Philippine Art
Movements
Learning Outcomes
• To be able to relate Philippine
Art Movements to the roots of
Philippine History
• To identify the form of art from
each each period
• To view Philippine Art
Movements in the past as the
foundation of existing arts in
the present
Topic Outline
1. What is PhilippineArt?
2. Brief Timeline of Philippine Art
3. Key Movements
4. 18th to 21st CenturyArt
5. Conclusion
What is
Philippine Art?
What makes art Filipino?
What is Philippine
Art?
▪ The historical background
makes the Filipino distinct
from their neighbors, but
Philippine visual art has
no singular aesthetic.
“We cannot define it
What because we cannot have a
static answer to that,”
constitutes Philippine art expert Ramon
Philippine Art? N. Villegas said recently,
adding that the “Filipino-
ness” of an artwork cannot
be determined solely by
referring to the artist's name
or decoding his strokes or
his subjects.
Is there a Filipino Soul?
This insistence to
create something
relevant to one’s
nationality is not unique
to the Philippines.
…sometimes, trying to
find the Filipino in certain
Philippine art is like trying to
milk a cow when the cow
isn’t a cow after all.
THE QUESTION OF
PHILIPPINE ART IS A
QUESTION OF
PHILIPPINE IDENTITY.
Philippine Identity?
The Filipino is a “work in progress.”
The Filipino as a product of
cultural influences is especially
skillful at taking these influences
and making it their own.
Philippine Identities
Vilroy Godoy Culzon:
“Kung ano ang
pinanggalingan mo, ilagay
mo sa canvass.”
Brief Timeline of
Philippine Art
Pre-colonial to present period
Art Form Pre-Colonial Spanish Period American Period
1521-1898 1898-1946
Painting Body Religious (icons Genre paintings,
adornment, and landscapes, still
ornament ecclesiastical) life, portraits
Secular
(portraiture)
Sculpture Pottery, carving Santos, furniture, Free standing, relief,
and woodwork reliefs, altar pieces, public
expression, jewelry, metalwork,
jewelry, ornamentation
metalcrafts
Architecture Dwellings and Church, plaza City planning, parks,
houses, shelters, complex, town waterfront, civic
worship areas, planning, fortification, government structure,
official residences, civic buildings and public works,
mosque residences, residences, offices,
commercial apartments
installations
Pre-Colonial Period
▪ Traditional art that has religious symbols,
day to day activity such as fishing, farming,
etc., or a specific decorative art pattern to
the community
▪ Either influenced by animistic (local religion)
or Islam-based
Painting
Sculpture
• Discovered in 1965, the Angono Petroglyphs are
believed to be the oldest known artworks in the
Philippines.
• Dating to the third millennium B.C., they are a
collection of 127 figural carvings engraved on the
wall of a shallow cave of volcanic tuff.
• The petroglyphs of Angono are among the oldest
surviving examples of rock engravings in Asia, and
are believed to b the oldest in the Philippines.
• Archaeological excavations of the site have yielded
fragments of earthenware and obsidian flakes,
which suggest the cave may have first been used
sometime during the Neolithic period.
Pottery, Carving, and
Woodwork
▪ Examples:
Manunggul Jar and
Maitum Jar
Jewelry
Example: Ling Ling-o
Architecture
▪ Houses were made of
light materials like wood,
bamboo and nipa palm
▪ Some of them built tree
houses to protect
themselves against their
enemies, or from being
attacked by wild animals
Other Form of Art
Weaving
▪ An ancient art form would
weave fibers such as abaca,
pineapple, ramie, maguey,
cotton, and bark cloth
▪ Virtually all attire was hand
woven.
▪ Examples include G-string,
Maranao Malong, Bontoc Tapis,
Ilong Patadyong, T’boli T’nalak,
etc.
