APPRECIATING

CONTEMPORARY
ARTS
Artviewers can appreciate artworks if
they can understand and grasp the
meaning of the artwork.
The viewers are also called “gazers”,
“onlookers”, or “audience”.
Kinds of art forms
• Photography
• Theatre
• Sculpture
Elements of art
• Line
• Color
• Texture
Principles of design
• Balance
• Proportion
• Rhythm
 Oscar Floirendo’s Motorela

The subject matter is Motorela, a

popular mode of public
transportation in Cagayan de oro.
Its body is a combination of
tricycle and jeepney.
 Lesson 5:
Description Applied to Contemporary Art

 In
art viewing, viewers bring with them their
knowledge of art, biases, and judgement of beauty.

 Describing artwork, especially if it is in the

contemporary style requires knowledge of art; its
scope, principles, production and understanding of
the artist and the factors that affect art – making.
Artist’s Statement:

“Play depicts reality in the battle

field. It draws contrast between what
innocent minds use as source of their
entertainment in the real scene in the
battle arena”.
By Michael Bacol, March 8, 2015
 The 3 Elements that Constitute
Description of Contemporary Arts:
Subject Matter – is what you see depicted
in the artwork. It may be a human form
where the figures are engaged in an
activity, or a combination of texture and
color. It may also be a figure made from
found objects put together into assembled
or a coherent whole.
Material – Is what the
artwork is made of. It can
also be a combination of
objects used in the artwork.
Art Elements and Principles – Refer to the
physical qualities of the image. The artist uses
color, lines, space and other elements to
create visual images. These are arranged
into an organized manner that observes
unity, harmony, rhythm or other principles of
design in a creative way.
 Elements Questions / Answers
Guide

Subject Matter 1. What is the main There 2 figures in the

figure in the artwork? sculpture, 1 higher (female)
and the other, lower (male).
They are attached to each
2. How is the main
other in an unusual way, the
figure placed within
male holding on to the foot of
the artistic frame? the female who is pulled
upward by balloons. Each
3. How do the other figure has his/her one hand up
figures in the artwork in the air. The lower figure has
relate to the main his leg holding on to the
figure? staircase while the other leg is
bent in the air. The female
Materials 1. What are the materials
or objects used by the
Cacnio used brass for this
sculpture. He has mastery
artist? in the use of this medium
as shown in the figures big
2. Do this materials bring and small parts. We note
out the intended effect that the torso is a mass
of the artist? that is welded smoothly.
The fingers, although tiny,
3. If the artist chose are done with precision.
another materials, do The balloons are painted
you think the same to add variety to the
effect will be dominant color, gold. The
achieved? Why and whole piece is standing
how? on a rectangular block
which also bears the
signature of the artist.
The Art Elements and Principles Perfect Balance is achieved in the
• What are the dominant sculpture. The weight of the 2
elements in the artwork? figures is supported by the 2 legs
• How are these used in the of the ladder which is standing
artwork? freely and not attached to the
• How are line, shape, or volume wall. The only connection of the 2
used within the artistic frame? figures to the ladder is the lower
• How are texture, movement, or figures foot that is pointed and
space used within the artistic attached on 1 step of the ladder.
frame? From the head of the higher
• What are the unifying features in figure down to her feet and on to
the artistic composition? the torso of the lower figure is a
• Are there any variations among straight line. Their arms on the air
the repeated elements? provide balance to the whole
• How does the art form appeal figure.
to the visual sense?
 the bended knees, arms on the air
and pointed feet. The head of the
higher figure is bent while the head of
the lower figure looks up, thus giving
an impression that he is flying and
both will soon be up in the air as they
are pulled upward by the balloons.

 The figures are light despite the used

of solid brass. They do not appear to
be heavy, in fact, they project a
floating effect. The sculpture shows
grace, as the figures seem to be
dancing while being pulled upward.
 Lesson 6:
Interpretation and Analysis in Contemporary Art

Structuralists-believe
that a phenomenon
can be explained in relation to other
phenomena.

“Artfor the sake of art”-refer to themselves as

“ avante-garde.”
“Inspired by the song, He’s Got the Whole
World in His Arms, this works depicts Jesus Christ
embracing the whole world as symbolized by
the heads inside his embrace. There are 12
heads in the sculpture and it is very personal
since I am one of 12 children.
- Harry Mark Gonzalez,2015.
“With the onset of the Filipino worker’s
diaspora, these conversations have taken on
a larger and crucial role: a lifeline for loved
ones, a form of family reunion, a post-
modern confessional box for the people
separated by thousands of miles”
- Manny Montelibano,2015.
 Immanuel Kant

Who laid the philosophical

foundation for artistic
modernism that has influenced
contemporary artists.
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that deals
with the nature, beauty, and value of art
objects and experiences. It involves
appreciating, understanding, and judging the
value of art. An aesthetic judgment should be
neither of personal nor relative.
 Psychic Distance

The viewer should rise above

time , place , and personal
biases to reach a judgement of
art to which all reasonable
would agree.
After World War II, critic Harold
Rosenberg declared, “ a painting is not
a picture of a thing; it’s the thing itself”,
Artists should “ just paint” and not care
about anything else.
 InPost-Modernism, artists believe that it is right to
copy masterpieces and exhibit it as their own. The
term used for this is “appropriating” or “borrowing”.
 Post modernists embrace a much wider array of art-
making activities and projects and tend to be
eclectic regarding media and freely gather
imagery.
 ART ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

 Art Analysis- starts with a description of an artwork.

 Analysis-
requires an understanding of the content
by separating the parts of the subject matter.
Art Interpretation- is employed by the
viewer after describing and analysing an
artwork.
Judgement- after you have done the
tedious work of describing,analyzing and
interpreting the contemporary artwork.
 Group-2
NicoleTrisha L. Costanilla
Marjorie L. Libag
Merry Me L. Alcontin
Rosalie Malay
JHYRICHO PRINCE JAN MAWE