AAP 101: ART APPRECIATION

Unit I: Discovering Art and the Arts

Lesson 1: The Nature of Art

The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.

Michelangelo (1475-1564)

Art is nothing more than the shadow of humanity.

Henry James (1843-1916)

Introduction

The Art has always been regarded through times as an avenue for witnessing truth, beauty,
and goodness. Man is the agent of art – the craftsman – the ingenious creator of beauty
captivated by the immense resources in creation, to which he gives form and meaning. Man
is the noblest fruit of the Creator, he uses something that already exists in the visible world
as a vast field in which human inventiveness might assert itself.

Lesson Proper

What is Art and Why is it Important?

Art is a wide range of man's activity from expression down to creating things which are
tangible or intangible. Artwork that is visual in nature is one of the oldest, rich, complex and
popular forms of art that is highly rooted in one’s culture. Other forms like auditory and
performing arts are considered also as manifestations of man’s expression and imaginative
skills.

From your basic knowledge of art. How would you define art? Webster New Collegiate
Dictionary says that Art is a “human ingenuity” in adapting natural things for man’s
use. In art, an artist uses his genius in transforming God-made things into man-made things
that satisfy his needs.

Examples: 1. He converts wood into a religious image, into a house, into a piece of
furniture.
2. He transforms plant into cloth or into paper.

Addendum

The Multiple Intelligences

The theory of multiple intelligences was first proposed by Dr. Howard Gardner in his 1983
book “Frames of Mind”, where he broadens the definition of intelligence and outlines several
distinct types of intellectual competencies.

Howard Earl Gardner (born July 11, 1943) is an American

developmental psychologist and the John H. and Elisabeth A.
Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and Education at the
Harvard Graduate School of Education at Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA, United States.
He writes that we may all have these intelligences, but our profile of these intelligence may
differ individually based on genetics or experience.

Gardner defines intelligence as a “bio psychological potential to process information that

can be activated in a cultural setting to solve problems or create products that are of value
in a culture” (Gardner, 2000, p.28).

To broaden this notion of intelligence, Gardner introduced eight different types of

intelligences consisting of:

1. Linguistic Intelligence (word smart). The ability to read, write and communicate.
Potential career choices: lawyer, speaker/host, author, journalist, curator

2. Spatial Intelligence (picture smart). The ability to think in pictures and visualize a
result.
Potential career choices: Pilot, Surgeon, Architect, Graphic Artist, Interior Decorator

3. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence (number/reasoning smart). The capacity to

analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate
issues scientifically.
Potential career choices: Mathematician, Accountant, Statistician, Scientist,
Computer Analyst

4. Musical Intelligence (music smart). The ability to make or compose music or

understand and appreciate it.
Potential career choices: Singer, Composer, Disc Jockey, Musician

5. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence (body smart). The ability to use your body skillfully
to solve problems, create and fashion products or present ideas and emotions.
Potential career choices: Dancer, Athlete, Surgeon, Mechanic, Carpenter, Physical
Therapist

6. Interpersonal Intelligence (people smart). The ability to understand the intentions,

motivations, and desires of other people and consequently to work effectively with
others.
Potential career choices: Teacher, Psychologist, Manager, Salespeople, Public
Relations

7. Intrapersonal Intelligence (self-smart). The ability for self-analysis and reflection.

This type of intelligence can help a person to understand which life goals are
important and how to achieve them.
Potential career choices: Therapist, Psychologist, Counselor, Entrepreneur, Clergy

8. Naturalist Intelligence (nature smart). The ability to appreciate the world and
nature.
Potential career choices: Botanist, Biologist, Astronomer, Meteorologist, Geologist

Source:
Marenus, M. (2020, June 09). Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Simply Psychology.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/multiple-intelligences.html
Various Definitions of Art

Definitions of art vary in many ways, sometimes it will depend on how you have experienced
and encountered art:

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
French artist

Art is the whole spirit of man.

John Ruskin (1819-1900)
English art critic

Art as the right reason of making things.

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)
Greek philosopher

Art is that which brings life in harmony with the beauty of the world.
Plato (428-348 BCE)
Greek philosopher

Etymology of Art

 Art is taken from the Italian word artis, which means craftsmanship, skill, mastery of
form, inventiveness.