Unchanged art is still
existing
The Okir (motif) is
an artistic cultural
heritage of the
Maranaos of
Lanao, Philippines
1521 - 1898
Spanish Period
▪ Formal painting, sculpture, and
architecture
▪ Catholic-based work of arts
Painting
▪ Religious (icon and ecclesiastical)
▪ Secular (portraiture)
Esteban Villanueva, Basi Revolt, 1821 (14 paintings)
Inspired by: Maître â la Ratiêre, Battle of Marignano 1515)
Byzantine Painting Style
Byzantine art is an artistic
product of the Eastern Roman
(Byzantine) Empire, as well as
the nations and states that
inherited culturally from the
empire. These are more
Christian-based art.
Byzantine frescoes: Langit, Lupa at Impierno,
Josef Luciano Dans ca. 1850
(Inspired by: 11th-12th century Church of
Panavia
Sculpture
▪ Santos, furniture, altar pieces, jewelry,
metalwork, ornamentation
▪ Rococo Art
Architecture
▪ The plaza complex
consisted of an open
space, usually
rectangular or square in
shape, a chapel or
church, a convent, a
municipio or tribunal, a
market place, a
cemetery, and the
residences around it.
▪ The physical set-up
enabled the Spaniards
to effectively manage
and control the natives,
and bring them closer
to Catholicism.
Baroque Style
Miagao Church
(Inspired by: Cathedral Church of Saint Mary in Murcia, Spain)
1898 - 1946
American Period
▪ Educational and values
formation
▪ Art illustration, advertising,
and commercial design
Painting
▪ Art Nouveau
▪ A style of decorative art, architecture,
and design prominent in Western
Europe and the US from about 1890
until World War I, and characterized
by intricate linear designs and
flowing curves based on natural
forms.
Sculpture
▪ Free standing, relief, public
Architecture
City planning, parks,
waterfront, civic government
structure, public works,
apartments, residences,
offices, health and public
education, business
Neoclasscism
City Hall of Davao (Inspired by: The White House) The White House, USA
Art Decoration in Philippine Architecture
Metropolitan Theater (Inspired by: Chrysler Building)
Art Nouveau in Philippine Architecture
Uy-Chaco Building (Inspired by: Old England
building built in Art Nouveau style. Musée des
instruments de musique - Bruxelles
Philippine Modern Art
1946 - 1970
• The study of determining what is Philippine Contemporary
Art Period is still being determined since the word has
been used loosely even during the American Colonial
Period.
• However, some Philippine art historians/critic has always
been a follower of the WesternArt Style and its trends at
that point, and thus suggested that this was actually the
point where Philippine Modern Art Period started but went
only full swing after the war.
• This is set by the creation of the Art Association of the
Philippines (AAP) that in a way has a strong leaning with
the Modernist than the Conservatives (the traditional art
also termed as the Amorsolo School).
Philippine Contemporary Art
1980s to Present
It was on the on-set of the sudden rise of
personal computers and new technology created
a new art medium for the arts and human
expression.
But there were also countless revivals of old
styles being done.
This started a new direction for the arts, thus
setting the name, momentarily, the Philippine
Contemporary Period.
2 Filipino Art Style that Developed
through Spanish Period
1. Miniaturismo
Art style that pays attention
to the embroidery and
texture of the costume
“Portrait of Romano Carillo”
by Justiniano Asuncion
2 Filipino Art Style that Developed
through Spanish Period
2. Letras y Figuras
Art style that fuses
letters with figures in
every day activity
amidst a common
background
Usually used in painting
a patron’s full name
Key
Movements
From Baroque to Pop Art
Key Movements in PH Art
• Movements are styles in art
shaped by artists with a
common philosophy or
goal.
• These movements can be
borne out of the social
climates that they became
popular in, or be made as
responses to previous
movements.
• Most of the key art
movements found in the
Philippines have Western
origin.
Baroque
▪ An art movement that arose in
Europe during the 17th and
18th centuries. This movement
was characterized by
extravagant imagery through
use of extensive decoration
and ornamentation. During
this period, we adapted this
art style from Spain.
Santo
Paoay Church
Neoclassicism
• This art style followed soon after
the Baroque movement at the
start of the 19th century.
• It harkens back to the style of the
Classical period of the Greeks
and Romans, with an emphasis
on symmetry, order and
simplicity. This movement
became prominent in the
Philippines during theAmerican
Era.
