Contemporary Arts in the Philippine Regions

Unit 1: Environmental Scanning

Lesson 2: A Brief History of Philippine Art
I. Pre - Conquest
Prior to colonization, art of the ancient Filipinos were woven into the fabric of everyday life. They do
not refer to art as we do today, that is, as an expression of an individual, and seen largely in museums and
concert halls. They do not distinguish forms into different categories like music, theater, etc. Everyday
expressions were all integrated within rituals that marked significant moments in a community’s life, like
panting and harvesting, weddings, funerals are among others. Aside from the communal functionality of
indigenous art, creative forms such as pottery ,weaving, carving, metalwork, and jewelry also embody
aesthetic, technological and ritual values that exist in various forms till the present. In Pre-colonial
Philippines, arts are for ritual purposes or for everyday use.

II. Islamic Colonial (13th Century to the Present)

Islamization of Mindanao, strengthened the Muslims and became the driving force to enable the
natives to resist centuries of Spanish colonization. Islam was embraced as a religion and a way of life of the
peoples of Mindanao.Islamic art is characterized by geometric designs and patterns eliciting focus from the
believers.
Filipino muslims recognize that they belong to an ummah or a community of believers. Central to
Islamic faith is the doctrine of Tawhid or unity of God. This belief emphasizes the impermanence of nature
and the incomprehensible greatness of the divine being. According to Sakili, we can relate this with two
aspects of reality. One is the object perceived by the ordinary sense, while the other is the sense of
nothingness, a space void empty of all things; to evoke that God is above and beyond all things. In Islamic
art, we can observe how artists are influenced by the notion of Tawhid. Considering the goal of negating
materiality, we wi3ll find that the interior of mosques are covered6 with elaborate patterning in the form of
reliefs to draw attention away from the concrete object, in other words, away from human forms and
nature”towards the contemplation of the divine”. Islamic art compels the individual to engage in mental
concentration.
III. Spanish Colonial Period (1521-1898)
Art became a handmaiden of religion, serving to propagate the Catholic faith and thus support the
colonial order at the same time.art during the Spanish colonial period conformed to the demands of the
church and the colonial state. The artforms from that period are referred to stylistically and culturally as
religious art, lowland Christian art or folk art.
IV. American Colonial Period (1898-1940) to the Postwar Republic (1946-1969)
In the American regime, commercial and advertising arts were integrated into the fine arts curriculum.
Moreover, Americans favored idyllic sceneries and secular forms of arts. Writers echo on national
sentiments and serve as a medium of political protest
V. Japanese Occupation (1941-1945)
Since the Japanese advocated for the culture of East Asia, preference was given to the indigenous art
and traditions of the Philippines. This emphasized their propaganda of Asia belonging to Asians.
VI. Modern Era
Modern era in Philippine Art began after World War 2 and the granting of Independence. Writers and
artists posed the question of national identity as the main theme of various art forms.
VII.Contemporary Art
Philippine Contemporary Art was an offshoot of social realism brought about by Martial Law. Arts
became expression of people’s aspiration for a just, free, and sovereign society.