 From the Greek words artizein which means “to prepare”, and arkiskein meaning
“to put together.”

 The Latin term ars, it means everything that is built and created by man. The product
of creative human activity in which materials are shaped or selected to convey an
idea, emotion, or visually interesting form.

Various Assumptions in Art

Art is Cultural.

 The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) clearly defined Culture as “the set of distinctive spiritual, material,
intellectual, and emotional features of a society or a social group that encompasses,
in addition to the arts, lifestyles, ways of living together; value systems, traditions,
and beliefs.”
 Culture defines who we are and what we are as a nation. It nurtures, preserves,
shapes our nation’s traditions, our age-old values and beliefs. It is the heart of our
identity, the core that binds us as a nation.
 The richness of our arts and culture have given us a national identity and
distinctions that we can proudly claim to the world. Though culture is diverse,
art is an integral part of every culture for it gives meaning and imagery to people’s
lives and beliefs.
 The power of art is a creative expression and potent cultural manifestation.
Moreover, art in culture plays a vital role in citizen’s economic status. Tourists and
guests from different walks of life gather to witness a society’s heritage, annual
spiritual rituals and historical sights. Through these artworks, certain culture is
promoted, preserved and sustained.
 The challenge today is how to educate the students better appreciate,
understand and regard arts and culture as vital to their lives. Together, they are
effective means in developing and promoting positive Filipino values such as being
“Makadiyos” (love for God), “Makatao” (love for humanity), “Makabayan (love for the
nation) and “Makakalikasan” (respect and care for environment).

Art is Universal.

 Universal may mean all-embracing. As such, Art is all-embracing for it showcases

human wisdom and human creativity. Throughout history, man was able to build
great and lasting things. These remarkable works have made significant roles in
building a nation’s history and identity.
 Nations from all over the globe have displayed their works and inspired fellow
nations in the world. Various artists in the world share one vision that is assuring a
brighter future for the next generations.
 Though we differ in race, color, culture, and beliefs, no one has the monopoly in
Art. Art is in us, and it’s all about US.
 This lesson hopes to broaden our understanding in one of the most basic and
universal of human activities - making art. We will journey and discover works created
by great civilizations and across other nations’ ingenuity.

Art is Not Nature.

 Art is made by man using his skills, craftsmanship, creativity and imagination. It is far
different from nature. Man may consider nature as inspiration to create an
artwork.
 A very distinctive characteristic of man that differs from animals is that man has the
ability to create art. Man may incorporate his past experiences or influence from his
environment to create an artwork.

Art Involves Experience.

 Every artists become creative when they witness various experiences.

Experiences such as failures, triumphs, hopes, social issues, tragedies, etc. all
inspire and move a certain person to analyze and judge these phenomena.
 Artists will think of every measure to respond to these experiences. His search
for answer would lead him to do something beneficial, something extraordinary.
Artists can transform human experience into a literature, a music, a theatre play, a
film or even a sculpture.
 As the Latin quotation say, experiential docet – experience is the best teacher – for
both artists and people in making a difference for the society.

Art is Expression.

 An expression is a way of communicating something. Something done or given

as a means for communicating a feeling or emotion. Art is an expression of a man’s
emotions, spirit and aspirations.
 Man uses and lifts his heart, his hands, his feet and his voice to be heard and
to be understood. Art is his avenue and medium to express himself.

 Artists have unfolded the arts in three (3) interrelated ways: (1) Representation
of the world, (2) the power of imagination, and (3) the idea of beautiful.

 Representation of the world. Artists represent their world, they help us see the
whole world anew, and they affect and change the world to make it a better, more
beautiful place. The beauty of art – not its monetary worth, but its intrinsic value
to the individual and to society as a whole.

Still there is more to art than the material world. There is certainly something
greater. Let’s call it “imagination.”

 The power of imagination. Artists reflect and discern not only what is in the
world but tirelessly work to portray what is beyond – a glimpse of the divine and
the heavens. There are many imaginative spaces that art has traditionally
attempted to represent, from our religious or spiritual feelings, to our innermost
desires and dreams.

