What key historical events occurred at the time the work was created?
What were the other artistic influences on the work?
What were the philosophical ideas that informed the artwork?
What were the cultural influences?
Who were the intended audience?
Is the artist identified with a particular movement, school, or style?
What was the original purpose of the work?
Gaston Damag
His artworks employ the bulul and other mundane objects from his native Ifugao homeland as subject matter
Different contexts of art
Artist's background
Nature
Everyday life
Society, politics, economy, and history
Mode of reception
Artist's background
Age, gender, culture, economic conditions, social environment, and disposition
Betis Pampanga
Sculpture is learned through "apprenticeship"
MATEKANAN MANDUKIT/MASTER SCULPTOR
Redpaper mâché sculpture of horse / "Taka"
Paete Laguna
In the gallery and museum setting, the uniqueness and individual expression is given much importance. Some artists deliberately foreground their cultural identity in their works
Abdulmari Asia Imao
Nexus of his visual world
Uses primary colors
Geometric and cubistic forms as well as vegetal design
Talaandig
The Talaandig artists from Bukidnon express their affinities with the land by using soil instead of pigments and painting about their present concerns
Julie Lluch (from Iligan City)
Emphasize her female identity and personal experiences in many of her terracotta works
In "Cutting onions always makes me cry" (1988), her self-portrait presents cooking -a role associated with women in the home as oppressive and unpleasant
Nature
Source of inspiration and a wellspring of materials for art production
T'nalak
Uses abaca fibers
Is evocative of the people's belief that spirits reside with people in the natural environment
Nelfa Querubin-Tompkins
Has experimented with iron-rich San Dionisio Clay sourced from her native Iloilo
LuisYeeJr (Junyee)
Made an ephemeral installation at the grounds of the CCP titled "Angud, a forest once (2000)" This is posed as a commentary on the abuse of nature
Veejay Villafranca
One of the photographers who warned the public about the alarming effects of climate change, and how it forces people to become "refugees in their own land"
Everyday life
Philippine traditional art has always been an integral part of daily life
Its significance lies not only in its aesthetic appearance but also in its functionality and value to the society where it's produced
Lirio Salvador
Fuses easily accessible objects like machine discards, bicycle parts, and implements to form an assemblage
MM Yu
Primarily drawn to street photography and documenting the everyday, her photographs evoke the ever-changing cultural texture and topology of Manila
Society, politics, economy, and history
Although art is a form of expression, we discern that throughout its history, the works are not always created out of the artist's own volition
Changes in the society, politics, and economy affects the artists, the work that they do, and the structures that support their production
Appropriation
The technique of transforming existing materials through the juxtaposition of elements taken from context and replacing these in another to present alternative meanings, structure, and composition
Modeofreception
When, where, and how art is encountered
NationalArtistAward (NAA)
The highest form of recognition to Filipino artists for their significant contributions in the arts and letters
The award is conferred every three years
Established
1972
First recipient was Fernando Amorsolo
66 awardees were included from several disciplinal areas (Architecture, Design and allied arts, Film, Visual arts, Literature, Dance, Music, and Theater)
Criteria for the Order of National Artists
Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination, as well as those who died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death
Artists who, through the content and form of their works, have contributed in building a Filipino sense of nationhood
Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus earning distinction and making an impact on succeeding generations of artists
Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of work and/or consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus enriching artistic expression or style
Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through prestigious national and/or international recognition, critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works, and respect and esteem from peers
National Artists
Guillermo Tolentino Oblation, 1935 (awarded1972)
Benedicto Cabrera (Variations of Sabel), 2015
Napoleon Abueva Spirit of business,1979
Nick Joaqin A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, 1950(awarded1976)
The story of Nick Joaqin's "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino" revolves around a painting of the same title dedicated by a crippled artist to his unmarried daughters, Candida and Paula
Support system of the arts
Educational institutions such as schools and universities
Organizations
Collectives
Media
Alternative platforms
The Anino Shadowplay Collective
Formed in 1996, is a group of multimedia artists committed to popularizing the art of shadowplay. Presenting the Legend of Tungkung Langit and Alusina (Alamat ni Tungkung Langit at Alusina)
TheSipatLawinEnsemble
A site-specific experimental theatre company from the Philippines. Formed in 2008, the collective produces work in theatres, cafes, galleries, abandoned schools, stadiums and carparks around Manila
Tanghalang Ateneo
Produces both Filipino plays and adaptations of classics
Teatro Tomasino
Produces original plays written by students
Dulaang UP
Produces both English and Filipino, original plays written by Filipinos, and even traditional sarswelas
Dance groups
Kalilayan Folkloric dance group
University of San Carlos Denge Troupe
Hiyas ng Maynilad Dance Troupe
UO Filipina Dance Group
Lyceum of Batangas Folk Dance Company
Museums
Traditionally based on a collection of objects
Tasked to preserve heritage for the enjoyment and education of present and future generations
Contemporary art exhibitions need not be confined within the "white cube" environment of galleries and museums
GAMABA
12 Individuals have received this distinction (1992)
R.A. 7355 until 2012
This art recognizes the outstanding work of artists in the Philippines
Emphasis on intangible & communal aspects of art production
Traditional arts find deep affinities with nature, place, society, ritual, and everyday life