Alampat

An Introduction to Art Appreciation

Introduction
“Alampat” is a Visayan term for “art”. It is a simple term yet, it encompasses a very broad scope that life per
se is dominated by it. It demands creativity, artistry, and imagination to produce a piece of art. Hence, art
making is a profound form of expression to articulate and establish an individual’s identity and uniqueness.

The basics in Art appreciation such as assumptions of arts, subject and content, medium and technique,
artist and artisan will be well-elaborated. The thorough discussion on the elements of Arts and Principles of
Design that feature Mindanao Artists’ works will allow every reader to catch full grasp of understanding on
how these theories work in art making/production. Hence, the systematic discussion on the Historical
Views of Western and Philippine arts will solidify one’s perception on how Arts evolved in the West and
most importantly, in the Philippines.

Thorne (2007) states that “without creativity, there will be no real innovation; we need people who are
pure idea generators and we need others wo can modify those ideas. We need people instead of asking
‘Why?’, ‘Who ask’, ‘Why not?’ or ‘What if?’ We need people who are capable of thinking “crazy”, out-of-
the-box-thoughts: We need people who shake us out of complacency.” in Art making these are necessary
to be considered. If not to create new ideas, re-invent existing concepts to capture audiences and finally
convey the purpose and message of the artwork which is its real end in Art.

To create and to innovate are inherent in human nature. They are not solely for artist but they are present,
alive and dynamic in every individual with whatever field he/she is with. Creativity and innovation are so
radiant that they allow us to play and to adventure in our youthful days. Further, as we reach adulthood,
we don’t stop, rather we crave for more opportunity to create and re-create in order to continually exist,
survive, and live. We tend to push for our identity and ownership, claiming our space for diversity and
uniqueness to serve man, society and to acknowledge the Creator.

to be creative is not magic. It entails continuity that requires time, practice, devotion, and passion a
constant process. It is an innate call for every human being to exert effort, to be involved in action.
Creativity is just like a set of a chain in a motorcycle, attached with a set of gear that needs regular
lubrication. Our mind and body rest but the subconscious continuous to travel.

Like a river flowing, all the stones and pebbles, sand and land are stained, shaped and transform by water.
On the other hand, as human beings, we can stop writing, painting, sketching, singing, dancing, and acting,
yet the mind continues to create images, waiting for ways and means to be unfolded and concretized. To
continuously define living that manifests creativity and explores innovations, one has to move forward and
involve the body. For the writer, they have to experience both difficulty and pleasure in manipulating and
interplaying words to produce composition of imagery. For the performers in dance and theater, they have
to experience the alteration of balance, to create forms and step that elevate real space into stage and
explore various body forms and expressions to delve meaning towards characterization. For the painters,
they have to continually explore and seek for new techniques in manipulating different and various media
to transform thoughts and ideas into a concrete artwork. Other artist, in whatever field they are in, have to
patiently toil to hone their skills and improve their crafts. Failure to sustain the action will eventually suppress
one’s energy for production, just like how we intervene in a plant’s growth to produce a “bonsai”. It is with
continuous practice and mastery of craft that we can hone craftmanship, opening doors of opportunities for more
creativity and innovation.

Creativity and innovation defy, define, delay, and distort time. In time, creativity and innovation mutate
and develop. Consequently, managing time is one challenging task that an artist should beat.

Moreover, Thorne believes that “personal discipline is necessary in creating and innovating ideas. He said
that every person who is creative lives with the pressure of days when their mind is a complete blank, and
they often have the additional pressure of knowing that someone else is waiting for them to come up with
original thoughts.”

Finally, creativity and innovation are not only prevalent in the artists’ world but also in the consumerist
world of economics, commercial to industrial dynamisms, and politics to religious propaganda. In whatever
field, creativity and innovation always bring energy and excitement.
Review
I. Reflective Question
1. What is Alampat?
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2. Why is creativity necessary in Artmaking?
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3.When can you say that a person is creative?
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4. if you were an artist, how would you transform an ordinary object into an artwork, for example, a drift
wood or a bottle?
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I. Things to Remember
to define creativity, we must:
1. determine first our identity – who we are, where we came from and where we are headed;
2. Look into how we celebrate festivity in our community and neighborhood;
3. Consider how we were taught and what Art we have produced in the classroom;
4. Look into the available resource materials in our locality that can be utilized for Art production;
5. Look back with how our forefather taught us about Art;
6. Reflect on how indigenous tribes express their craftmanship; and
7. Recollect how colonizers taught us how to think and feel.
Chapter One

Importance of Art

1.1 Why is Art important?

If a hundred artists will be asked, a hundred different answers will be drawn out. If you ask ten critics,
ten different perspectives will be collected. If you ask a politician or a marketing agent, an advertiser or an
ordinary folk, they would surely have various answers – these answers are definitely anchored from an
individual’s orientation, preferences, biases, education, exposure, and culture.
Ariola said that “Art appreciation is the ability to interpret or understand man-made arts and enjoy
them either through actual and work experience with art tools and materials or possession of theses
works for one’s admiration and satisfaction. Art appreciation therefore deals with learning or
understanding and creating arts and enjoying them” (2008, 5)
The scope of art expression is so immense that we could never tell how it would influence and touch
lives. Maybe for one person, art is just a hobby and leisure, but for others it is already their way of life –
they feel the drive to burn candles, exhaust time, and shell out money or energy in producing their
masterpieces.
Despite the fact that Art unites people, it also divides and creates distinction of culture. It documents
and reveals the way of life – practices, values, customs, traditions, and beliefs of people of a particular race
that differ from the other groups.

