Appreciating Art
It's been almost two weeks since summer break started, and I wanted to post something new here, but I couldn't think of anything to write about. No creative juices active as of the moment, but I remembered that there were times that they have been in the past year, so I thought to just share some academic papers I'm quite proud to have written (and that I know won't be too boring to share). The first one that I want to share is one of my final papers for my Humanities II class, where we studied about Art, Man and Society. This was written last October 2010 as a reaction paper to our museum visit (which I thoroughly enjoyed). I'm quite proud of this because I'm not a person who's really into art (visual arts, that is), and yet this is the first paper to which I've acquired a grade of 1.00 (that's the highest grade in our grading system). I've put a lot of effort into this, so I'm really happy that it paid off very well.
Well then, here it is.
For our museum visit, I first visited the National Art Gallery at the National Museum. It houses the best artworks from many of the Philippines' most notable artists. The first gallery, aptly named Bulwagang Luna at Hidalgo: Hall of Masters, can alone prove that as it houses none other than the famed Spoliarium, as well as other works by the two very notable Filipino artists, Juan Novicio Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. There are also some letters written by Luna as well as old photographs of the Spoliarium.
My initial reaction to the Spoliarium was “Wow!” as it was indeed a very spectacular work of art. It was my first time seeing the actual painting, so I was really awestruck the moment I saw it. The life-size painting portrays a scene wherein dead gladiators are being dragged into a pile of corpses in the dark portion of the arena while there are spectators on the left and a grieving woman on the right. The painting won a gold medal at the National Exposition of Fine Arts of Madrid in 1884.
I think that the significance of this painting lies in its symbolic content. By analyzing it, we can catch a glimpse of our history. It is said that the painting symbolizes the Spaniards’ harsh treatment of the Filipinos during that time (circa 1884). The dead gladiators represent the oppressed Filipinos while the soldiers dragging them represent the Spanish government. Truly, the painting can be valued not just for its aesthetic sense but also for its symbolic portrayal of a portion of our history.
As for Hidalgo’s works, I liked “La Playa de un Cadox” because of its simplicity and the brilliant use of cool colors. I also saw a copy of his painting “The Boat of Acheron” in another museum and liked it because of its surreal and mythical look. I thought that the way it was painted was brilliant.
The National Museum’s other features include the Hall of the National Artists for the Visual Arts (which quite obviously features works created by our national artists) and the Fernando Amorsolo gallery (which features his sketches and his last, unfinished painting along with some of his original brushes). There are also halls featuring the “national treasures of Philippine archaeology” and galleries which feature modern artworks and sculptures.
Aside from the Spoliarium, I chose two notable artworks to cite for this paper. The first one would be the painting entitled “Piglas” or “Struggle” by Edgar Talusan Fernandez, painted in 1985 using oil on canvas. It depicts a huge black bird on a blue background reaching for a piece of ribbon colored red and yellow. I really like the combination of colors and its symbolic use. Since it was painted in 1985, I’m speculating that the struggle it pertains to is the conflict brought about by the martial law. Red and yellow were the colors of the opposing forces during that time and the background color of blue may symbolize peace and harmony, which I think is the outcome that the painter would like to see at the end of the “struggle”. I chose it as one of my favorites because it is not only beautiful aesthetically, it also has a deeper meaning behind it.
The second one would be another painting entitled “Soratan”, painted in 1999 by Saudi Ahmad using watercolor on paper. The painting portrays a Muslim community performing what seems to be a ritual. I liked this painting because of two reasons. Again, there’s the combination of colors and the other reason would be due to the details of the painting. I was really awestricken by the very fine details, to think that it was painted using watercolor. I’ve learned in class that watercolor is one of the hardest mediums to use in art since it would be hard to erase it and it sort of doesn’t allow one to make mistakes, so I was really amazed by how detailed the painting was.
