and actual performance.