Artists have moved to imagine the supernatural (God, mythology, angels,

dreams, evil, fairy tales) to give it material form. Artists imaginatively and
subjectively unleashed what is hidden (through senses). These works of art will
speak of mystery, they speak of man created in the image and likeness of God,
and in so many ways will turn our gaze to what is eternal.

Artists in all cultures, in their capacity to imagine, have tried to depict their gods.
Artists live up with the principle of “Deo, optimo, maximo” (To God, the best and
the greatest) in their works as an expression of their faith and hopes in God. Signs
and symbols were rendered in paintings, sculptures and architectures to
characterize God as All-Powerful in His divine majesty, worthy to be praised and
adorned.

 The Idea of the beautiful and meaningful. The world needs beauty in order not
to sink into despair. As such, the world needs artists to inspire and uplift the human
spirit. One of the purposes of the arts is to make everyday day objects and events
more pleasurable and beautiful. Artists transform everyday life full of gaiety and
spirit, radiant and lively, and ordinary life into a good life, something beautiful.

For artists, discerning beauty is the key to savor life and dream of the future.
Artists may have differences – taste, style, paths – yet the beauty they pass on to
generation would stir wonder, where wonder becomes astonishment and
unspeakable joy. It is beauty which brings joy to the heart of man and which unites
generations and makes them share things in admiration.
What is Art Appreciation?

Art Appreciation is the capacity to appreciate and understand works of art and experience
a certain enjoyment in creating arts. It deals with our encounter with the artworks, the artists
and how we are affected with it.

Why Study Art Appreciation (AAP)?

1. Studying the AAP helps students by becoming nationalistic in minds and

hearts by appreciating Philippine arts.

AAP will inspire and motivate every students to be proud of “being Filipino.” Being
Filipino is a call to be human in understanding the thoughts, feelings, and aspirations
of every artists, and cultured by taking pride of our own Filipino ingenuity as
embedded in our history.

2. Studying AAP will give students the privilege to witness in reality the arts being
discussed inside the classroom.

AAP is a venue to widen our horizon in the arts. AAP will enlighten the minds of the
students in seeing the world anew. Students will have the privilege to dialogue with
the artists, and witness the significance that every artworks evoke.

3. Studying AAP will give students the opportunity to understand the

development of arts in history.

The timeline of arts in history has primary importance in AAP. Knowing the different
periods greatly helps every student how the arts progress in every challenges and
innovations portrayed in time. Studying AAP will enable students gain a holistic
perspective through the knowledge of world cultures.

4. Studying AAP will open the students’ minds that they are not just learners of
art but “agents of truth, beauty, and goodness.”

Studying AAP envisions students become proactive at the end of every semester.
Students are not just listeners but active-participants in and out of classroom. Being
refined means being formed and inspired in every details and aspects of the arts.

5. Studying AAP will increase our students’ respect for cultural and individual
differences through an analytical study of achievements and contributions
shared for the common purpose of human development.

Studying AAP will give students access to communities with diverse cultures through
different academic activities or art exposures – regional centers of studies and
museum visits, festivals, concerts, theater performances, and acknowledgment of
local artists.
The Subject Matter of the Art

 The Subject Matter refers to what is literally depicted in the artwork. It usually
answers the following questions: What do you see? What is the image about? Can
you identify the image?
There are various subjects used various artworks.

1. Portraiture (people) – representations of an individual, group of people, or of

historical figures such as great leaders (kings, pharaohs, emperors, presidents,
founders of religions), patriots (heroes and heroines, revolutionary leaders), and
innovative minds (philosophers, scientists, inventors, builders). Artworks of this kind
are good indicators of class, social status, race and nationality.

2. Still life – painting of objects, furniture, utensils, flowers, fruits, vegetables placed on
a table or another setting. The goodness of having a still life as a subject is its
availability and capability to be organized.

Examples of still life are, a basket of fruits, a bag of groceries, a pack of cigarettes,
a bunch of flowers, and a bucket of chicken

3. Animals and Plants – symbolic images and interpretations of various animals and
plants associated in visual arts (painting, sculpture, architectures), pottery and
weaving.

4. Places – historical wonder cities of the world with legacies in the preservation and
promotion of culture and the arts. Thus, highpoints of painting, urban planning and
tourist destinations.

