LESSON 1&2: National Artist of the Philippines & Contemporary Filipino Artists (Painting)

National Artist of the Philippines

is the highest recognition the Philippine government can give to a person of the arts

Presidential Proclamation No. 1001, s. 1972

when and how was the National Artist of the Philippines created

National Commission for Culture and the Arts

NCCA

Cultural Center of the Philippines

CCP

National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Cultural Center of the Philippines

made the rules to receive the National Artist of the Philippines

1. The artist must be a Filipino citizen or at least at the time of the nomination

2. The artist should have contributed “to building a Filipino sense of nationhood“ as seen in their works

3. The artist should have led the way in a new and creative expression or style, separating themselves from others and, in turn, influencing other generations of artists

4. The artist’s work should be noteworthy and an embodiment of excellence, further enhancing his/her chosen field of creative expression

5. The artist should be critically acclaimed and accepted by legitimate intitutions and peers

Qualifications to receive the National Artist of the Philippines

1. Title and rank of a National Artist

2. Medal bearing the insignia of National Artist as well as a citation

3. Cash gift of PHP100,000 to the living artist and PHP75,000 for those who were recognized after their death, which will be given to the heir of the awardee

4. Monthly pension with medical and hospitalization benefits

5. Life insurance for those who are still qualified

6. State funeral and interment at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

7. Reserved place at state functions, awarding ceremonies, and cultural events

Benefits that National Artists receive

Fernando C. Amorsolo

was posthumously recognized as the Philippines’ first National Artist ; he was given the title “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art“ ; his works often incorporate his trademark style of backlighting technique that makes the canvas feel alive with the light

Chiaroscuro

the Italian term for the technique employed in the visual arts to represent light and shadow as they define three-dimensional objects

April 28, 1972

the date Fernando Amorsolo received the National Artist award

• Maiden in a Stream

• El Ciego

• Dalagang Bukid

• Planting Rice

• Sunday Morning Going to Town

5 Major works of Fernando Amorsolo

Carlos “Botong“ V. Francisco

he is known for historically themed murals such as the Filipino Struggles through History ; one of the pioneers of modernism in the country ; his art reflects the values and the colours of his town

Angono Petroglyphs

Carlos “Botong“ V. Francisco was credited with the discovery of this, one of the earliest examples of prehistoric art in the Philippines

Victorio C. Edades

considered to be the “Father of Modern Philippine Painting“ ; his style is described as raw and rough using bold impasto strokes

Impasto

means paste in Italian ; use of thick, bold strokes

The Builders

made by Victorio Edades ; shows a group of construction workers engaged in manual labour—lifting rocks, rugged, emphasizing their physical strength and hard work

Neorealism

in painting, as represented by Cesar Legaspi, is an art movement that shows real-life situations and struggles of ordinary people but in modern, stylized, and symbolic way

Vicente S. Manansala

Pioneer of cubism

Cubism

objects are carefully composed on top of another and are carefully rendered using light and delicate colours, making the objects appear translucent and transparent

• Madonna of the Slums

• Jeepneys

• Kalabaw

Major works of Vicente Manansala

Cesar T. Legaspi

one of the leading Filipino neorealists, used geometric shapes, bold lines, and strong colours to express the realities of life—especially the hardships of the working class, such as laborers and factory workers

Gadgets I

Major work made by Cesar Legaspi

J. Elizalde Navarro

was a visual artist who specialized in paintings and sculptures; his paintings are often made of abstract figures ; he is also known for his incision painting technique

Incision Painting Technique

is a modern art method where the artist scratches, carves, or cuts lines into the surface of the painting—usually through layers of paint—to reveal textures, patterns, or underlying colours

The Seasons

Major work of J. Elizalde Navarro

Jose Joya

differentiated himself from other abstract artists by creating a visual expression that went beyond Western influences and, as a result, created an authentic Filipino abstract

Makiling Interlude

Major work of Jose Joya

Benedicto R. Cabrera

or BenCab as he is most popularly known, is one of the most successful Filipino contemporary artists ; he is most popular for his series of works that feature a solitary figure of a scavenger whom he named Sabel

Sabel

is one of the most iconic subjects in paintings of BenCab, symbolizing the struggles, resilience, and dignity of the Filipino people, especially the poor and marginalized ; the painting was inspired by a real woman he once saw roaming the streets of Manila, wrapped in scraps of plastic and cloth

Scavenger

refers to a person who collects discarded materials to survive

• Madonna with Objects

• Studies of Sabel

Major works of Benedicto Cabrera