Art Forms

in the
Philippines
Neumann and Aristarchus
 Objectives
• Define contemporary art in the
Philippines
• Classify various art forms found in the
Philippines
• Researches on various art forms in the
Philippines
Compare the two vases
 Pre-Colonial Art
01

Coverage Spanish Colonial Art

02

American Colonial Art

03
01
PRE-COLONIAL
ART
6185 BC – 1520 AD
Pre-Colonial Art

● Used in daily living

● Art had social utility
● Integrated in communal ceremonies
● Influence of local religion (animism)
Manunggul Jars
● 890 – 710 BC
● A burial jar excavated Lipuun Point,
Quezon, Palawan
● made from clay and it measures 51.5 cm
wide and 66.5 cm high
● two human images riding a boat located on
top of the jar’s cover
● The first human image, holding an oar with
a missing blade, is situated at the back
area. He seems to be steering the oar
rather than paddling the boat. The second
human image, with arms folded across the
chest, is situated at the front. Both human
images seem to have a band tied over their
heads down to their jaws. The image of a
head complete with carved eyes, nose and
mouth is also seen at the front area of the
boat
● Kashawing Ritual (Lanao Lake)
○ a dance ritual that shows the pact between

ancestors and unseen spirits

○ prayer for abundance during harvest season

● Tagbanwas of Palawan
○ hunt and harvest for a living – inspiration to create

drama, music, poetry

○ dance imitating animal movements; ritual prior to

hunting
Agung Ensemble
● musical instruments complemented with
dance to imitate the movement of animals

Higaonon (North Central Mindanao) and B’laan

Banog-banog

Bagobos
Manok-manok

Ifugao
Talip
Pre-Colonial Art

Animism
o the belief that objects, places, and
creatures all possess a distinct
spiritual essence
o creation of statues and symbols
Bulul
● Also known as
Tinagtaggu
● a carved wooden statue
that the Ifugao people of
Northern Luzon used to
guard their rice crop
 ● an artistic cultural heritage
of the Maranaos of Lanao
Okir ● curvilinear decoration
(Indian and Islamic
influences)
Baybayin by+byin+
● ancient Philippine script
● first recorded in the 16th
century
● consists of 3 vowels and
14 consonants
02
SPANISH
COLONIAL ART
1521 - 1898
Spanish Colonial Art
● the Spaniards brought Catholicism
● art was highly influenced by religion
● towns and pueblos were created in a
structure of plaza complex with the
church at the center of each town
● churches and government offices
were built
 Spanish Colonial Art
● Religions icons (santos)
● Paintings focused on visually
presenting the writings of the Bible,
conveyed religious messages
● Music focused on liturgical music
 Spanish Colonial Art
● Pabasa ng Pasyon – narration of Christ’s
passion portrayed during Lenten season;
ritual chanting
● Awit and Korido
● Kundiman (classic form of love song)
● Sarsuela, senakulo, komedya – theatre
acts
 Spanish Colonial Art
● inspired by Byzantine, Gothic, Baroque,
and Rococo
Byzantine Gothic Baroque Rococo

• Christian-based art o Noted in religious q Uses exaggeration v Whimsical curvy lines;

• To inspire a sense of decoration motions elaborately decorative
wonder and o Arched designs of q Deeply rooted in style of art
admiration for the churches religious structures
church q Dramatic and easily
• Predominant religions interpreted
message
Langit, Lupa, at Impyerno
Josef Luciano Dans
● Found in a church in Paete,
Laguna
● a three-level painting which
shows the Holy Trinity, Mary
the Mother of Christ, saints,
the Seven Blessed Sacraments
and a macabre depiction of
Hell.
 Uprising of the Philippine Artists
Neoclassicism
- Neoclassicism is characterized by clarity of
form, sober colors, shallow space, strong
horizontal and verticals

● The Ilustrados paved way for the rich locals Romanticism

to study abroad in a more “academic” and - Romantic art focused on emotions,
“Western” approach feelings, and moods of all kinds including
spirituality, imagination, mystery, and
● Art was highly influenced by Neoclassicism, fervor. The subject matter varied widely
Romanticism, and a hint of Impressionism including landscapes, religion, revolution,
and peaceful beauty.

Impressionism
- characterizations of the style include small,
visible brushstrokes that offer the bare
impression of form, unblended color and
an emphasis on the accurate depiction of
natural light.
Damian Domingo
● the first Filipino painter to
specialize in secular (non-
religious) painting
● established his reputation as an
artist by painting exquisitely
lifelike miniatures on ivory
● the first Filipino to do a self
portrait
● Founder of Academia de Dibujo y
Pintura, the first drawing/art
school in 1821
 Tipos de Pais
Damian Domingo

Water color painting depicting the local costumes to show social status and occupation during
the colonial times
The Parisian Life
Juan Luna

oil on canvas, 1892

The Spoliarium
Juan Luna

oil on canvas, 1884

Félix Resurrección Hidalgo y Padilla
● Hidalgo played a significant role
in Philippine history for having
been an acquaintance and
inspiration for members of the
Philippine reform movement
which included Dr. Jose Rizal,
Marcelo del Pilar, Mariano Ponce
and Graciano López Jaena.
The Christian Virgins Exposed
Felix Hidalgo

oil on canvas, 1884

03
AMERICAN
COLONIAL ART
1898 - 1940
American Colonial Art

● the Americans introduced public

education in the Philippines
● required English to be taught in
schools
● Focused on landscapes, still life or
themes that show the beauty of the
land or the people
Fabian dela Rosa
● regarded as foremost Filipino
painter during the American
period, was born in Paco, Manila

● De la Rosa was noted for his

realistic portraits, genre
paintings, and landscapes in
subdued colors.
 Planting Rice
Fabian dela Rosa

oil on canvas, 1921

Fernando Amorsolo

● His best-known paintings feature

peasants in colorful costumes,
scenes of rice planting and
harvesting, genre and society
portraits, and sensual female
bathers.