National Museum
Baguio City Hall
Romanticism
An art movement characterized by an
emphasis on the senses and emotion,
sometimes seen as a response to the sober
methods preferred in Neoclassicism, as
Romanticism also became prominent
during the 19th century.
Juan Luna is the most prominent Filipino
artist in this movement, with a blend of
some impressionist style in his work.
Spoliarium, Juan Luna (1884)
Realism
This art movement from the 19th century
heavily pushed for the art style of
Naturalism that aimed to represent
nature the way it truly appears.
Notable artists here are Felipe Roxas
and Fernando Amorsolo.
Amorsolo, however, was one of the
artists in the realism movement to paint
nature such that he perfects it, with
some stylized depictions.
Tinikling sa Barrio,
FernandoAmorsolo
Expressionism
▪ This art movement,
made popular in the
20th century, went for a
style that did not
necessarily concern
itself with observation,
often using geometric
shapes and highly
intense colors, such
as the work of Ang
Kiukok.
▪ Other artists use
distortion and dull
colors to depict various
dogfights.
Dog Fight,Ang Kiukok (1982)
• An art movement that
started around 1907
made famous by Pablo
Picasso, which utilized
CUBISM the use of figures like
cubes, cones, and
cylinders to depict
everything in nature.
• Vicente Manansala
created transparent
cubism, where the human
figure remained intact
while the background or
the environment was still
depicted in the cubic.
Madonna of the
Slums, Vicente
Manansala
Flower Vendor,
Onib Olmedo
1987
Impressionism
▪ This art movement
became famous in
the 19th century with
artists like Claude
Monet of France.
▪ This movement
was concerned with
capturing the
impression of light
on objects and
scenery, with artists
like Emilio Aguilar
Cruz and Andres
Cristobal being
known Filipino
artists of this
Jones Bridge, Emilio Cruz movement.
Surrealism
• Made famous in the early
1920s by artists like
Salvador Dali, this art
movement aimed to depict
the subconscious of the
artist.
• Galo Ocampo is an artist
of this movement.
The River of Life, Galo Ocampo
Abstract
Expressionism
Made famous by
the works of
Jackson Pollock,
this art movement
pointed out that the
creation of the art
was the art itself,
not just the
painting.
Social Realism
▪ Abroad description on
different artworks
whose themes spew
biting commentaries
on socio- political
issues of the country
▪ Aimed to effect social
change through
socio-political pieces
▪ Late 1800s revolutionary
period, and then again in
the First Quarter Storm in
the 1970s (Martial Law)
Martsa ng Bayan para sa Kalayaan,
Katarungan, at Kapayapaan, Edgar Fernandez
(1984)
Figurative Art
One of the most popular
movements, as figurative
art is representational,
meaning it is derived from
real object sources
Early figurative art in the
Philippines is mostly
realistic and classical, but
in modern times, surreal
depictions of human
figures were presented
Kumot, Elmer Borlongan (1993)
Rehimen, Elmer
Borlongan (1988)
Conceptual Art
In this movement, the idea is
more important than the object,
and encompasses site-specific art
installations, three-dimensional
assemblages of discards and non-
art elements, performance, and
video art.
Some of the works are
ephemeral or temporary, and
therefore requires documentation.
ROBERTO CHABET: Father of Philippine ConceptualArt
POP
• Pop Art is a distinctive
genre of art that is primarily
characterized by an
interest in popular culture
and imaginative
ART
interpretations of
commercial products.
• Renowned for its bold
imagery, bright color
palette, and repetitive
approach inspired by mass
production, the movement
is celebrated for its unique
and recognizable style.
• The movement presented
a challenge to traditions of
fine art by including
imagery from popular and
mass culture, such as
advertising.
Pop-Surreal and Lowbrow Art
▪ An underground visual art movement
that is based on comic books, tattoos,
punk music and other alternative-pop
culture themes.
▪ American illustrator Dave McKean
influenced a lot of young Filipino artists,
who created informal movements within
universities.
▪ On the other hand, graffiti art, which
utilizes spray paint and even stickers,
has recently caught on with a lot of
young Filipino artists.
