Lesson 4: Materials and Techniques in Contemporary

Art
LESSON CONTENT

Materials Used in Contemporary Art

Some artists salvage materials that they can still use to make creative
forms. They can combine materials like wood and metal that can interact
with the wind to make music. There are some who use everyday items like
plastic cover for food, paper for sculpture, mirror or yarn. Some may use
their personal things like clothes or accessories.

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

1
 In outdoor sculpture, artists may use brass welded together and
mounted on concrete or metal stand. For indoor sculptures, wood, glass and
resin may be used. Found objects may be combined to make interesting or
unusual forms and may be covered in resin.

Paintings are no longer just paint on canvas. Artists may choose to

paint on whatever surface is available to them, some paint on the walls of
buildings or even bridges. The community or students may be asked to get
involved in outdoor painting to make the environment more pleasant or raise
awareness about certain issues to the public.

Technology has redefined art in many ways. Some examples are:

 Light structures and floor drawings using colored beams and smoke.
 Tubes hanging on the ceiling that respond to the viewer’s
movements, sound and touch.
 A wall climbing robot holding a paint.
In architecture, there is extensive use of glass and steel. Big glass  A pen controlled by a software program to create certain patterns.
windows or walls are used to give indoor spaces a view of the outdoors, to
give the indoor space a sense of extension. In the recent years, there have
been a lot of construction of buildings, like malls, convention centers, Because of new materials and technology, artists also have to keep
business process centers, industrial parks and government service buildings. up and learn and harness new skills, like using computer programs. Welding
These structures demand artworks and contemporary artists produce a huge and carpentry are also useful for fabrication and building structure. This
body of works to match the structures, both for indoors and outdoors. requires physical strength and special tools. Some materials have chemical
components that are hazardous to health, like acid, resin and fiberglass, and
so artists need to keep on educating themselves for proper usage of the
materials and safety precautions.

The choices of artists for materials are expanded by the availability,

variety and what possibilities these new materials can offer. This expansion
is essential in the development of contemporary art.

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

2
Skills, Production and Techniques in Contemporary Art There are different types of techniques that artists can choose from.
Below are some examples:
In wanting to experiment and expand their art knowledge,
contemporary artists educate themselves. They read books, study online and  Collage is made by adhering flat materials such as newspaper or
they can also interact with other artists and learn from them. They magazine cut-outs, printed text, illustrations, photographs, cloth,
experiment with materials from hardware stores and study about chemical string, etc. to a flat surface. The artist brings all the materials
reactions to discover something new. Some learn welding and simple together in an artistic composition to get a desired effect or bring a
engineering skills. certain message.

When it comes to art production, an artist can work alone or

collaborate with other artists. Interactive and collaborative work is gaining
popularity among Filipino artists. Visual and performance artists combine
talents and skills for public performances.

 Assemblage is putting together found objects like scraps, junk,

paper, wood, metal, cloth, stone, arranged in an artistic composiiton.
The output is a three-dimensional artwork, as opposed to a flat
artwork in a collage.

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

3
  Decoupage is done by adhering cut-outs of paper and then coating
these with one or more coats of transparent varnish.

 Frottage is the technique of rubbing with a dry medium on a piede

of paper which has been placed over an object that has texture. The
impression of the texture will be left on the paper.

 Decalcomania is the process of applying gouache to paper or glass

then transferring a reversal of that image onto canvas or other flat
materials.

 Montage is the production of a rapid succession of images in a

motion picture to illustrate an associaiton of ideas or a composite
picture made by combining several pictures.

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

4
  Trapunto painting is where canvases are padded, sewn, and often
filled with sequins, beads, shells, buttons, tiny mirrors, glass,
swatches and other things to make an artistic composition.

Some contemporary artists mix different materials. They can varied

effects when they do this. Texture can be applied to a painting by adding
elements on the canvas.

PERFORMANCE TASK NO.1

Instruction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which one is related to minimalism?

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

5
 a.  This is a drawing, inscription or sketch done hastily on a wall or
b. It is when several elements of art are used to get the attention of
other surface made to be seen by the public.
the audience and guide the audience's focus through and around
b.  This style has a stripped-down, pre-fabricated look, free of the artwork.
details and often with flat surface, but expresses a specific
content or statement. c. When several elements of art are used to get the attention of the
c. This consists of images that are recorded through a video and audience and guide the audience's focus through and around the
viewed through television, computer or projection screen. artwork.

2. Theme is the planned organization or pattern of movement in 6. Which element of music is related to one tone which seems
more important than any of the others used in making melody?
time and space pattern in time.
a. True b. False a. Tempo c.  harmony

3. Cinema is presented in live medium.

b. tonality

a. True b. False 7. The theme song of the film will set the mood and illusion in

4. Which type of art includes Earthworks, or works using

a film.
a. True b. False

natural objects like stones, leaves, trees, grass?

a. performance art c. environmental art

8. Which element of theater provide explanation and define the
distinct character?
b. feminist art a. Theme c. music

5. b. Language

9.
Which statement is related to movement?

a. This is done by directing the audience's eyes along lines, edges, Which kind of performing art refers to the movement of the
shape, and color. body in a rhythmic way?

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

6
 a. Music c. dance c. the repetition of design, line or other elements within the
frame.
b. Theatre

10. Which one is a balance of unlike objects and there

14.
making.
Actor is considered the key person in the film

are no elements that appear to be equal halves or sides? a. True b. False

a. Symmetry

15.
c. asymmetry
b. Radial balance
Which one can also be a certain technical approach

11. Performance art and theater are the same.

to art-making?
a.  subject matter b. styles
a.
16.
True b. False

12. The technique of leaving the impression of a

Which element of music may move at a fast,
moderate, or slow speed?
textured object on the paper.
a. Harmony c. melody
a. Frottage b. collage
b. Tempo
13. Which one defines variety properly?
17. Contemporary artists do not read books anymore and
a.  it is related with the comparative size of the parts of a single just rely on information online.
work. It is the relative relationship of shapes to other shapes
within the artistic frame in terms of size, degree, number, etc. a. True b. False

b. is when several elements of art are used to get the attention

of the audience and guide the audience's focus through and
around the artwork.

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

7
 18. The contemporary Philippine art scene is complex
because we have influences from culturally diverse countries.

a. True b. False

19. Organic lines suggest action and movement. They

convey vitality and animation.

a. True b. False

20. Putting together found objects like scraps, junk,

paper, wood, metal, cloth, stone, arranged in an artistic composition.

a. Frottage b. assemblage

CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

8