Lesson 6:

Traditional
Techniques to
Contemporary Art
Creation
Intention
After the lesson the students should be able to:
1. Identify traditional techniques in creating
arts.
2. Determine some region which use traditional
techniques
3. Appreciate the techniques applied in creating
arts.
Engaging with the Arts

How many of you have gone to the mountain

province, particular Ifugao or Baguio? The native
of the places wears woven bonnet, scarfs, shawls,
or sweaters. Do you notice how intricate and
colorful they are? What they wear showcase how
artistic these people are. Aside from the Ifugao
and Baguio, let us discover other more places like
item through this lesson.
Discovering and Exploring

There are places in the Philippines which are famous

because of the extraordinary or unusual but special
products that they produce. These products become the
instruments in spreading the news about this places. These
people use traditional techniques in creating one particular
art or maybe more which make them famous and draw
people to this places. Traditional techniques used by the
Filipinos even from the past years are depicted in our
painting, sculpture, dance, architecture, music, and even
textile. It only proves that Filipinos any other people in the
world can be very proud of our Philippine arts.
Painting
Painting
Early Filipinos painting can be in red chip (clay mixed with
water) designs embellished on the ritual pottery of the Philippines such
as the acclaimed “Manunggul Jar” which is an example of a burial jar.
Philippine pottery has been a long tradition and evidence of this
pottery-making has been found sanga-sanga. Sulu and Laurente Cruz in
Cagayan. Pottery began the making of earthenware articles for
domestic use as a cooking vessel and storage container. The early pots
were made by hand-molding or the use of paddle and vessel in building
the walls of pots. The pot could be embellished by either carving the
paddle or wrapping it with cord and slapping it against the side to leave
marks Incised designs also appeared in the pots in Masbate. Among the
finest of early Philippine pottery designs are footed dishes that were
decorated with geometric cut-outs, molding, cording or finger
impressions, most of these were made in Batangas. At this time, ship (a
mixture of clay and water) rather than glazes is still used by Filipinos
Potters to seal the pottery, and the pottery is open- fried. (Fried in a
bonfire rather than in oven). Pottery traditions
To develop in certain locals, such as Burnay Unglazed Clay pottery of
Vigan, The pottery traditions of Burnay is among the pottery
traditions that have been maintained, along with the those of Leyte
and Bohol. Further evidence of painting is manifested in the tattoo
tradition of early Filipinos who are now referred to as the Pintados or
the “Painted People” of Visayas. Various designs referring flora and
facing with heavenly bodies decorate their bodies various colored
pigmentation. Some of the most elaborate painting done by early
Filipinos that survive to the present are manifested among the arts
and architecture of the Maranao, who are well-known for the “Naga
Dragons” and the “Sarimanok Craved” and painted in the beautiful
Panolong of their Torongans or King’s house. Among the early
modernist painters such as Damian Domingo, Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo,
and others. A certain Elito Circa stood out; He is popularly known as
“Amang Pintor” who gained recognition by using his hair to make his
paint brushes and reigns his painting with his blood on the right side
corner.
Manunggul Jar
Indigenous Art
The Itneg people are known for their intricate woven fabrics.
The “Binakol”, which features designs that incorporate optical illusions
woven fabrics of the “Gadang”. People usually bright red tones. Their
weaving can also be identified by beaded ornamentation. Other people
such as the Ilonggot make jewelry from pearl, red-hornbill beak,
plants, and metals. Some indigenous materials are also used as a
medium in different kinds of artworks especially in a painting by Elito
Circa. A folk artist of Pantabangan a and a pioneer for using indigenous
materials, natural raw materials including human blood. Many Filipino
painters were influenced by this and started using these materials
such as an extract from onion, tomato, tuba, coffee, molasses and
other materials available anywhere. The lumad people of Mindanao such
as the “B'Lan”, “Mansaka”, and “T’Boli” are skilled in the art of dying,
abaca fiber. Abace is a plant closely related to bananas and its leaves
are used to make fiber known as “Manila Hemp” The fiber is dyed by a
method called “Ikat”. “Ikat” fibers are woven into cloth with geometric
patterns depicting human, animal, and plant leaves.
Sarimanok is the most well-known design.
The figure represents a fowl with wings,
feathered tail and head decorated with
ornaments of scrolled and painted motif of
leaves, spirals and feather-like forms.

