HELLO!

Welcome to the blog. I am Maria Elena Peñaflor or simply Len. I am now in my fourth year of studying BS Human Ecology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Originally, I chose the course due to my father’s influence, but over time, I have learned to love it and to appreciate its application in real life. My hobbies include reading and baking sweets, though I can’t seem to follow the recipes exactly.

 

In this blog, I share a piece of me, especially my thoughts when it comes to art. You see, during my childhood years, I never thought much about art as I did not believe myself to be an artist. My young mind thought that artists were only those who can draw really well. However, as I grow older and my views widen, I have realized that art is not confined to that.

So far, my philosophy is that art is the representation of our truth. I believe that art serves as an avenue to express human experience in which experience encompasses not only what humans have gone through in the past, but also their thoughts, emotions, beliefs, opinions, and worldviews.

One of the foundations of my art philosophy is Pablo Picasso’s statement which says that art is a lie that makes us realize the truth. Picasso’s painting called Guernica (1937), was about the Nazi’s bombing during the Spanish Civil War. With the juxtaposition of figures, one may not see the point of it. However, it is actually an artwork that conveys the message of how terrible the war was (Routledge, n.d.). The painting is the the lie since it is nowhere near the real scenario,but it represents the truth- the truth of the situation during the war.

Photo from http://sites.sandiego.edu/tbi-foe/2017/04/26/guernica-end-new-beginning-bob-long/

Art, as representation of truth, does not have to be an exact replica of reality. It needs not to be in perfect form as long as it conveys the truth of a situation or of an experience. Art as truth is not limited to what is seen, but extends to what is felt or experienced.Since art represents our truth, it may vary from one person to another. How one expresses his or her visions may be different from how another one would.

An artwork is limited by a certain medium like a poem, theater play, painting, and so  much more. However, what it conveys is beyond that. For example, an artist who feels deep sorrow may write a poem that evokes the similar emotion from the reader. That kind of art represented the truth of the author’s emotions. In that way, it became an avenue for the author to express human experience. 

As an expression of human experience, art can be related to the Marxist view.  Richard Clarke (2017) said that to understand the work deeper, the Marxist approach emphasizes the historical background of and relation to society of the artwork or even the artist. Clarke said that Marxist art includes the social and historical context of an artwork and that Marxists believe that conditions of creations help in defining the art (Clarke, 2017). The Marxist view supports why art is an expression of human experience since artworks are not just about the form or the piece itself- it is also influenced by its context.

Presently, that is my philosophy on art. It was developed through what I have learned and what I have experienced. The following blog entries are projects done in our ARTS 1 class this semester under Sir Emmanuel Dumlao. I hope that you take a look and see how I express my experiences through the works. Thank you for dropping by!

Sincerely,

Len

References:

Clarke, R. (2017, October 14). What Do Marxists Have To Say About Art?. Retrieved from ttps://culturematters.org.uk/index.php/culture/theory/item/2626-what-do-marxists-have-to-say-about-art

Routledge. (n.d.). Art and Truth: ‘Good art should illuminate our experience or reveal ‘truths’’. Retrieved from http://documents.routledge-interactive.s3.amazonaws.com/9781138793934/AS/Thevalueofart/Truth.pdf

Tableau of Masks: Face of Interconnection

For our group photo, we decided on this pose. It symbolizes the interconnections of everything in life as it shows how we are all interdependent on one another- humans and other creatures alike.  Our masks have different stories just like us who come from different backgrounds and walks of life. However, our differences do not excuse us from being connected with others. Without one member of this group, the tableau would not have achieved the desired look. Looking at the bigger picture,  society would not function well if one fails to portray his or her role. 

Asian Artists

Our group was tasked to look for Chinese artists and their art statements. From this activity, I have gained appreciation for the Chinese art culture and for the diversity of art in general. 

• 

ai wei wei

Chinese artist and activist who focused on violation against human rights and freedom of expression.  He disregards society’s judgment as long as he can express meaningful content and contributions. His art, which is affected by his and his family’s political struggles, is used to push for his causes and advocacies.

“I re-evaluated different forms of expression and how considerations of aesthetics should relate to morality and philosophy.” 

 “I am able naturally to conceive of works that confront the accepted ethical or aesthetic views. I’ve always believed it is essential for contemporary artists to question established assumptions and challenge beliefs. This has never changed.”

mi fu

Pictured above is Mountains and Pines in Spring, a work of Mi Fu pr Mi Fei. He is a Chinese painter, poet and calligrapher. Critics claimed that only Mi Fu can imitate the style of the great calligraphers of the six dynasties. To Mi Fu, landscape painting is superior to every other kind of painting. 

“They place their pictures in brocade bags and provide them with jade rollers as if they were very wonderful treasures, but when they open them one cannot but break out into laughter.”

