CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGION

A technique is the way the artist uses and manipulates the materials to express an idea or feeling
through an art.

II. 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 Bulakenyo’s way Straw Folding. In this art, the straws are folded by
of decorating using leaf fronds folding which has rolling elongated sheets of wax coated paper into
a Malayan origin. cylindrical, hollow 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 decorated Bamboo Art. To use bamboo for decorations, it
bamboo arch to welcome signage of a town, city must undergo some processes such as cleaning
or village in the country. and cutting, peeling, splitting, stripping or
weaving it. For more detailed designs, artists use
incising, burning, carving, and dyeing

Saniculas (Pampanga) Saniculas cookies made Polvoron Molder. This kitchen tool can help you
with imprint of San Nicolas de Tolentino, the mold the powder for polvoron into perfectly oval
miracle healer according to Pampanga’s local or round shapes (biscuit molder, doughnut
legend. molder)

Pabalat (San Miguel, Bulacan) The art of making Packaging. The packaging design can be simple
the pabalat or pastillas wrappers has and straight forward, or colorful and complex
transformed in recent years from being a local, (decorated packaging)
folk tradition into a popular art.
Taka (Paete, Laguna) Taka refers to the paper Paper Maché. Using molds, paper pieces or pulp
maché using carved wooded sculpture used as a are put together with a glue or other adhesives.
mold.

Pagbuburda (Taal, Batangas and Lumban, Stitching. Stitches are the basic elements of
Laguna) Taal embroideries are characterized by sewing, knitting or embroidery whether by hand
fine design with delicate, embossed, durable and or machine.
colorful patterns.
Loom Bands. These are also called as 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 Artform Medium
Music use of rhythms, music, poetry, song, musical instruments,
sounds, instrument, dance, 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 use designs, architect, cement, paper,
in daily life sculptor bamboo, wood, bricks,
stone, concrete, metal,
wood, stone, clay, glass
Environmental An art that occupies installation, public art wires, junk, recycled
space materials

Pictorial Works uses shapes, painting, drawing, camera,

pictures, design, photography celluloids/negatives,
graphics processing
chemicals prints
Narrative based on story drama, novel, music language
and dance

Local and Indigenous Art Materials

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 wellknown 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.

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.

Critiquing Versus Criticizing

Critique is taken from the Greek kritike tekhne, which means "the critical art“. It is somewhat a formal
word that typically refers to a careful judgment. It refers to the detailed analysis and assessment of
something.

Criticism refers to a sharp or severe disapproval of something, generally based on perceived faults or
errors. It is judging with disapproval. It is negative in nature.

Critiquing Criticizing
 Thought more than felt  Felt more than thought
 Concerned with the process of creating art  Concerned with what is perceived through
 Considered the artist’s technique the senses
 More objective than subjective  Considered the artist as good or not good
 More subjective than objective

Critiquing Available Art Materials

Availability. An art material has to be obtainable, ready for use, at hand. Simply put, the art material
exists or is physically present for the artist to use. It is already there; this is the quality of being able to
be used or obtained.
Accessibility. An art material has to be within the artist’s reach, easily acquired without much effort
or difficulty for the artist. It is the quality of being acquired or used easily.
Affordability. An art material has to be within the financial capacity of the artist to be purchased or
bought. The artist can bear or meet the expense of acquiring the needed art material. Though a cheap
good quality art material is good but an art material acquired for free is still the best.

Critiquing Appropriate Art Technique

Appropriateness. The manner by which the artist is going to apply in creating an artwork should be
suited to the kind of art materials that will be used as well as suited to the kind of art technique.
Mastery. It is expected that the artist is skilled and highly knowledgeable of the art technique. The
right art materials are there and the suited art technique is appropriate to the art form but if the artist
is not adept with the use of the specific technique to be applied, the outcome might run contrary to
what is expected.
Practicality. Art technique should be functional and sensible for the objectives or purpose set by the
artist for the creation of the artwork. Practicality makes the art technique truly appropriate when it is
indeed useful for the artist and when it is understandably fit for the kind of art materials and for the
conceived artwork.

Production Planning

Subject - refers to anything that represented in an artwork. It can be an object, person

scenery, colors and etc. even though subject can be the center of an art some masterpiece
do not have subjects.

2 Types Of Arts
 Representational or Objective Arts
- present stories, images, representations, symbols, etc.
Examples are graphic arts, literature, sculpture, painting, and theater arts. While are called
 Non-Representational or Non-Objective Arts
- art works without subjects that attract straight through the senses. Examples are musical
arrangement, architecture, weaving and other functional art.

Medium - refers to the materials used in an artwork. It is the instrument of every artist to
convey message in an artistic manner. It can be colors and brushers for a painter; sounds for
a musician; movements of the body for an actress or dancer; it can also be the words for
every writer; wood or clay for a sculptor.
When creating an art, it does not mean an artist should have the expensive
medium for creating a masterpiece, it can be anything available. As long as it can conveys the
artists’ message it can be used.

Form - refers to the physical characteristics of an art. It is about the utilization of the elements
of art such as line, shape, form, space, color, value, and texture.

Integrated Arts Production

Methods will determine the standard procedure of a production. This is the

step-by-step procedure of the production. This provides the structure or framework which will
be its foundation. We also call it the production plan. The method shall contain the following:
● Objectives or goals - the end-result or the outcomes of the production
● Materials - the main concept and/or storyline
● Procedures - the activities that need to be done
● Manpower assignment - the person assigned for a particular activity
● Target date of finish - the activity’s date of finish

Materials refers to the artwork to be produced and presented to the audience such as the
script, playwright, music, and choreography. A material must have a concept. A concept is the
main idea, message, context, or story that needs to be conveyed.
Machine
These are the materials, machines, or equipment to be used in the production. These may
refer to the physical materials in a production design such as the stage, lighting, sound
systems, or any technological medium.

Manpower refers to the production team. Each will be assigned to specific

activities in the plan.
● Concept writers - create and write the storyline and/or script
● Researchers - research to ensure a properly contextualized and well-informed production
● Director - the head of the production; the one whose vision manifests the most in the
production
● Producers - produce machineries and manages the manpower
● Choreographers - produce the act and the motions in the storyline to be executed by the
artists
● Performing artists - lead the roles in the storyline
● Crew - the associates in the production