Hagabi a wooden chair of Ifugao, which

symbolizes his status as a citizen in their
community. It depicts the wealth and power of
the own who is called “Kadanagyan”, or a
person who belongs to the higher status in
their society.This chair is made of Narra or
Ipil-Ipil, and the original design is called
“Ginulding-Gulding”, meaning like a goat-like
head. At present Hagabi may have a different
shapes one end which is called “Ngiwi”, is like
the head of an animal with an elongated nose
and two big ears.
Malong
This kind of art has two main artistic style. One is
carved-line. Woodcarving and metal working called “Okir”,
Similar to the Midddle Eastern Islamic Art. This style is
associated with men. The other style is geometric tapestries
and is associated with women. The Tausug and Sama-Bajau
exhibit their own “Okir” on elaborate marking with a boat like
imaging. An Okir design, the scroll is the dominant feature in
the men’s with composed of various spiral forms. In contrasts,
the zigzag, and angular forms are the dominating motifs in
women’s geometric art “Okir-a-Bay” (ladies design). The most
popular of the “Malong”, style is the land cap which is either
dominantly red, yellow, green, blue or violet. Red is the
favorite color along with yellow; these colors stands for
royalty or aristocracy. Often, men wear the red land cap and
the women, the yellow.
Malong
The “Bagobo” are proud people with proto Malayan features.
They have ornate traditions a weaponcy and other metal arts.
They are noted for their skills in producing brass articles
through the ancient lost-wax process. These people weave
abaca cloths of earth tones and take baskets that are
trimmed with beads, fibers and horse’s hair; weapons made by
Muslim Filipinos such as “Kampilan”, are skillfully carved.
 Kut – Kut Art
This is a technique combining Oriental and
European art process. Very few known art pieces
exist today. The techniques were practiced by the
indigenous people of Samar. Kut-kut is an exotic
Philippine art form based on early century
techniques “Sgraffito”. Encaustic and layering.
The merging of this ancient styles produces a
unique artwork characterized by delicate swirling
interweaved lines, multi-layered texture and an
illusion of three-dimensional space.
Kut – Kut Art
Performing Arts
Music
The early music of the Philippines
featured a mixture of indigenous Islamic and
a variety of Asian sounds. Spanish settlers
and Filipinos played a variety of musical
instruments, including flutes, guitar, ukulele,
violin, trumps, and drums. They performed
songs and dances to celebrate festive
occasions. By the 21st century, many if the
folk songs and dances have remained intact all
throughout the Philippines. Modern day
Philippines music featured several styles.
Most music genres are contemporary such as
a Filipino rock, Filipino hip-hop, and another
musical style. Some are traditional such as
Filipino folk music.
Dance
Philippine folk
dancers includes the
“Tinikling” and “Cariῆosa”.
In the southern region of
Mindanao, some is a popular
dance showcasing the story
of a prince and a princess in
the forest. Bamboo exploits
every position of these
clashing poles.
C
a
r
i
ῆ
o
s Tinikling
a
Architecture
The Spaniards introduced stones as housing and building
materials. The introduction of Christianity brought European
Churches and architecture which subsequently became the center of
the most towns and cities . Spanish architecture can be found in
Intramuros Manila, Vigan, Lipa Batangas, Ilo-Ilo, Jaro, Zamboanga
City, Bacolod and other parts in the Philippines.
In the past, the nipa hut (Bahay Kubo) was the most common
form of housing among the native Filipinos. It is characterized by
the use of simple materials such as Bamboo and coconut as the main
source of wood. Cogon grass, and nipa palm leaves and coconut fronds
are use as roof thatching. Most primitive homes are built on stilts
due to frequent flooding during the rainy season. Regional variations
include the use of thicker and dense roof thatching in mounting
areas. On longer stilts on coastal areas particularly if the structure
is built over water. The architecture of other indigenous people may
be characterized by an angular wooden roof, bamboo is placed leafy
thatching and ornate wooden carvings.
Nipa Hut (Bahay Kubo)
Gaining Insights
 Tattooing is an art, a tradition, that we had inherited from the early
Filipinos. What evidence are you aware of which shows that tattooing
still exist and flourishing today?
 What can you say about the pottery industry today?
 What is your opinion on Elito Circa use of blood in his painting?
 Among the Islamic-arts discussed in the lesson, what are you very
familiar with?
 Do you remember the two boy’s/kids contestants of “The Voice”? They
used recycled musical instruments they called “Diode” what can you say
about the creativity and resources of the father of the two kids in
coming up with such musical instrument?
 What example of Filipino rock or Filipino hip-hop do you known? What
you share it to the class?
 How would you characterize some modern nipa huts built atop
residential houses?
Appreciating the Arts
Art Appreciation Exercise 1
Direction: Answer the following question.
1. Research on Elito Circa. Get a picture of one of his
masterpieces. Comment on his work on the class.
2. Describe and give the distinguish features of the church in
your locality. A report in the class.

Art Appreciation Exercise 2

Direction: Being to class a picture o “SARIMANOK” and comment
on its feature.

Art Appreciation Exercise 3

Direction: In a group of five members, compare and contrasts the
Filipino rock and Filipino hip-hop. What does the group prefer
between the two? Arrive at the consensus, then come up with
explanation for the group’s choices. Tell the class about it.
 Rubric for the comparison and contrast between Filipino rock and Filipino hip-hop
(Group work)

Access your comparison and contrast by putting () mark under the column that best
describes how you complete your work based on the criteria.

Criteria Very Good Average Needs

Good (6pts) (4pts) Improvement
(10pts) (2pts)
Each group member pointed out
the similarities and the
differences between the
Filipino rock and Filipino hip-hop

Each member shared the full

support to the group’s activity
The group discussed and arrived
at a consensus to be presented
to the class
Total Points Score
Ratings
Highest Possible Score: 30 pts.

Equivalent Ratings:
Very good: 26-30 pts – 95% Average: 16-20 pts – 80pts
Good: 21-25 pts – 85% Needs Improvement: 10-15 pts – 75%
Enriching the Minds
Output 1. Search the internet for a particular artwork
for any contemporary artist. You may search at the
websites or web pages of an art association if
possible of different regions. Choose one artwork
and answer the following question.

1. What is the work about?

2. What techniques were applied in the production of the
artwork?
3. What traditional techniques do you see in the artwork?
4. What is your comment on the artwork?
Summary Notes
Creative and Resourcefulness are inherent among the
Filipinos of the past and the present. The qualities and
evident in the artwork Filipinos produce from the painting
to fabrics. What had been discussing in the lesson are the
traditional techniques applied by our artist or even
ordinary people with an inclination in the art, in coming up
with their particular artwork like the art of dying abaca.
Fiber by the Lumad of Mindanao, the Pintados who painted
their bodies with various colored pigmentation and the
Itneg people for their intricate woven fabrics.