Moving on, the next museum I visited was the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Exhibits include Big Works (which features large paintings and other works by modern artists), a gallery dedicated to Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo (this is where I saw a copy of his painting “The Boat of Acheron” which I mentioned earlier), and another gallery called “Sulyap, Yugto, Dalipay” which features paintings and other mementos of Philippine everyday life. There is also a temporary exhibit featuring works of eleven contemporary Japanese photographers called “Out of the ordinary/Extraordinary”. The themes used in the photographs were all very original, and some were even quite eccentric. They are all, however, forms of expression used by the artists to express their views on the contemporary society.
Then there are also the Gold and Pottery exhibits which feature a wide range of ancient jewelry and pottery. The first items in the gold exhibit were mostly religious in nature (rosaries, rosary-form necklaces, cross pendants and chalice) and most of the items were from the 18th to the 19th century. Walking further inside the gallery, many different kinds of ancient jewelry can be seen. These include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, armlets, face masks, leglets, buckles, anklets and sashes. I’ve learned that these jewelries, especially the sashes, were indicators of wealth and high social status during pre-colonial times. Only those of high royalty wore the sashes and it is said that they only wear heavy earrings. Meanwhile, wearing a leglet in ancient eastern Mindanao would signify that the wearer is a bagani or warrior. Simply put, these ancient jewelries provide us a window to the pre-colonial times. Through them, we can take a glance on the lives of our ancestors.
Not only are these jewelries windows to the pre-colonial times, they are also manifestations of the ancient Filipino’s skill and craftsmanship. The loop-in-loop chain technique of making sashes is said to be a technique found only in the Philippines while the armlets and anklets found are said to have a design uniquely Filipino with no sign of casting and is thus considered as a “masterpiece of skilled repoussage”.
Meanwhile, the pottery exhibit features different kinds of ancient jars and pots. Most of them are said to be moulded using the paddle and anvil technique and the free-hand modelling technique. The pots are said to be important indications of human development in ancient times, as they were mostly used for functional and ritual purposes.
My favorite part of the exhibit in this museum would have to be the painting entitled “Hinulugang Taktak” by Eduardo Salgado, painted in 1932 using oil on canvas. I liked it because of its subject matter. It depicts a group of Filipinos by a waterfall and shows the simplicity of Filipino life in the barrios.
The third museum I went to was the San Agustin Museum in Intramuros. The museum features mostly religious figures and items, as well as retablos, religious paintings, old porcelains and church vestments. There is also the Urdaneta Exhibit which features items from the Spanish era, ship relics and some items from pre-colonial Philippines. There were also historical books in the exhibit, including the original Doctrina Christiana and a copy of the Noli Me Tangere. An 18th century pipe organ can also be seen in the Oratorio and in the music room. I think that because the features of the museum are mostly historical, one can definitely have a review of Philippine history through a tour of the museum.
Also, the church itself is a historical and architectural icon. It is said to be the first religious structure built in Luzon, and that its façade follows the style of the High Rena. issance with a touch of Baroque, making it one of the most copied façade in the colonial period. (see credits for work cited)
Lastly, I went to the Casa Manila Museum. It’s a perfect example of what we call “bahay-na-bato”. The bahay-na-bato is the typical townhouse owned by affluent families during the 19th century, and is seen today as “the quintessential Filipino house”. Upon entrance, we see the Zaguan and Patio. This is where carriages enter, dropping off passengers by the stairs. On the house’s second and third floor are a number of rooms, namely: the entresuelo (the waiting room), despacho or oficina (office), cuarto (bedroom), caida or antesala (this is mostly used by the family for entertaining close friends, having merienda or playing games), sala (the living room), oratorio (prayer room), cuarto principal (master’s bedroom), comedor (dining room), cocina (kitchen), letrina (toilet), baño (bathroom) and the azotea (mostly used for activities requiring the use of water).
The bahay-na-bato is a classic example of how architecture in the Philippines evolved during the Spanish colonial era. It is said that the bahay-na-bato is a mix of Filipino and Western influences and it is the peak in the development of native Filipino architecture. (see credits for work cited)
At the end of the museum tour, I’ve learned that art really is an important facet of our society. It is not only a means through which the artist can express his or her thoughts and ideas; it can also be a window to our history and a reflection of our culture.
