Lesson from Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions

1. The Subject of ART

2. Every work of art has a subject.
A song may contain lyrics of devotion
directed to a certain person. A novel may talk
about the results of war. A painting may show
a scene in nature. Every work of art –
regardless of the period in which it belongs –
has a subject, the core of its conception.

3. SUBJECT or TOPIC
is any person, animal, thing, or
issue that is described or
represented in a work.

4. It usually generates the question,
What is it?

5. Subject is different from theme or content.
Theme is recurring idea or element
in a work of art. It refers to the
ideas, thoughts, and feelings of the
artist.

6. Everything under the sun is considered a
subject in the arts.
From the simplest idea (e. g., happiness)
or an object (e. g., wine bottle) to the most
complicated ones, like philosophical
thoughts or dreamscapes..

7. In visual design…
Artworks with subjects that are
recognizable are called realistic,
representational, or objective art. Those that
are not recognizable are
nonrepresentational o nonobjective art.

8. Different ways or styles depicting (to
show or describe) a subject.
REALISM – in which the subject
is done the way it actually looks.

9. DISTORTION
The artist uses his or her imagination
and alters the subject according to his or
her desire. A stylized work is a form of
distortion like Norman Belleza’s painting.

10. ABSTRACTION
The artist breaks apart a subject and rearranges
it in a different manner. In science, it is the process
of analysis and synthesis. Pablo Picasso innovated
this style in the early 1900s. The paintings of the
National Artist Vicente Manansala belongs to this
category.

11. NON OBJECTIVISM
There is no subject at all – just an
interplay of pure elements like line,
shape, or color, and so on.

12. •Filipino contemporary artists are now
conscious of their indigenous roots.
•Filipino artists are veering (to let out) away
form the influences of colonizers.
•Filipino artists are conscious that they are
no longer subject to western ideas, concepts, and
forms.

13. Prevalent themes in the contemporary art
scene in the regions are responses to:
• Social
• Economic
• Political Issues
• Ethnic and Indigenous concerns
• Current Events

14. Other subject matters also considered are:
•Philippine Folklore
•Mythology and
•Philosophical thoughts

15. Some subjects in the Visual Arts that continue
to be favored are still:
• Life
• Landscapes
• Genre scenes
• Portraits
• Philippine fiestas and Landmarks

16. Additional Subjects:
•Superstitions and Supernatural belief
*All these are the subjects that have helped developed
the Filipino’s sense of national identity.