Materials used in

Contemporary Art
Prepared by:
JULIE E. REYES
Subject Teacher/CPAR
 Lesson Objectives
• Identify the materials used in contemporary art
• Describe how technology has redefined art
• Make an artwork using selected materials creatively
• Explain the process of making one’s artwork
• Contemporary artists feel free to experiment with materials and use
technology to explore possibilities.
• Contemporary artists salvage materials that can be recycled and made into
creative forms.
• They can make artworks that combine structure and wood and interact with
the wind to make music.
 Chime Halo

• The hanging bamboo

chimes that create sound
when blown by the wind
done by Cavite-born artist
Imply Pilapil.
 Project Belonging
• Los Banos, Laguna artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan’s Project Belonging
gathered used objects, clothes, personal accessories and many other things and
compress them into cube-shapes.
• These represent the boxes sent by Overseas Filipino Workers to their family left
behind.
• Moving abroad, the couple artists collected hundreds of rubber slippers used by
inmates in Singapore Changi prison and made these into artwork in the form of
wings that stand on metal support.
• They combine various found objects to create a metaphor of everyday human life
and depict issues of identity, journey, migration and displacement.
• Some artists combine
indigenous materials with
textile and mount these on
painted flat surface.
• Paper as an art medium is also
explored by artists, like Mona
Alcudia of Cebu who makes
solid forms as well as
transparent artworks using
paper.
• In outdoor sculpture, there is a
lot of use of brass welded
together and mounted on
concrete.
• Wood and glass are used for
indoor sculpture.
• Found objects are combined
and are covered with resin.
• Painting is no longer confined to canvas
hung on the wall.
• They can also be found on ceilings and
floors.
• Some are done outdoors, like Singapore
ArtBridge which was painted by Batanes-
born artist Pacita Abad with 2, 350
multiple colors.
• Many local artists lead the community or
students in painting murals on the wall to
make a more pleasant environment and to
raise consciousness towards environmental
protection.
• In architecture, there is an extensive
use of glass and steel. Color
combination is either
complementary or strong
contrasting, such as orange and
blue, red and white.
• Over the years, there have been a
lot of building construction, such as
malls, convention centers, business
process centers, industrial parks and
government service buildings.
• In performance art, artists use
variety of props such as rope,
plastic, textile, and found
objects.
• Paint is also used for body art.
• An example is Cagayan de Oro
artist Nicolas Aca who paints
his body to project an effect.
• Technology has also redefined art in
many ways.
• Some examples are: (a) light
structures and floor drawings using
colored laser beans and smoke; (b)
tubes hanging on the ceiling that
respond to viewer’s movements,
sound and touch; (c) a wall-climbing
robot holding a paint; and (d) a pen
controlled by a software program to
create certain patterns.
 Group Activity
Group 1: Alfredo and Isabel Aquizilan
Group 2: Pacita Abad
Group 3: Impy Pilapil
• Study the material that the artist used for the artworks.
• Note how he/she put together the materials to form an art piece. The
answer the following questions:
• Describe the artwork.
• What is the subject matter of the artwork?
• What materials are used in the artwork?
• What are the dominant colors?
• How do the size of the repeated elements vary?
• How is texture used?
• Is it beautiful? Why do you think so?
 Independent Work
• Choose one type of material and gather different types and forms of the
material.
• For example, shells of different sizes, shape, color, kinds etc.; Dried leaves,
variety of leaves; or cut bamboo sticks in different sizes etc.
• Have the following materials ready:
1/8 illustration board or old cardboard; pencil; glue; water; brush; clear
varnish