Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

Week 1 (Quarter 4)

Different Contemporary Art Techniques and Performance

An art is always created with a technique. A technique is the way the artist
uses and manipulates the materials to express an idea or feeling through an art. This
lesson will discuss the traditional art techniques, their descriptions, and applications
to contemporary arts. This lesson will guide you to easily identify the evident
techniques used in the contemporary artwork.
I. Techniques Used in Contemporary Arts
A. Application of Traditional Techniques to Contemporary Arts
The table shows how traditional techniques are applied to contemporary arts. In these
examples you will see how the techniques are modified to create another artwork.
Traditional Art Application to Contemporary Arts
Puni (Bulacan) - This is a popular Straw Folding. In this art, the straws
Bulakenyo’s way of decorating using leaf are folded by rolling elongated sheets of
fronds folding which has a Malayan wax coated paper into cylindrical, hollow
origin. tubes.
Origami is from ori meaning “folding”,
and kami means “paper”. Origami is the
art of paper folding that is associated to
Japanese culture.
Singkaban (Malolos, Bulacan) - It is a Bamboo Art. To use bamboo for
decorated bamboo arch to welcome decorations, it must undergo some
signage of a town, city or village in the processes such as cleaning and cutting,
country. peeling, splitting, stripping or weaving it.
For more detailed designs, artists use
incising, burning, carving, and dyeing.
Saniculas (Pampanga) - Saniculas Polvoron Molder. This kitchen tool can
cookies made with imprint of San Nicolas help you mold the powder for polvoron
de Tolentino, the miracle healer into perfectly oval or round shapes
according to Pampanga’s local legend. (biscuit molder, doughnut molder)
Pabalat (San Miguel, Bulacan) - The art Packaging. The packaging design can be
of making the pabalat or pastillas simple and straight forward, or colorful
wrappers has transformed in recent and complex (decorated packaging).
years from being a local, folk tradition
into a popular art.
Taka (Paete, Laguna) - Taka refers to Paper Maché. Using molds, paper pieces
the paper maché using carved wooded or pulp are put together with a glue or
sculpture used as a mold. other adhesives.
Pagbuburda (Taal, Batangas and Stitching. Stitches are the basic
Lumban, Laguna) - Taal embroideries elements of sewing, knitting or
are characterized by fine design with embroidery whether by hand or machine.
delicate, embossed, durable and colorful Loom Bands. These are also called as
patterns. rainbow looms which are a plastic tool
used to weave
colorful rubber and plastic bands into
decorative items such as bracelets and
 charms.
Nylon Bracelets. A tough light weight
elastic synthetic polymer ornament band
hoop or chain worn on the wrist.

B. Common Techniques in Contemporary Arts

There are three techniques that are commonly used today in contemporary arts today.
1. Minimalism. This is an artistic movement that seeks to take away unnecessary and
leaving only the essential. The artworks that usually use this technique use a well
selected material that is indispensable in art production.
2. Found Objects. This means taking something that people seem to find useless and
use it in a unique way in order to make an artwork. When people seem to think that
something must be thrown away as junk, it is used to tell a story and create a diverse
perspective that we are looking for.
3. Large-Scale Art. This is an art that accounts for the creation of something huge to
express diverse perspectives in artwork. This art is created for public view.
II. Medium Used in Contemporary Art Forms
Often, artists will most likely use materials available to them. This means that the
resources their locality have is important for their art. The “local” can refer to material
that is easily available in the community. It can be any materials such as woods,
materials, paper that are easily produced and available in the community. The local
can also refer to wherever the artist finds himself or herself.
In discussing the use of materials, it is important to discuss medium. A medium is
defined as the material or substance used to create an artwork. Using these materials,
the artists express his feelings or thoughts. The medium used in each artwork varies
based on the artists and their art forms.

A. CLASSIFICATION OF ART FORMS ACCORDING TO MEDIUM

Classification Description Art Form Medium
Musical use of rhythms, music, poetry, musical
sounds, song, dance, instruments,
instrument, theatre artist traditional musical
human voice instruments made
by local materials,
body and
movements,
integration of stage,
design, performance
elements and script
Practical art with immediate designs, architect, cement, paper,
use in daily life sculptor bamboo, wood,
bricks, stone,
concrete, metal,
wood, stone, clay,
glass
Environmental An art that installation, public wires, junk, recycled
occupies space art materials
Pictorial Works uses shapes, painting, drawing, camera,
pictures, graphics design, celluloids/negatives,
 photography processing
chemicals prints
Narrative based on story drama, novel, language
music and dance