5. Events – rekindling and paying homage to historical accounts (tragedies,

revolutions, triumphs) that have moved the people with awe and trembling.

6. Religious items – artworks depicting the Trinity, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the
angels and the saints. Within the walls of the churches lies the sacred vestments,
relics, icons, books and utensils used in liturgical activities.

7. Mythological – the gods and goddesses adorned and revered in the great
civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

8. Country Life – images and scenes of the daily life of various provinces such as
fiestas and festivals, fishing, farming and harvesting, recreations and games.

9. Landscape – various forms of land – volcanoes, mountain ranges, hills, valleys,

plains, plateau, and cliffs – depicted in landscape paintings and architectures.

10. Seascape – forms of water – ocean, sea, river, lake, brook, pond, and falls –
illustrated in paintings and today’s aquascaping.

11. Edifices – sacred spaces, commercial spaces and mega structures from around the
globe recognized as cosmic, sacred and modern

12. Dreams and Fantasies – supernatural and mystical ideas of men and women who
has the capacity to portray what is beyond the senses and reality.
Art Styles: Methods in Presenting the Subjects

 Artists have differences – taste, styles and paths – yet the beauty they pass on to
generation would stir wonder, where wonder becomes astonishment and
unspeakable joy.
 Artists use different styles. A style refers to how the artists employ materials, use
technique, and the manner in which a subject matter is portrayed. Style are generally
divided into two (2) branches namely: Representational or Objective and Non-
representational or Non-objective.

 Representational. Representational are artworks that depict something easily

recognized by most people. The images and figures are taken from the world of
people and nature. Examples of art forms under this category are painting,
sculpture, architecture and graphic arts.

 Non-representational. These are artworks that have no resemblance to any real

subject. They are made up primarily of lines, color, texture and shapes. They do
not form figures, as such they do not represent anything and they are what they
are. They are referred to as abstract art.

Every artist has his individual style of doing his artwork. He has the preference to choose
any of the following methods in presenting his/her subject:

1. Realism. It is the method of presenting subjects as they appear in real life. It

advocates Plato’s concept called mimesis, or copying nature the way it looks.

The Filipino foremost painter, Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972), is the Father of

Philippine Realism; he painted Philippine rural scenes such as:

Planting Rice
1946
UCPB Collection

Sunday Morning Going to Town

1958
Ayala Museum Collection

2. Abstractionism. It is “drawing away from realism.” It was derived from the verb
abstract meaning ‘to draw away.’ An abstractionist draws away from reality as he
creates his artwork. His product is a departure from what is present in real life.

Jose Joya, is distinguished by creating authentic Filipino abstracts. He is known as

the ‘epitome of Philippine abstraction.’ Some of his selected works were:
 Granadean Arabesque
1958
Ateneo Art Gallery Collection

Dimension of Fear
1965
Cultural Center of the Philippines Collection

3. Surrealism. Surrealism is “beyond realism.” It is concerned in presenting the

subconscious reality of the artist. It projects the subject as if the subject is not part of
the reality but belongs to the world of dreams and fantasy. In surrealist paintings, the
images look nightmarish and weird.

One of the Thirteen Artists of CCP, Jaime de Guzman (1942- ), was able to channel
the anxieties of the modern man, leading him to his most celebrated works:

Metamorphosis I, II, III

1970
Cultural Center of the Philippines Collection

GomBurZa Martyrs
1970
Cultural Center of the Philippines Collection

4. Symbolism. Symbolism is presenting the subject symbolically, that is, the artist
shows his subject as it appears in real life, but he intends to let it represent
something.
 Among the symbolic artworks known to us is:

Spoliarium
Juan Luna
1884
National Museum Collection

UP Oblation
Guillermo Tolentino
1958
UP Diliman Oblation Plaza

5. Expressionism. Expressionism is emotional realism. It is presenting the real life

subject with the intention to express emotions, pathos, chaos, fear, violence, defeat,
morbidity, and tragedy. Expressionists do not copy natural colors of subjects, instead
use colors that may express what they feel.

