Josie Marie V.

Sobredilla CONTEMPORARY ARTS January 31, 2020

Essence of the Contemporary Arts of the Philippines

Essay

Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia situated in the Western Pacific Ocean that
consists of 7, 641 islands that are broadly categorized under the main geographical divisions from north to
south: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The country is known for having an abundance of beautiful beaches,
delicious fruit and hospitable people greeting tourists with smiles. The name ‘Philippines’ was named after
King Philip II of Spain during the Spanish colonization. The country having rich history resulted to diverse,
colorful and distinct culture and tradition of the different regions. The Philippines is home to artistic, talented
and versatile people that had undergone numerous challenges but successfully finished it.
With that the art forms of the country flourished from the ancient times up until today and is still
changing. Traditional art forms include architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, music, performing and
film. Liberal arts include grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry and astronomy. Installation art,
photography, performance art, animation, conceptual art and new media art are some of the emerging art
forms of today. The Philippine art period are sub-divided into five periods; the pre-colonial art period,
Spanish Colonial art period, American Colonial art period, Post War art period and the Contemporary arts.
Archeologists had dug out significant artifacts exhibiting art of the early people. Jewelries made of
shells, pearls and jade of superb craftsmanship were discovered in caves of Palawan and Cagayan as old
as the first people who had ever set foot in the country. Pottery and wall arts were important part of the pre-
colonial era. The Spanish colonial art period introduced formal painting, sculpture and architecture of art
styles that had developed in Europe. Most art works of this time revolves around religious beliefs. The
American colonial art period showed other uses of art such as art illustration, advertising and commercial
design that gained popularity those times. Painting themes includes genre paintings, landscapes and still
life paintings. Americans had brought their architecture styles here in the Philippines with art nouveau and
neoclassicism. The Philippine Modern art emerged during the 1940s to 1970s and Contemporary arts
started during the 1980s until now.
Contemporary art are the art works done in the 21 st century that mirrors contemporary culture and
society, offering the general audience rich resource through which to consider current ideas and rethink the
familiar. The art works are a dynamic combination of materials, methods, concepts and subjects that
challenges traditional boundaries and defies easy definition. It lack a uniform organizing principle and
ideology. Artists gave voice to the varied and changing cultural landscape of identity, values and beliefs.
Contemporary arts had served numerous purposes for the artists as well as the audience. The art
possesses capacity to elicit a sense of pleasure from the viewer because of its aesthetic values. It can also
be used to decorate many different venues. Even outdoor sculpture parks can contain art and make it
easily accessible for anyone to view while it livens up the city landscape. It allows individuals a means of
personal expression. Through painting, sculpture and performance art, anyone can express themselves in
a way that will be safely observable for others. Along with personal expression, contemporary art allows the
artist to make commentary on the culture around them. With imagery, shapes and other varied media the
artist can create a dialogue of their views. For most viewers, contemporary art will be though-provoking. It
allows people the chance to be exposed to stimuli that can provoke thoughts and even emotions. For
many, it can lead to new information, education and growth. Contemporary art can be assured that with its
craft, they are already making important and unique contributions to the society they are in.