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CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE
ARTS FROM THE REGIONS
Module 5
Different Contemporary Art Techniques &
Performances Practices

Writer: AIRENE G. ELCAMEL

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 Learning Objective/s Commented [MOU1]: COMPENTENCIES ONLY (NO
MERGING, BUT UNPACKING/SUB-TASK)
After going through this module, you are expected to: •If you think competency 1 will not need unpacking, just 1
module. But if you think taas kaayo, unpack it into 2 so
• Explain the meaning of “medium” (material) and “technique” (ways of handling material); long that this will fit to the desired number of weeks.
•Just indicate (ex.) Week 2 to 3 MY NOTE: 1 module = 1
• Discuss the local materials used in creating art and the application of techniques week
•The same competency but can be two modules if
Lesson Different Contemporary Art Techniques and necessary
•Write what are covered on each module if one
5 Performance Practices competency runs for two modules

Commented [MJ2]:

Lesson Proper
In this lesson, we will learn that artists’ choice of material and the manner by which they use
these materials are the heart of making art, and that these involve process and transformation.
For example, artists transform clay into pottery, as well as stone into statue, or bamboo into nipa
hut, and sound into music. Attention to mediums and techniques involves all our senses, which
enable us to understand or make sense of art; mediums and techniques are not neutral or
incidental but are part of the meaning of the work. In contemporary art, medium has become
increasingly independent of conventions; artists explore and invent new mediums and technique,
thereby expanding the range of artistic resources.

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 as follows:
The sculptor uses metal, wood, stone, clay and glass. Pottery is a form of sculptor. Other
examples are nudes or figures such as Guillermo Tolentino’s Oblation, ritual objects as bulul
woodcarvings in Cordillera, or the santos or carvings of saints in Christian churches.
The architect uses wood, bamboo, bricks, stone, concrete and various building materials.
The painter uses pigments (e.g., watercolor,oil, tempera, textile paint, acrylic, ink, etc.) on usually
flat ground (wood, canvass, paper, stone wall such as in cave paintings).
The printmaker uses ink printed or transferred on a surface (wood, metal plates, or silk screen)
that is in keeping with duplicating or reproducing process.
The musician uses sound and instruments (including the human voice), while the dancer uses
the body.
The dancer uses the body movements. Dance is often accompanied by music, but there are
dances that do not rely on musical accompaniment to be realized.
The theater artist integrate 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.

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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.
For example, a ritual involves the use of a sculpture such as a bulul, a dance, music, and production
design that involves the wearing or 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.
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 chiselled, wood is carved, clay is modelled 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.
Local Materials in the Philippines
Materials Products
Abaca belongs to banana family. Its fiber has a slippers, ropes, twine, hammock, frame,
natural luster with colors ranging from pure white display jar, jars.
to ivory and dark brown
Bakbak is the outermost covering or leaf sheath of Mat, bankuay bin, boxes, bin display,
the abaca stalk. It is a flat thick durable sheath as jar, Cecilia dining table, and arm chair.
twine or braided. The strong brown fiber used to
make furniture.
Bamboo is used a raw material in creating many Kubing, bungkaka, tongatong,
products. It is used in construction, textile, angklung, pateteg, gabbang
musical instruments, weapons, and many more.
Buntal is a cylindrically shaped fibers. The supple Bags, shoes, desk accessories like pen
ivory white strands are quite durable, pliable, and holder, picture frames, file trays,
have good dyeing qualities. wallets, place mats, braide,
lampshades, window blinds
Buri is extracted from the matured leaves of the Hats, bags, baskets, memorabilia,
buri palm. The fiber is durable and resistant to boxes, perfume tray, and other woven
moisture. products
Coir is the fibrous material surrounding the fruit Indoor or outdoor fiber carpets, wall
of the coconut tree. covering, doormat, trellises, and geo
textiles
Nito is a plant belonging to the fern family that Bags, bread tray, lampshade and
grows abundantly in the hinterlands of Mindanao. decorative jar

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 Pandan is a tropical plant. It is processed and Baskets, hats, picture frames and bags
transformed into splints that are being used as raw
material.
Rattan belongs to the palm family. There are Baskets, picture frames, furniture and
different types of rattan palms, such as high or low other novelty items, Zoya lounge chair,
climbers, single stemmed or clustered rattan Valencia queen, size bed, Rest divan.
species.
Tikog belongs to sea grasses. It is a native reed Bags, decorative mats, hampers,
plant used as a raw material for mat weaving. newspaper racks, table mat, waste bin,
tower candle holder, wall decor.

Analysis
Activity 1 – Name the different Art Forms and the materials used
Art Forms Materials

Activity 2 – Name at least 4 materials that are abundant in your regions and then the products
of those materials.
Materials Products

Evaluation
Directions: Multiple Choice. Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of your answer.
1. Which of the following best describes medium?
a. Medium is a 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.
b. Medium is defined as the material, or the substance out of which a work is made.
c. Medium involves tools and technology, ranging from the most traditional to the
most contemporary.
d. Medium is the distinctive character or nature of the technique.

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2. Among the following, which statement describes technique?
a. Technique is a 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.
b. Technique is defined as the material, or the substance out of which a work is made.
c. Technique 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.
d. Technique uses the body movement.

3. The ___________ uses sound and instruments (including the human voice), while the
dancer uses the body.
a. Dancer
b. Sculptor
c. Painter
d. Musician

4. The __________ uses pigments (e.g., watercolor, oil, tempera, textile paint, acrylic, ink,
etc.) on usually flat ground (wood, canvass, paper, stone wall such as in cave paintings).
a. Dancer
b. Sculptor
c. Painter
d. Musician

5. The ____________ integrate 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.
a. Architect
b. Printmaker
c. Theater artist
d. Photographer
6. ___________ is a plant belonging to the fern family that grows abundantly in the
hinterlands of Mindanao. The products are bags, bread tray, lampshade and decorative
jar.
a. Pandan
b. Tikog
c. Nito
d. Rattan
7. _____________ belongs to sea grasses. It is a native reed plant used as a raw material for
mat weaving. The products are bags, decorative mats, hampers, newspaper, racks, table
mat, waste bin, etc.
a. Pandan
b. Tikog
c. Nito
d. Rattan
8. _____________ belongs to Banana family. Its fiber has a natural luster with colors ranging
from pure white to ivory and dark brown. The products are slippers, ropes, twine,
hammock, frame, display jar, jars, Chelsea chair.
a. Nito
b. Abaca

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 c. Pandan
d. Tikog
9. _____________ is a tropical plant. It is processed and transformed into splints that are
being used as raw material. The products are baskets, hats, picture frames and bags.
a. Nito
b. Abaca

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 Answer Key Commented [MOU3]: Provide answers and possible
answers for comparison.

Turn the answers upside down by placing it inside a text box

References Commented [MOU4]: Use the standard style of

Contemporary Philippine Arts From The Regions

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