At the end of the lesson, you are expected to: Define the term “contemporary art” in art historical, cultural and stylistic terms; Explain the difference between contemporary art and modern art in the context of the Philippines’ various histories, cultures, and identities; Demonstrate the major characteristics of contemporary art through an artwork that would require teamwork and collaboration; Appreciation the role of contemporary art and artists in Philippine contemporary life; and
5. Understand contemporary issues and their relationship to real life situations.
What is contemporary? Is it the same as being modern?
How do you define Contemporary Arts? How do you define Modern Art?
Does Contemporary Art and Modern Art are the same?
It is commonly tendency to describe the present as “modern”. Being modern means up to date and technologically advanced.
Often, being modern is equated with being contemporary. Art that is new current is also often referred to as “modern” as opposed to “ traditional” or “conservative”. In other words, in everyday parlance, the terms are interchangeable.
In this lesson and in the more detailed history in the next, we will learn that the terms modern and contemporary refer to different periods.
Modern Art is not the same as Contemporary Art, although they could share some characteristics, sources, and influences. As we will come to realize and learn as we go along, it is also possible to integrate and transform elements from Modern Art into Cotemporary Arts.
What is contemporary? Is it the same as being modern? The first difference between the contemporary and modern is historical and chronological, as the overview of Philippine Art in Lesson 2 will show. Meanwhile, the table suggested by Arts Studies Professors Fajardo and Flores titled “ Historical Overview of Philippine Art” (2002) below shows a summary of the periods of Philippine Art from Pre-Conquest to the Contemporary. Please take note that this table includes painting, sculpture, and architecture only. As you learn more in succeeding lessons, you can add on your own data on the other arts like, music, dance, literature, and theater.
Historical Overview: Philippine Art
Form Pre-conquest Painting Potter, body adornment (Figure A) Sculpture Pottery, carving and woodwork, metalwork and expression (Figure C) Architecture Dwellings and houses, shelters, worship areas, official residences, mosques, masjid, state edifices (Figure E)
FIGURE A FIGURE C FIGURE E
Form Spanish Period Painting Religious (icon and ecclesiastical), secular (portraiture) (Figure B) Sculpture Santos, furniture, reliefs, altar pieces, jewelry, metalwork, fiesta, ornamentation (Figure D) Architecture Church, plaza complex; town planning, fortification, civic buildings and installations, private residences, commercial structures, cemeteries, bridges, lighthouse (Figure)
FIGURE D
Form American Period Painting Landscape, portraiture, genre, interior Sculpture Free standing, relief, public Architecture City planning parks, waterfronts, civic/gov’t, structures, public works, apartment, residences, offices health and public education, business chalet
Form Japanese Period Painting Wartime scene (aggression, nationalism, atrocities, symbolic protest, aspiration for peace Sculpture Propaganda Indigenizing and orientilizing works, genre idyllis ( Amorosio , Francisco, Ocoampo ) Architecture Public works
Form Postwar Republic Painting Modern, conservative, abstract, experimental, public art Sculpture Architecture Real estate, safe housing , accessories, tenements, squatters, convention arch, commercial/business, condos, malls, subdivisions, development, lost housing
Form 70’s Contemporary Painting Figurative, non figurative, art for art sake, multimedia, mixed media, transmedia Sculpture Architecture Real estate, safe housing , accessories, tenements, squatters, convention arch, commercial/business, condos, malls, subdivisions, development, lost housing