● Known for using chiaroscuro.

The Fruit Pickers under the Mango Tree
Fernando Amorsolo

oil on canvas, 1937

 Fruit Gatherer
Fernando Amorsolo

oil on board, 1950

Guillermo Tolentino

● a Filipino sculptor in classical style

who was named National Artist
for the Visual Arts in 1973. He is
hailed as the "Father of Philippine
Arts."
 The Bonifacio Monument
Guillermo Tolentino

• sculpted by Guillermo
Tolentino in 1933, an
obelisk, rises to a height
of 13.7 m (45 ft)
• 20 figures cast in bronze
have been molded over
an octagonal shaped
plinth, plus one angel of
peace at the top

oil on canvas, 1937

The Oblation (Pahinungod, Oblayson)
Guillermo Tolentino

• A
concrete statue by Philippi
ne National
Artist artist Guillermo
Tolentino which serves as
the iconic symbol of
the University of the
Philippines.
• It depicts a man facing
upward with arms
outstretched, symbolizing
selfless offering of oneself
to his union.
 Art Nouveau and Art Deco
Art Nouveau philosophy was in favour of
applying artistic designs to everyday objects, in
order to make beautiful things available to
everyone.

Typical decorative elements include leaf and

tendril motifs, intertwined organic forms,
mostly curvaceous in shape.

Art Nouveau style is inspired by the natural

world, characterized by sinuous, sculptural,
organic shapes, arches, curving lines, and
sensual ornamentation. Common motifs include
stylized versions of leaves, flowers, vines,
insects, animals, and other natural elements.
 Art Deco and Art Nouveau
Art deco is a combination of artistic and design The Philippines is no exemption in
styles that began in Paris in the 1920s and
the flourishing of art deco
adapted internationally throughout the 1930s
and into the World War II era. architecture. During the rise of the
cinema in the Philippines as a form
Art deco represents elegance, glamour, of recreation, several theaters were
functionality and modernity. Art deco’s linear
symmetry was a clear departure from the built in the 1930s and 1950s in the
flowing asymmetrical organic curves of its art deco style. These were designed
predecessor style art nouveau by prominent architects of that time
and included architects no other
than Pablo Antonio, Juan Arellano
and the Philippine national artist for
architecture Juan Nakpil.
The Metropolitan Theatre
Juan Arellano
Emergence of Philippine Pre-Modern Art:
Triumvirate of Philippine Modern Art
Some Filipino artists used western art styles and their works had an influence of Cézanne
and Gauguin. They depicted their subjects in terms of the technical considerations of
line, color, space, and mass.

These painters represented subject matters that were about the social and economic life
of the Filipinos. They depicted in their works contemporary issues, conditions,
aspirations, and dreams of the Filipino masses. Their themes dealt with poverty; slums;
injustice; exploitation of the poor, of women, of children, of plight of the OFWs; unfair
labor practices; inequality; abuse of political power; oppression; and others.

Different art styles such as the application of expressionism and abstract cubism were
used in their constant search for national identity and in expressing Philippine "realities"
in their artworks. They used bold colors such as black, purple and red to express their
feelings.
 The Sketch
Victorio Edades

oil on canvas, 1928

 The Builders
Victorio Edades

oil on canvas, 1928

 Harana
Carlos “Botong” Francisco

oil on canvas, 1957

 Magpupukot
Carlos “Botong” Francisco

oil on canvas, 1957

Mother and Child
Galo Ocampo

oil on canvas, 1976

Untitled (Winnowing Rice)
Galo Ocampo

oil on canvas, 1975

 The Thirteen Moderns
1. Arsenio Capili
2. Bonifacio Cristobal
3. Demetrio Diego
4. Victorio Edades
5. Carlos "Botong" Francisco
6. Cesar Legaspi
7. Diosdado Lorenzo
8. Anita Magsaysay
9. Vicente Manansala
10. Galo Ocampo
11. Hernando Ocampo
12. Jose Pardo
13. Ricarte Puruganan
 Post War Period (1946 – 1969)
Contemporary Period (1970 – period)
Post Colonial Art
• Also known as the Philippine Modern Art era
• Art in this period is modern, conservative, and experimental public art

Contemporary Period
• Social realism became a heavy theme by most Filipino artists as a social commentary
to the problem brewing in the Philippine political and social landscape
• Onset of the sudden rise of personal computers and new technology created a new
art medium for the arts and human expression
 Dekada 70
Lualhati Bautista
● Written by Lualhati Bautista in
1983
● It tells the story of a middle-
class family in Manila living
through martial law under
Ferdinand Marcos.
 Krista
Pablo Baen Santos
● Oil on canvas, 1984