Contemporary Art Forms and Notable Works

50 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, artworks, principles, and notable figures from the lecture on contemporary art forms.

Architecture

The art and practice of designing and constructing buildings.

Beijing National Stadium ("Bird’s Nest")

Iconic steel stadium built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics by Chinese and international architects.

Eiffel Tower

Iron lattice tower in Paris built by Gustave Eiffel as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair.

Burj Al Arab

Ultra-luxury hotel in Dubai, built on an artificial island and famed as the 4th tallest hotel in the world.

Saint Peter’s Basilica

The most famous Catholic church, located in Vatican City and a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.

Sculpture

Art of creating two- or three-dimensional representative or abstract forms.

Molding

Sculptural technique of shaping material by modeling or pressing it into a form.

Casting

Making a sculpture by pouring liquid material into a mold that solidifies.

Carving

Using tools to remove material from a solid block to reveal a form.

Assemblage

Sculptural composition built by combining scraps and junks into a whole.

Form (Principle of Sculpture)

Three-dimensional element that encloses volume, including height, width, and depth.

Balance (Principle of Sculpture)

Distribution of visual weight that creates stability in a composition.

Emphasis (Principle of Sculpture)

Area the artist highlights as the most important focal point.

Color (Principle of Sculpture)

Aspect of objects or light described by hue, brightness, and saturation.

Unity (Principle of Sculpture)

Compositional strategy that makes all parts of a work feel cohesive.

Texture

The actual or implied surface quality of a sculpture or object.

Oblation

Guillermo Tolentino’s sculpture at UP symbolizing the selfless offering of oneself to the nation.

Lapu-Lapu Sculpture

Monument in Mactan Shrine honoring Rajah Lapu-Lapu’s heroism.

Statue of Dr. Jose Rizal

Landmark monument in Luneta Park commemorating the Philippine national hero.

McArthur Landing Memorial National Park

Leyte monument by Anastacio Caedo marking General MacArthur’s 1944 landing.

Sandugo Compact

Napoleon Abueva’s sculpture portraying the 1565 blood compact of Datu Sikatuna and Legazpi in Bohol.

Josephine Sleeping

Intimate sculpture by José Rizal of his last love, carved during exile in Dapitan.

Guillermo Tolentino

National Artist noted for classical works like The Oblation and Bonifacio Monument.

Napoleon Abueva

National Artist hailed as the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture.

Eduardo Castrillo

Filipino sculptor known for dynamic, large-scale metal monuments.

Julie Lluch

Artist famous for lifelike clay sculptures of Filipino life and women.

Discus Thrower

Celebrated lost Greek bronze depicting an athlete poised to hurl a discus.

Pietà

Michelangelo’s marble sculpture of Mary holding the body of Jesus.

Painting

Artistic process of applying pigment to a surface for imagery or decoration.

Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci’s half-length portrait considered a Renaissance masterpiece.

The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci’s mural portraying Jesus’ final meal with his apostles.

Literature

Body of written works valued for artistic or intellectual merit.

Fiction

Narrative literature based on imaginative invention rather than real events.

Non-fiction

Prose writing grounded in facts, real events, and real people.

Poetry

Literary form using imaginative language and rhythm to evoke emotion.

Music

Vocal or instrumental sounds combined to create form, harmony, and expression.

Harana

Traditional Filipino rural serenade performed by men to court a lady.

Kundiman

Genre of traditional Filipino love songs with heartfelt, lyrical melodies.

Performing Arts

Creative activities such as drama, music, and dance presented before an audience.

Film

Medium of moving pictures that tells stories or documents reality for viewing in cinemas or on television.

Contemporary Art

Art produced in the present period, reflecting current ideas, issues, and culture.

Bonifacio Monument

Guillermo Tolentino’s historical sculpture honoring revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio.

National Artist (Philippines)

Highest state honor given to Filipino artists for significant contributions to the arts.

Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture

Honorific title given to Napoleon Abueva for pioneering modern sculptural forms.

Drama

Performing arts genre involving scripted dialogue and acting on stage.

Dance

Art form of rhythmic bodily movement, often set to music, expressing ideas or emotions.

Sail-shaped Design

Architectural form resembling a ship’s sail, exemplified by the Burj Al Arab hotel.