1.2 Art as Form of Expression and Communication

Osborne said that “good art is successful expression of emotion, and expression consists in the
finding of images by which the emotion is articulated and rendered determinate or apprehension – a
process which Croce called intuition” (1970, 223)
Since Art is a form of expression and communication, it should therefore, not be in the confines of the
few-the elite, the art connoisseur, critics, leftists, philosophers, religious or spiritual and even artists themselves. It
is for everybody who wants change and transformation, who wants to convey thoughts, ideals, feelings, and
emotions towards things and situations.
Review
A. Reflective Questions
1. What is your own Art expression? What particular are you engaged in?
a) Self-fulfillment
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b) Values and Moral Upliftment
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c) Environmental consciousness
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2. Cite examples of directly functional and indirectly functional arts. Write a paragraph to state why
they are important.

Directly functional Arts Importance

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
 Chapter Two

Assumptions of Art

1. Art is universal
Art knows no limit. It transcends cultures, races, and civilizations. It reaches the farthest and most
isolated spots in the universe. As long as human being exist, art is feasible, alive, and dynamic.

1.1 Art as Means of Communication

Regardless of where people live, they share common means pf expressing their thoughts and
feelings, i.e., through Arts, like music, dances, literacy pieces, decorative Arts, paintings and drawings,
sculptures, etc. these forms of art are utilized to establish and strengthen communication; they are
profound mode of unfolding images and revealing depths of imagination.
Art is used to call for unity and reconciliation. Our country’s anthem, for instance, is there to bind us;
to make us feel that we are one in our dreams and mission. Monument and other historical heritage
remind us of our past, the struggle that each one shared, and unity we formed in the name of freedom.

1.2 Art as Timeless

Art is timeless because it goes beyond the time of our own existence. It is present in every corner of
the world to serve basic needs of mankind, from ancient time to modern world. Art started since the birth
of man’s life, thus, it would continue to live in accord with man existence.
Art is timeless because it continually evolves. Aside from artists birthing new artworks, they also never
stop innovating, recreating, reinventing and reviving works of art in the past to establish new style and
identity, and most of all, to capture audience’s interest and attention in the recent world.

1.3 Art Addresses Human Needs

Art is universal because it addresses needs of people from all over the world. “Art is there to serve human
fundamental needs” (Ortiz, et.al., 1976,6.) Through directly functional and indirectly functional arts, we
are provided with a variety of offerings – comfort, entertainment and education, which would somehow
lead us to self-fulfillment and satisfaction.

2. Art is Not Nature

Art is not nature because it is man-made. It is a creation of man that may reflect a profound skillfulness
and craftsmanship. It undergoes process and planning: a result of study and research.
Art is artificial because it is just an imitation or even appropriation of reality or nature. It is a
representation of ideas, thoughts, and feelings and emotions that are communicated in creative artistic
ways. It undergoes a transformation from its basic raw form into a masterpiece. Further, arts are made by
artists to adore and acknowledge the wonders of life, the awe of God’s creation and the commemoration
of our experiences.
Art can never be natural because nature is evanescent in constant transformation of change, and yet
art is permanent: it does not change by itself, unless manipulated by its creator, man.

2.1 In what way are nature and art related and associated?
While it is true that art is not nature, it is, however related with nature. Art and nature are related in
the sense that they have mutual “give” and “take” relationship. Nature provides medium, resources and
models to create an artwork, while art confers recognition and appreciation that would facilitate mankind
to the call for responsible stewardship of nature.

3. Art Involves Experience

Art is a representation of our experiences. It demands involvement. The only way to find conviction
and affirmation in Art is through immersion to the Arts. We can only appreciate art if we spend time to look
at it, listen to it, touch it, and feel its presence.

Review

A. Objective
1. What are the three Assumptions of Art
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B. Essay:
1. Why is nature not art?

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2. In what particular aspect nature and art related?

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Chapter Three

Functions of Art

Art can be generally classified into two;

the directly functional and indirectly functional art.

Functional Art refers to art that we use in our daily lives such as tools, architectural structures, roads,
bridges, buildings, furniture, kitchen utensils, coins, bills, dress, weapons, etc.
Indirectly functional art refers to the arts that are “perceived through the senses” such as fine arts,
painting, music, sculpture, dance, literary piece, theatrical performances, music and the like.

3.1 Aesthetic function

An artwork functions aesthetically when it becomes instrumental for man to be recognizant of the
beauty of nature and where the real feelings of joy and appreciation to nature’s beauty are manifested
through appreciation and enjoyment when in contact with the artwork

3.2 Utilitarian function

Art is serving this function when it is utilized to give comfort, convenience, and happiness to human
beings. It is used to serve basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, medicine, comfortable environment,
transportation, entertainment, communication, and expression, and other important things that make man
live with happiness and ease.

3.3 Social function

When the art bridges connection among people, it serves a social function. Art here encourages good
relationship-unity and cooperation are being facilitated and established. With this, people become more
understanding and sympathetic that would somehow create a better society.

3.4 Cultural function

Art serves as an aperture towards skills, knowledge, attitudes, customs, and traditions of different
groups of people. The art helps, preserve, share, and transmits culture of people from one generation to
another.
Review
I. Activity:
1. Check the appropriate column/s to identify the function or purpose of each Art expression. Give a
statement to explain your answer/s on the last column.

Artforms functions Explanation

Personal Social Physical
Architecture
Film
Dance
Prose
Poetry
Theater Arts
Painting
Sculpture
Animation
Photography
Other Forms