Credits/Works Cited:
http://heritageconservation.wordpress.com/2006/07/29/san-agustin-church-intramuros-manila/
http://www.librarylink.org.ph/featarticle.asp?articleid=110
At the end of the 1st sem, I was really glad to have taken up Hum II because I really learned a lot from it. Even though I'm not really interested in the visual arts, it wasn't boring at all. It was actually quite interesting that because of it, I now learned how to appreciate art :)
Well then, here it is.
For our museum visit, I first visited the National Art Gallery at the National Museum. It houses the best artworks from many of the Philippines' most notable artists. The first gallery, aptly named Bulwagang Luna at Hidalgo: Hall of Masters, can alone prove that as it houses none other than the famed Spoliarium, as well as other works by the two very notable Filipino artists, Juan Novicio Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. There are also some letters written by Luna as well as old photographs of the Spoliarium.
My initial reaction to the Spoliarium was “Wow!” as it was indeed a very spectacular work of art. It was my first time seeing the actual painting, so I was really awestruck the moment I saw it. The life-size painting portrays a scene wherein dead gladiators are being dragged into a pile of corpses in the dark portion of the arena while there are spectators on the left and a grieving woman on the right. The painting won a gold medal at the National Exposition of Fine Arts of Madrid in 1884.
I think that the significance of this painting lies in its symbolic content. By analyzing it, we can catch a glimpse of our history. It is said that the painting symbolizes the Spaniards’ harsh treatment of the Filipinos during that time (circa 1884). The dead gladiators represent the oppressed Filipinos while the soldiers dragging them represent the Spanish government. Truly, the painting can be valued not just for its aesthetic sense but also for its symbolic portrayal of a portion of our history.
As for Hidalgo’s works, I liked “La Playa de un Cadox” because of its simplicity and the brilliant use of cool colors. I also saw a copy of his painting “The Boat of Acheron” in another museum and liked it because of its surreal and mythical look. I thought that the way it was painted was brilliant.
The National Museum’s other features include the Hall of the National Artists for the Visual Arts (which quite obviously features works created by our national artists) and the Fernando Amorsolo gallery (which features his sketches and his last, unfinished painting along with some of his original brushes). There are also halls featuring the “national treasures of Philippine archaeology” and galleries which feature modern artworks and sculptures.
Aside from the Spoliarium, I chose two notable artworks to cite for this paper. The first one would be the painting entitled “Piglas” or “Struggle” by Edgar Talusan Fernandez, painted in 1985 using oil on canvas. It depicts a huge black bird on a blue background reaching for a piece of ribbon colored red and yellow. I really like the combination of colors and its symbolic use. Since it was painted in 1985, I’m speculating that the struggle it pertains to is the conflict brought about by the martial law. Red and yellow were the colors of the opposing forces during that time and the background color of blue may symbolize peace and harmony, which I think is the outcome that the painter would like to see at the end of the “struggle”. I chose it as one of my favorites because it is not only beautiful aesthetically, it also has a deeper meaning behind it.
The second one would be another painting entitled “Soratan”, painted in 1999 by Saudi Ahmad using watercolor on paper. The painting portrays a Muslim community performing what seems to be a ritual. I liked this painting because of two reasons. Again, there’s the combination of colors and the other reason would be due to the details of the painting. I was really awestricken by the very fine details, to think that it was painted using watercolor. I’ve learned in class that watercolor is one of the hardest mediums to use in art since it would be hard to erase it and it sort of doesn’t allow one to make mistakes, so I was really amazed by how detailed the painting was.
Moving on, the next museum I visited was the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Exhibits include Big Works (which features large paintings and other works by modern artists), a gallery dedicated to Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo (this is where I saw a copy of his painting “The Boat of Acheron” which I mentioned earlier), and another gallery called “Sulyap, Yugto, Dalipay” which features paintings and other mementos of Philippine everyday life. There is also a temporary exhibit featuring works of eleven contemporary Japanese photographers called “Out of the ordinary/Extraordinary”. The themes used in the photographs were all very original, and some were even quite eccentric. They are all, however, forms of expression used by the artists to express their views on the contemporary society.