One notable Filipino expressionist and National Artist is Ang Kiukok (1931-2005)
pursued an expression imbued with nationalist fervor and sociological agenda. Some
of his works include:

Man on Fire
1980
Central Bank of the Philippines Collection

Crucifixed
1977
Ateneo Art Gallery
 6. Impressionism. It is presenting the real-life subject with emphasis on the impression
left in the artist’s mind or perception, particularly the effect of light on the object used
as subject.

Some examples of impressionism in the Philippines include:

Jones Bridge
Emilio Aguilar Cruz’s
1975
National Museum Collection)

Tampuhan
1895
Rosalinda Orosa Collection

Reflection/ Learning Insights

In 1999, Pope St. John Paul II wrote “A Letter to Artists.” It is a jewel that has been tucked
away in the pocket treasury of papal writings, but it is high time it gains some attention. In it
he describes:

None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that
you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked
upon the work of his hands. A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your
eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of
sounds and words, colors and shapes, you have admired the work of your
inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God,
the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you.

Being a phenomenal artist himself (just check out his poetry!), St. John Paul II understood
an artist's profound inner craving to create, to share, to spread wonder and splendor freely
to the world around them.
In God's eyes, being an authentic artist means being selfless. It means being increasingly
surrendered and remaining at the service of the Master, the giver of all talents.

Those who perceive in themselves this kind of divine spark which is the artistic vocation —
as poet, writer, sculptor, architect, musician, actor and so on—feel at the same time the
obligation not to waste this talent but to develop it, in order to put it at the service of their
neighbor and of humanity as a whole... Within the vast cultural panorama of each nation,
artists have their unique place. Obedient to their inspiration in creating works both
worthwhile and beautiful, they not only enrich the cultural heritage of each nation and of all
humanity, but they also render an exceptional social service in favor of the common good.

May this lesson help you discover pride in your roots.

AAP 101: ART APPRECIATION
Unit I: Discovering Art and the Arts
Lesson 1: The Nature of Art

What is Art Appreciation?

Art Appreciation is the capacity to appreciate and understand works of art and experience
a certain enjoyment in creating arts. It deals with our encounter with the artworks, the artists
and how we are affected with it.

Why Study Art Appreciation (AAP)?

1. Studying the AAP helps students by becoming nationalistic in minds and

hearts by appreciating Philippine arts.

AAP will inspire and motivate every students to be proud of “being Filipino.” Being
Filipino is a call to be human in understanding the thoughts, feelings, and aspirations
of every artists, and cultured by taking pride of our own Filipino ingenuity as
embedded in our history.

2. Studying AAP will give students the privilege to witness in reality the arts being
discussed inside the classroom.

AAP is a venue to widen our horizon in the arts. AAP will enlighten the minds of the
students in seeing the world anew. Students will have the privilege to dialogue with
the artists, and witness the significance that every artworks evoke.

3. Studying AAP will give students the opportunity to understand the

development of arts in history.

The timeline of arts in history has primary importance in AAP. Knowing the different
periods greatly helps every student how the arts progress in every challenges and
innovations portrayed in time. Studying AAP will enable students gain a holistic
perspective through the knowledge of world cultures.

4. Studying AAP will open the students’ minds that they are not just learners of
art but “agents of truth, beauty, and goodness.”

Studying AAP envisions students become proactive at the end of every semester.
Students are not just listeners but active-participants in and out of classroom. Being
refined means being formed and inspired in every details and aspects of the arts.

5. Studying AAP will increase our students’ respect for cultural and individual
differences through an analytical study of achievements and contributions
shared for the common purpose of human development.

Studying AAP will give students access to communities with diverse cultures through
different academic activities or art exposures – regional centers of studies and
museum visits, festivals, concerts, theater performances, and acknowledgment of
local artists.
The Subject Matter of the Art

 The Subject Matter refers to what is literally depicted in the artwork. It usually
answers the following questions: What do you see? What is the image about? Can
you identify the image?

There are various subjects used various artworks.

1. Portraiture (people) – representations of an individual,

group of people, or of historical figures such as great
leaders (kings, pharaohs, emperors, presidents, founders
of religions), patriots (heroes and heroines, revolutionary
leaders), and innovative minds (philosophers, scientists,
inventors, builders). Artworks of this kind are good
indicators of class, social status, race and nationality.