B. Contemporary Techniques and Materials in Contemporary Arts

Contemporary Arts Techniques
Mark Salvatus' Secret Garden 2 This art was created for a small room at
the Vargas Museum to show a site -
specific work. Being able to
accommodate the audience and
experience the "garden" makes the art
interactive. It is also important to note
that this secret garden was created with
inmates who used plastic spoons, forks
and other materials. minimalism, found
objects
Interactive Games by Ikoy Ricio This artwork is composed of set of trump
card with images of Philippine car
wrecks, its body parts and details of
accident. These cards are installed on
the table with chairs for the players.
found objects
Untitled (Mirrors) by Maria Taniguchi This artwork used traditional medium of
acrylic on canvas and traditional modern
style of abstraction. Instead of typical
painting, the artist used diligent
brushwork that the painting encourages
meditations apart from viewing. large –
scale Art, minimalism
Felix Bacolor's Waiting (2012) This space in Museum of Contemporary
art and design is a simulation of a
waiting room with real digital clocks and
metallic immovable chairs. large - scale
art, minimalism
Anonymous Animals in Mariyah Gallery The excavated animals were presented
in Dumaguete 2013 (Taguchi, Teves, with specific and scientific names and
Sollesta, Vanlenzuela and Ranada) other important details for a real animal.
Invented stories by curator make the
animals seem to exist with embedded
journalist/photographer. large- scale art,
found objects
ACTIVITY 1: SYNTHESIZING THE CONTENT
DIRECTIONS: Complete the table below. As you can see, the table has three columns
where you will list down the material, place of origin and the name of the art form
where it is used. Cite five (5) materials with their place and products.

Local Materials in the Philippines

Materials Place Art Form
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

ACTIVITY 2: SHOW ME MORE

DIRECTIONS: Choose any of the given contemporary art mentioned in this lesson.
Write a descriptive paragraph about the materials used in the chosen art. Tell what
the material says about the art and the artist.

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 Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions
Week 2 (Quarter 4)

Local Materials Used in Creating Art

It is important to distinguish the difference between indigenous art materials
and local art materials. Anything indigenous naturally comes from the place or
locality. It is not introduced to the place or imported from somewhere else. Whereas,
anything local also comes from the place or locality but may or may not be originally
part of that place or locality. It could have been introduced to the place or locality by
colonists or settlers from other places.
Indigenous art materials are materials that are natural or inherent from the
place or locality. It has been there right from the start. All indigenous art materials are
local materials but not all local art materials are indigenous. Local art materials
could be a mix of indigenous art materials and introduced art materials.
Kinds of Local Art Materials
The use of local art materials in creating various types of arts has become the
showcase of Filipino creativity, resourcefulness, and artistry. The following are kinds
of local materials that can be found in the different regions and provinces of the
country:
1. Abaca, also called manila hemp, is extracted from the leaf sheath around the trunk
of the abaca plant known scientifically as Musa textilis, which is related to the banana
plant. Initially used as material for rope, the abaca found its way in
the arts. The plant can be found in plantations in the Bicol Region and in the different
regions of Mindanao.
2. Coconut Shells or bao, are actually used for wood carving, improvised cooking
utensils and myriads of other uses. Laminated coconut shells are considered as
almost the same as the quality and appearance of turquoise shells or ivory. Coconut
shells are bountiful anywhere in the country where coconut palm trees, scientifically
known as Cocos nucifera, are planted. These shells are byproducts of coconut fruit
processing.
3. Bamboo or kawayan, mistakenly identified as a tree, is actually a kind of grass.
Classified scientifically as a plant of the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family
Poaceae. It is found almost throughout the archipelago. The bamboo stem has plenty
of uses and one of its prominent use is in creating art.
4. Capiz or kapis shells come from the windowpane oyster, a bivalve marine mollusk
in the family of Placunidae. They are abundant in the Philippines, commonly found
along the coastal waters. Cleaned and processed capiz shells are used for various
artistic applications like windows, lanterns, and walling.
5. Rattan is a naturally renewable palm belonging to the subfamily Calamoideae of
climbing palms. It is widely used as furniture, handicrafts, and building material. It is
grown in plantations in Western Visayas and Mindanao.
6. Small or Cowrie shells or sigay, scientifically named Cypraea chinensi, measure
about 2 centimeters each. They are often used in shell jewelry and shell craft work.
They are popular for their vibrant color. They are found on sandy seafloor around the
Philippine islands.
7. Junk, which are old or discarded articles, are considered useless or of little value
but for the creative eyes of an artist they are essential in creating a well-known art
form called junk art. The discarded materials stored or hidden away inside homes or
thrown in garbage bins are usually made up of plastic, wood and metal.
8. Dried leaves falling off from branches of trees and plants are inexhaustible.
Ranging from pale yellow to dark brown, dried leaves are plentiful throughout the
year. Dried leaves art is already considered a craft of its own. Palm, pandanus, or sea
grass leaves are used to create artistic mats or banig.
9. Plant seeds can be acquired from farms and rural areas. Others can be bought
commercially like corn, sorghum, mung beans, sunflower and the like. Seed art can be
found in certain localities. They are distinct for their creative and colorful designs.
10. Rocks and sand of various types are abundant. They vary in size and color,
allowing for varied art forms.

Local art materials can be classified as traditional and non-traditional.

Traditional art materials available locally are those that are usually bought from
department stores and bookstores. They include crayons, oil pastel, watercolor,
colored pencils and other usual materials used in school. Non-traditional art
materials are materials that are not usually used in creating art like coffee, plastic
bottles and recyclable materials that are similar to those used in junk art.

Activity 1: Answer the following questions:

1. What are the ways or means to promote local materials used for arts and crafts like
abaca, bamboo, rattan, and others?

2. Why is it important to support local products?

3. Is it possible for our local products to compete globally? How?

Activity 2: Advocacy Campaign

Create an advocacy campaign on how we can promote our local products
globally. You may use any medium (poster, slogan, comic strip, editorial, etc.)

Criteria:
ARTISTRY - 10
CREATIVITY - 5
CONCEPT - 5
TOTAL: 20 points