Regionalism
▪ Regionalism was an American art
movement that centralized around
artists working in the Midwest in
states like Kansas and Missouri, it
was art that focused on rural life in
America.
▪ What’s unique about where you live?
Is it urban or rural?
▪ Some kinds of art explore specific
geographic areas and environments.
LUZON
VISAYAS
MINDANAO
CORDILLERA
18th to 21st
Century Art
Remarkable artists up to the present
FILIPINO ARTISTS
Secular Artists
▪ Damian Domingo
▪ “First (known/recognized)
Filipino painter”
▪ Founded the first art school in
the
later 1815 to 1820
▪ Agustin Saez
▪ Known as one of the
teachers and inspiration of
Juan Luna, Lorenzo
Guerrero and their
contemporaries
The “Primitives”
Known Artists:
▪ Isidro Arcejo
▪ Jose Asuncion
▪ Antonio Asuncion
▪ D. Gomez
The “Primitives”
▪ Antonio Malantic
▪ Little Hidalgo and
his grandfather,
1859 (left)
▪ Portrait of
Soledad Francia,
1876 (right)
Late 19th Century
and 20th Century
Precursors
Juan Senson (1847 – 1927)
▪ “Byzantine Style”
▪ Heavily depicted
figures rendered with
stiff lines;
▪ Pure colorations;
▪ Symbolic perspective;
▪ Stylized human figures
▪ “Baptism,” Juan
Senson, Biga Church
▪ Attributed Scupltures:
▪ “Yellow Crucifixion”
▪ “Kristong Pagkabuhay”
Juan Luna (1857-1899)
▪ Competed against the
Westerner’s “cultural
superiority-mongering”
▪ “Daphne y Cleo” (ca. 1879
- 1880)
▪ Awarded a silver palette
by the Liceo Artistico de
Manila
▪ “La Muerte de
Cleopatra” (1881)
▪ Silver medal at Madrird’s
Exposicion
“Spoliarium” (1883-1884) “Las Damas Romanas” (1882)
Gold medal at the Exposicion Diploma of Honor at the Munich
Nacional de BellasArtes Art Museum
Felix Hidalgo (1855-1913)
▪ “Las Viergenes
Cristianas Expuestas al
Populacho” (1884), was
awarded the ninth silver
medal at the Exposicion
General de Belles Artes
in Madrid
▪ “La Barca deAqueronte”
(1887), and “Laguna
Estigia” (1887), received
an Exposicion
Artes in Madrid
Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al La barca de Aqueronte 1887 oil on
Populacho, 1884 oil in canvas canvas
I
Fabian de la Rosa
(1869-1937)
▪ “Don Fabian”
▪ Teacher of Amorsolo,
Tolentino, Manansala,
Francisco, and
Legaspi
▪ Mixture of rural
countryside and
female portraits
using chiaroscuro
method
▪ “Women Working in
ricefield
In the Rice Field 1919
Guillermo Tolentino (1890-1976)
“Memeng Tolentino”
▪ Works expounded on the value of
Filipino sacrifice through accurate
reproduction of their likeness but
clothing and posing them in
idealistic settings in BeauxArts
manner
▪ “Bonifacio Monument” (1932)
Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972)
▪ Tangible sense of historical
detachment between subject
and context
▪ Appreciation of “beautiful”
motifs to argue the motifs of
art as a continuation of the
“classical” traditions of the
academy “nationalism”,
“earthiness”, “condition of the
modern”
“Portrait of Fernanda de
Jesus” (1915)
“Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano” “Antipolo Fiesta”
(1949) (1947)
Victorio Edades (1895-1985)
▪ Transformation of
Philippine art to
modern art; rebellion
against conservative
academism “new
perceptions of the
external world”
▪ Emphasis on
distortion, emotional
feeling, and
radicalism
“The Sketch” (1928)
“The Builders”
(1928)
“Bulul at Babae” (ca. 1930s)
Juan Nakpil (1899-1986)
▪ “Father of Philippine
Architecture”
▪ Utilized the Art Deco style
in Filipino structures and
later transitioned to the
International lifestyle
▪ Quezon Institute Complex
UP DilimanAdministration Building
(Quezon Hall)