Portrait of Fernando Zobel as a Teenager

1945
Fernando Amorsolo
Oil on wood
Ateneo Art Gallery

2. Still life – painting of objects, furniture, utensils, flowers,

fruits, vegetables placed on a table or another setting.
The goodness of having a still life as a subject is its
availability and capability to be organized.

Examples of still life are, a basket of fruits, a bag of

groceries, a pack of cigarettes, a bunch of flowers, and a
bucket of chicken

Still Life with Green Guitar

1952
Vicente Manansala
Oil on plywood
Ateneo Art Gallery

3. Animals and Plants – symbolic images and interpretations of various animals and
plants associated in visual arts (painting, sculpture, and architectures), pottery and
weaving, etc.

Water Buffalos
Felix Garzon (Man) / Francesco Riccardo Monti (Woman)
Provincial Capitol Lagoon and Park, Bacolod City
4. Places – historical wonder cities of the
world with legacies in the preservation
and promotion of culture and the arts.
Thus, highpoints of painting, urban
planning and tourist destinations.

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (1572)

New Wonder City of the World
December 8, 2014

Other Wonder Cities of the World:

 Beirut, Lebanon (3000 BCE)
 Doha, Qatar (1825)
 Durban, South Africa (1880)
 Havana, Cuba (1515)
 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1859)
 La Paz, Bolivia (1548)

5. Events – rekindling and paying homage to

historical accounts (tragedies, revolutions,
triumphs) that have moved the people with
awe and trembling.

Battle of Kakarong De Sili Shrine

Pandi, Bulacan

6. Religious items – artworks depicting the Trinity, Jesus,

Mary and Joseph, the angels and the saints. Within the walls
of the churches lies the sacred vestments, relics, icons,
books and utensils used in liturgical activities.

Crucified Christ
17th Century
Ivory
58 x 53 cm
UST Museum of Arts and Sciences

*Single longest ivory corpus in Christian

art in Asia

7. Mythological – the gods and goddesses adorned and

revered in the great civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and
Rome.

Malakas at Maganda
1974
Anastacio Caedo
Vargas Museum, UP Diliman
8. Country Life – images and scenes of the daily life of
various provinces such as fiestas and festivals,
fishing, farming and harvesting, recreations and
games.

Bayanihan
1962
Carlos “Botong” Francisco
Oil on Canvas
544 cm. x 544 cm.
United Laboratories Collection

9. Landscape – various forms of land –

volcanoes, mountain ranges, hills,
valleys, plains, plateau, and cliffs –
depicted in landscape paintings and
architectures.

San Miguel Corporation Building

1976
Mandaluyong City, Philippines

10. Seascape – forms of water – ocean, sea, river,

lake, brook, pond, and falls – illustrated in
paintings and today’s aquascaping.

Man-made Falls
Bato Springs Resort
San Pablo City, Laguna
 11. Edifices – sacred spaces, commercial spaces and mega
structures from around the globe recognized as cosmic,
sacred and modern.

Grand Hyatt Manila

2017
BGC, Taguig, Metro Manila

***Height: 318 meters (1,043 ft)

Number of floors: 66
:

12. Dreams and Fantasies –

supernatural and mystical ideas of
men and women who has the
capacity to portray what is beyond
the senses and reality.

Dragonfly (triptych)
2014
Rom Villaseran
Acrylic on canvas
104.5 x 68 inches

Art Styles: Methods in Presenting the Subjects

 Artists have differences – taste, styles and paths – yet the beauty they pass on to
generation would stir wonder, where wonder becomes astonishment and
unspeakable joy.
 Artists use different styles. A style refers to how the artists employ materials, use
technique, and the manner in which a subject matter is portrayed. Style are generally
divided into two (2) branches namely: Representational or Objective and Non-
representational or Non-objective.

 Representational. Representational are artworks that depict something easily

recognized by most people. The images and figures are taken from the world of
people and nature. Examples of art forms under this category are painting,
sculpture, architecture and graphic arts.

 Non-representational. These are artworks that have no resemblance to any real

subject. They are made up primarily of lines, color, texture and shapes. They do
not form figures, as such they do not represent anything and they are what they
are. They are referred to as abstract art.