Then there are also the Gold and Pottery exhibits which feature a wide range of ancient jewelry and pottery. The first items in the gold exhibit were mostly religious in nature (rosaries, rosary-form necklaces, cross pendants and chalice) and most of the items were from the 18th to the 19th century. Walking further inside the gallery, many different kinds of ancient jewelry can be seen. These include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, armlets, face masks, leglets, buckles, anklets and sashes. I’ve learned that these jewelries, especially the sashes, were indicators of wealth and high social status during pre-colonial times. Only those of high royalty wore the sashes and it is said that they only wear heavy earrings. Meanwhile, wearing a leglet in ancient eastern Mindanao would signify that the wearer is a bagani or warrior. Simply put, these ancient jewelries provide us a window to the pre-colonial times. Through them, we can take a glance on the lives of our ancestors.
Not only are these jewelries windows to the pre-colonial times, they are also manifestations of the ancient Filipino’s skill and craftsmanship. The loop-in-loop chain technique of making sashes is said to be a technique found only in the Philippines while the armlets and anklets found are said to have a design uniquely Filipino with no sign of casting and is thus considered as a “masterpiece of skilled repoussage”.
Meanwhile, the pottery exhibit features different kinds of ancient jars and pots. Most of them are said to be moulded using the paddle and anvil technique and the free-hand modelling technique. The pots are said to be important indications of human development in ancient times, as they were mostly used for functional and ritual purposes.
My favorite part of the exhibit in this museum would have to be the painting entitled “Hinulugang Taktak” by Eduardo Salgado, painted in 1932 using oil on canvas. I liked it because of its subject matter. It depicts a group of Filipinos by a waterfall and shows the simplicity of Filipino life in the barrios.
The third museum I went to was the San Agustin Museum in Intramuros. The museum features mostly religious figures and items, as well as retablos, religious paintings, old porcelains and church vestments. There is also the Urdaneta Exhibit which features items from the Spanish era, ship relics and some items from pre-colonial Philippines. There were also historical books in the exhibit, including the original Doctrina Christiana and a copy of the Noli Me Tangere. An 18th century pipe organ can also be seen in the Oratorio and in the music room. I think that because the features of the museum are mostly historical, one can definitely have a review of Philippine history through a tour of the museum.
Also, the church itself is a historical and architectural icon. It is said to be the first religious structure built in Luzon, and that its façade follows the style of the High Rena. issance with a touch of Baroque, making it one of the most copied façade in the colonial period. (see credits for work cited)
Lastly, I went to the Casa Manila Museum. It’s a perfect example of what we call “bahay-na-bato”. The bahay-na-bato is the typical townhouse owned by affluent families during the 19th century, and is seen today as “the quintessential Filipino house”. Upon entrance, we see the Zaguan and Patio. This is where carriages enter, dropping off passengers by the stairs. On the house’s second and third floor are a number of rooms, namely: the entresuelo (the waiting room), despacho or oficina (office), cuarto (bedroom), caida or antesala (this is mostly used by the family for entertaining close friends, having merienda or playing games), sala (the living room), oratorio (prayer room), cuarto principal (master’s bedroom), comedor (dining room), cocina (kitchen), letrina (toilet), baño (bathroom) and the azotea (mostly used for activities requiring the use of water).
The bahay-na-bato is a classic example of how architecture in the Philippines evolved during the Spanish colonial era. It is said that the bahay-na-bato is a mix of Filipino and Western influences and it is the peak in the development of native Filipino architecture. (see credits for work cited)
At the end of the museum tour, I’ve learned that art really is an important facet of our society. It is not only a means through which the artist can express his or her thoughts and ideas; it can also be a window to our history and a reflection of our culture.
Credits/Works Cited:
http://heritageconservation.wordpress.com/2006/07/29/san-agustin-church-intramuros-manila/
http://www.librarylink.org.ph/featarticle.asp?articleid=110
At the end of the 1st sem, I was really glad to have taken up Hum II because I really learned a lot from it. Even though I'm not really interested in the visual arts, it wasn't boring at all. It was actually quite interesting that because of it, I now learned how to appreciate art :)