Madonna of the Slums
(1950)
Vicente
Manansala
(-1981)
▪Transparent
Cubism style
▪ NationalArtist
for Visual Arts
1981
“LuksongTinik
1973
Carlos Francisco
(1912-1969)
▪ Uses Figurative
Modernism and
Asian traditional
art
▪ Murals depicting
narrative sweep
and epic
proportions of
Philippine history
and society
“Bayanihan sa Bukid”
Modern Filipino Artists
▪ Have more freedom to
explore
▪ They show their love for
country and evolving culture
▪ Styles come from cross-
cultural exposures from
Eastern and Western world
mixed with their Filipino
roots
▪ Many use color to convey
emotion rather than
intellectual values
Jose T. Joya
NationalArtist for VisualArts, 2003; FilipinoAbstract
Expressionist painter
Hills of Nikko (1964) Barter of Panay (1978)
Oil on Canvas Oil on Canvas
Hernando Ruiz Ocampo
NationalArtist for VisualArts, 1991; Modernist Abstract
“Children Dancing Mutants
(1995)
Oil on Canvas
Arturo Luz
NationalArtist for VisualArts; Modern Neo-Realist
Red Sky (2007) Bagong Taon
(1997)
Mauro “Malang” Santos
Woman Vendor Flower Vendor
(1993) (1992)
Post-Modern Filipino Artists
▪ The movement sought to
contradict some aspects of
modernism or aspects that
emerged/developed in its
aftermath
▪ The constituents of this
movement believed that they
should no longer try to
create something “new” but
instead “borrow, combine,
explore” what was already
existing to produce
something new.
▪ Associated with the
deconstruction of the idea.
Ian Quirante
Post-modern artist
Untitled (2004) The Secret
Mixed media (2011)
Rocky Cajigan
Multimedia artist
Educated (2015) Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh
Box construction,Atomizer, Cordillera weaving, (2015)
Woodenphalluses,
Ang Kiukok
National Artist for Visual Arts 2001
Cockfight
(1998)
Fish (1958)
Oil on Canvas
Lino Severino
Modern Contemporary Painter
Vanishing Scene #232 (1994) Untitled (1993)
Acrylic on Canvas Acrylic on Canvas
Impy Pilapil
A Dreamer’s
Zone II
Serigraph
Oceanic Garden Series
(2015)
Charito Bitanga
Abstract Artist
Untitled 0000 (1992) Presentation
Oil on Canvas Oil on Canvas
Baguio Local Artists
Kidlat Tahimik
▪ Father of Philippine
Independent
Cinema; National
Artist of the
Philippines for Film
2018
▪ Film director, writer, and
actor whose films are
commonly associated
with the Third Cinema
movement through
their critiques of
neocolonialism
Ben Cab
▪ Hailed as a master of
contemporary
Philippine Art; National
Artist for VisualArts
2006
▪ Painter and printmaker,
has exhibited widely in
the Philippines and in
Asia, Europe, and the
United States
▪ Received the Gawad
CCP Para sa Sining
(Cultural Center of
the Philippines)
Sabel in Blue- Ben Cabrera (2006) ; Oil on Canvas
Justine Amores
▪ Medium: Painting
(watercolor and gouache)
and photography
▪ Combines vibrant colors for
her illustrations reflecting
her cheerful, amiable, and
animated character
▪ Particular interest on
painting jeepneys,
Filipiniana themes, and
recently, on cats
Untitled (2019) Dyipni Series (2017-2018)
Film Photography Gouache Painting
Conclusion
We do not have a distinct art
movement, but when we adopt
Western art movements, or any
foreign art movements, we sure
make it with our own flavor.
PhilippineArt and Key
Movements constitute
our “Filipino identity.”
But Filipino identity is
vague, and to talk about
Filipino identity is to
also talk of inclusion
and exclusion – the
sameness and
difference of different
cultures and traditions
To appreciate Philippine
Art is to appreciate the
uniqueness of the culture
behind it.
THANK
YOU!