Every artist has his individual style of doing his artwork. He has the preference to choose
any of the following methods in presenting his/her subject:
1. Realism. It is the method of presenting subjects as they appear in real life. It
advocates Plato’s concept called mimesis, or copying nature the way it looks.

The Filipino foremost painter, Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972), is the Father of

Philippine Realism; he painted Philippine rural scenes such as:

Planting Rice
1946
UCPB Collection

Sunday Morning Going to Town

1958
Ayala Museum Collection

2. Abstractionism. It is “drawing away from realism.” It was derived from the verb
abstract meaning ‘to draw away.’ An abstractionist draws away from reality as he
creates his artwork. His product is a departure from what is present in real life.

Jose Joya, is distinguished by creating authentic Filipino abstracts. He is known as

the ‘epitome of Philippine abstraction.’ Some of his selected works were:

Granadean Arabesque
1958
Ateneo Art Gallery Collection

Dimension of Fear
1965
Cultural Center of the Philippines
Collection
3. Surrealism. Surrealism is “beyond realism.” It is concerned in presenting the
subconscious reality of the artist. It projects the subject as if the subject is not part of
the reality but belongs to the world of dreams and fantasy. In surrealist paintings, the
images look nightmarish and weird.

One of the Thirteen Artists of CCP, Jaime de Guzman (1942- ), was able to channel
the anxieties of the modern man, leading him to his most celebrated works:

Metamorphosis I, II, III

1970
Cultural Center of the Philippines Collection

GomBurZa Martyrs
1970
Cultural Center of the Philippines Collection

4. Symbolism. Symbolism is presenting the subject symbolically, that is, the artist
shows his subject as it appears in real life, but he intends to let it represent
something.

Among the symbolic artworks known to us is:

Spoliarium
Juan Luna
1884
National Museum Collection
 UP Oblation
Guillermo Tolentino
1958
UP Diliman Oblation Plaza

5. Expressionism. Expressionism is emotional realism. It is presenting the real life

subject with the intention to express emotions, pathos, chaos, fear, violence, defeat,
morbidity, and tragedy. Expressionists do not copy natural colors of subjects, instead
use colors that may express what they feel.

One notable Filipino expressionist and National Artist is Ang Kiukok (1931-2005)
pursued an expression imbued with nationalist fervor and sociological agenda. Some
of his works include:

Man on Fire
1980
Central Bank of the Philippines Collection

Crucifixed
1977
Ateneo Art Gallery
 6. Impressionism. It is presenting the real-life subject with emphasis on the impression
left in the artist’s mind or perception, particularly the effect of light on the object used
as subject. Some examples of impressionism in the Philippines include:

Jones Bridge
1975
Emilio Aguilar Cruz’s
National Museum Collection

Tampuhan
1895
Juan Luna
Rosalinda Orosa Collection

Reflection/ Learning Insights

In 1999, Pope St. John Paul II wrote “A Letter to Artists.” It is a jewel that has been tucked
away in the pocket treasury of papal writings, but it is high time it gains some attention. In it
he describes:

None can sense more deeply than you artists, ingenious creators of beauty that
you are, something of the pathos with which God at the dawn of creation looked
upon the work of his hands. A glimmer of that feeling has shone so often in your
eyes when—like the artists of every age—captivated by the hidden power of
sounds and words, colors and shapes, you have admired the work of your
inspiration, sensing in it some echo of the mystery of creation with which God,
the sole creator of all things, has wished in some way to associate you.

Being a phenomenal artist himself (just check out his poetry!), St. John Paul II understood
an artist's profound inner craving to create, to share, to spread wonder and splendor freely
to the world around them.
In God's eyes, being an authentic artist means being selfless. It means being increasingly
surrendered and remaining at the service of the Master, the giver of all talents.

Those who perceive in themselves this kind of divine spark which is the artistic vocation —
as poet, writer, sculptor, architect, musician, actor and so on—feel at the same time the
obligation not to waste this talent but to develop it, in order to put it at the service of their
neighbor and of humanity as a whole... Within the vast cultural panorama of each nation,
artists have their unique place. Obedient to their inspiration in creating works both
worthwhile and beautiful, they not only enrich the cultural heritage of each nation and of all
humanity, but they also render an exceptional social service in favor of the common good.

May this lesson help you discover pride in your roots.