Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions | 2nd Semester

Week 7-8

Study
Schedule
DATE Topic COMPETENCIES ACTIVITY
February 15-19,  Critique available
2021 Mediums and materials and
Techiques appropriate
techniques Activity 1: Search and
Learn
February 22-26,
 Explicate the use
2021
of materials and
the application of
techniques

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 Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions | 2nd Semester
Week 7-8

LESSON
5 MEDIUMS AND TECHNIQUES

Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC):

 Critique available materials and appropriate techniques

Explore

What is Medium?
Medium is defined as the material, or the substance out of which a work is made.
Through these materials, the artists express and communicate feelings and ideas.
The medium also defines the nature of the art form as follows:
The sculptor uses metal, wood, stone, clay and glass. Sculptures fall within the
category of “three-dimensional” arts because they occupy space and have volume. Pottery is a
form of sculpture. Other examples are nudes or figures such as Guillermo Tolentino’s Oblation,
ritual objects such as bulul woodcarvings in the Cordillera or the santos or carvings of saints in
Christian churches.
The architect uses wood, bamboo, bricks, stone, concrete, and various building
materials. Buildings are also called “three dimensional” arts because like sculpture, they occupy
space and have volume. However, architecture has the added element of time, since we move
into the structures.
The printmaker uses ink printed or transferred on a surface (wood, metal plates, or silk
screen) that is in keeping with a duplicating or reproducing process. Prints and paintings are
further classified as “two dimensional” arts because they include the surface or ground on which
coloring substances are applied. However, while paintings are unique and one-of-a-kind, prints
can be reproduced in several pre-determined editions.
The musician uses sound and instruments (including the human voice), while the
dancer uses the body. A T’boli chanter sings creation stories in a way that is different from a
classical singer or pop music singer influenced by the Western music scale.
The dancer uses the body and its movement. Dance is often accompanied by music but
there are dances that do not rely on musical accompaniment to be realized. Dance can tell
stories but at other times, they convey abstract ideas that do not rely on a narrative.
The theater artist integrates all the arts and uses the stage, production design,
performance elements and script to enable the visual, musical, dance and other aspects to
come together as a whole work.
The photographer and filmmaker use the camera to record the outside world. The
filmmaker uses the cinematographic camera to record and put together production design,
sound engineering, performance and screenplay. In digital photography and film, the images
can be assimilated into the computer, thus eliminating the need for celluloid or negatives,
processing chemicals or print.
The writer of a novel, poetry, nonfiction and fiction uses words. The designer, the
performance artist and the installation artist combine use of the range of materials above.

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On the basis of medium, the arts can be classified as practical, environmental, pictorial,
auditory, narrative, dramatic and musical. The musical arts include music, poetry (those that
have perceptible rhythm and can be sung or danced to) and dance that is accompanied by
music. The practical arts have immediate use for everyday and business life such as design,
architecture and furniture. Environmental arts occupy space and change in its meaning and
function depending on their categories including architecture, sculpture and site-specific works
such as installations and public art.
Pictorial works include painting, drawing, graphics and stage and production design
(lighting dress, props and set). Works that are staged and performed are considered Dramatic
and they include drama, performance art, or music and dance. If they are based on stories, the
art forms are classified as narrative and they include drama, novel, fiction, nonfiction, music
and dance.
All these art forms can be integrated and result in Combined Arts, such as design, mixed
media, photography, film, video, performance art, theater production and installations.
For example, a ritual involves the use of a sculpture such as bulul, a dance, music and
production design that involves the wearing of textile, jewelry and a circular design where
lighting can be as simple as a torch or sulo. In such settings, we do not sit separately from the
stage, like what happens in regular auditoriums or theaters. When sitting or standing in a circle
with lead chanters, dancers, and musicians, everyone is encouraged to dance and participate.
In our own ways, we become part of the community and the creative process, as active “artists”
ourselves, rather than just audiences or spectators. The arts in such settings are integrated and
cannot be separated into distinct forms; art is collectively consumed and created.
On the other hand, the UP Chapel is made out of works made by individual National
Artists practicing in the various arts. The architecture is by Leandro Locsin; the crucifix is by
Napoleon Abueva; the floor mosaic by Arturo Luz, and the Stations of the Cross are by Vicente
Manansala who was assisted by Ang Kiukok. In 1968, the chapel was the site of a performance
created by another National Artist, Jose Maceda. His piece combined indigenous voices, and
instruments and a prayer sung in Tagalog.

Firm-Up

What is Technique?
Technique is the manner in which artists use and manipulate materials to achieve the
desired formal effect and communicate the desired concept or meaning, according to his or her
personal style (modern, Neoclassic, etc.). The distinctive character or nature of the medium
determines the technique. For example, stone is chiseled, wood is carved, clay is modeled and
shaped, metal is cast, and thread is woven.
Technique involves tools and technology, ranging from the most traditional (for example
carving, silkscreen, analog photography and filmmaking) to the most contemporary (digital
photography, digital filmmaking, music production, industrial design, and robotics.
For example, the mural Filipino Struggles Through History (1963) by National Artist
Carlos Francisco depicts Andres Bonifacio leading the revolution. It takes advantage of line and
color to communicate dynamism and intense passion, in the expressionist modern style. The
Bonifacio Monument by another National Artist, Guillermo Tolentino, on the other hand, makes
use of carving to come up with work that has mass and volume, enabling him to depict the

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scene realistically capturing a moment of stillness when Bonifacio stands reflectively on a scene
of death, but with grace and dignity befitting a leader in the Neoclassic style.

Deepen
There are different types of techniques that artists can choose from:

 COLLAGE
- is made by adhering flat elements such as newspaper or magazine cutouts, printed
text, illustrations, photographs, cloths, strings, etc. to a flat surface to create a thick
layer that is almost like a relief sculpture.

 DECALCOMANIA
- is the process of applying gouache to paper or glass then transferring a reversal of
that image onto canvas or other flat materials.

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 DECOUPAGE
- is done by gluing decorative paper cutouts onto an object and then coating these
with one or more coats of transparent coating or varnish.

 FROTTAGE
- is the technique of rubbing crayon on a piece of paper which has been placed over
an object or an image. The impression of the image can be made using leaves,
wood, wire screen or metal with embossed image or words.

 MONTAGE
- is used for photography or film where a pictorial image is juxtaposed or placed
overlapping to make another picture or design.

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 TRAPUNTO
- painting is the technique used by Pacita Abad where her canvases are padded,
sewn, and often filled with sequins, beads, shells, buttons, tiny mirrors, bits of glass,
rickrack, swatches of precious textiles and other things that she picks up from her
travels and journeys.

 DIGITAL APPLICATIONS
- for art viewing is another technique. An example was made possible by the
Samsung Supports the Arts FACETS based at Yuchengco Museum.

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Transfer

Activity 1 Search and Learn

b. What techniques were used in the art production?

c. How would you describe the output or final artwork?

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REFERENCES

Books

Ramirez, V. E. (2019) Contemporary Philippine arts from the regions. VIBAL

Datuin, P., & Ramirez, M., et al. (2016) Contemporary Philippine arts from the regions. REX
Book Store

Images
Picabia, F. (1920) Tableau Rastadada [Photograph]. My Modern Met.
https://mymodernmet.com/collage-art-collage/
Peters, J. (n.d.) Decalcomania [Photograph]. Pinterest.
https://www.pinterest.ph/sw-shell.html
Abad, P. (1990) European Mask [Photograph]. E-flux.
https://www.eflux.com/announcements/193668/pacita-abada-million-things-to-say/

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