LIU XIAODONG

For him, everything comes about as a consequence of his being present at a specific place, within a given period of time, and in circumstances that allow him to almost forensically conceive of new works. Xiaodong’s objective is to positively generate a new canon of work, in places damaged and devastated by natural disaster and man-made adulteration

Zeng Fanzhi

Chinese Contemporary painter and known for his expressionist paintings loaded with psychological and political overtones. He studied oil painting at the Hubei Academy of fine arts where he was strongly influenced by German expressionism.

According to his teacher, he had to paint according to very strict guidelines, the colors had to represent what the subject really looked like in real life. But he did not want to follow the guidelines because he thought if he did, he would be fenced in by them and there would be no way to explore creativity through his feelings.

“I would pay special attention to the rhythm and the spirit of the brush stroke with the belief that each stroke has its own movement and its own internal beauty”

“I like designing gardens, and to do that, you have to have a certain appreciation for the natural beauty of things like stones and plants”

mao zedong

Mao Zedong’s works include poems such as Militia Women and The Warlords Clash

“All our literature and art are for the masses of the people, and in the first place for the workers, peasants and soldiers; they are created for the workers, peasants and soldiers and are for their use.”

Yue minjun

He is a contemporary Chinese artist known for his inventive take on self-portraiture. Best known for oil paintings depicting himself in various settings, frozen in laughter.

Yue’s brightly colored depictions of maniacally laughing figures are influenced both by Pop Art and Surrealism. His works act as a tacit form of social and political critique which deals with both Chinese history and the Western canon of art.

“What was important to me was the creation part of painting. But it seems that something has changed. Maybe it’s the way money is becoming more important in society.”
“The first step,” he stated, “was to create a style to express my feelings accurately, starting with something that I knew really well —myself.”

Creative Presentation

Our group asked two volunteers from the class. Each of them had the freedom to choose what color of poster paint they want to use and what object they would like to paint. They were asked to place their thumb mark below their work after painting.

Art, for us, always contains a unique mark or signature of its artist. Art also comes in many forms and many representations since there is artistic freedom. Art itself is highly influenced by someone’s cultural background, feelings, emotions, and context. Amidst the diversity, they are still art.

ART: definition & purpose

Here is our group’s take on art and its purpose:

Art is a unique expression of an idea, a feeling, or an aspiration which can either be made by man or by nature, as long as it conveys a message or provokes a response which has a subjective effect on the audience.

Our group believes that the ultimate purpose of art is expression above all else. It is a means for us to relay our own truth. Through art, our own ideas and emotions mix with reality. Our version of reality is also communicated to the audience through art. 

 During class discussion, our definition “made by man or by nature” was put into question. This is because to assume that nature is considered art is to assume the existence of God. Also, our standpoint of defining art as anything so long as it communicates or makes people feel something, was debunked since if this is the case, then nothing is not an art. This would then mean that defining art in the first place would be deemed unnecessary.

Our takeaway after all the presentations was that art is not only for expression but to preserve culture or history, and it is also controlled by the economic factors of a country. In addition, because we believe that art has other functions aside from mere expression, then we now realize the importance of the purpose behind every piece of art and how the driving force to create it is just as important as the art itself.

Martial Law Meme

Studying in UP, I became more aware of social issues- both of the present and the past. My eyes were opened to what had happened during the Martial Law era and I believe that it had trampled on the human rights of many Filipinos.

However, recently, the country, with the government in the lead, seems to be opening its doors again to Martial Law. However simple,  this meme is to remind us not to forget about the violations that occurred during that time.  This meme is one with everyone fighting for #NeverAgain to Martial Law.

Rhythmic Doodle

Living in a fast-paced world, finding the time to take a moment and pause is tough. With this doodle, that is exactly what I did. With eyes closed, I listened to the music while my hand followed the rhythm.  Distractions were blocked out as my emotions were one with the rise and fall of the music. It was control and submission at once, it was inner peace, it was calmness brought by the rhythm. 

Mask of Advocacy

The beach is my happy place. That’s probably one of the reasons why I have a soft spot for marine animals.  For our mask-making activity in class, I have decided to incorporate the current situation of marine animals in my design. I named it MARINA.

My mask supports the fight to save and preserve marine life by reducing plastic wastes. In this design, the balloons represent the plastic wastes since balloons, like plastic bags and water bottles, are one of the top 3 most harmful pollutants of marine life (Barden, 2017).  Balloons are mistaken for food by the sea animals and the ribbons or strings attached to it can entangle and kill them (Duncan, 2016). Turtles are also highlighted in the design since they are one of the most affected creatures. Together, let us be more aware of our plastic consumption and be environmentally-responsible citizens. 

References:

Barden, D. (2017, February, 24). ReleasingBalloons Has A Devastating Impact On The Environment. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/02/22/releasing-balloons-has-a-devastating-impact-on-the-enviroment_a_21719802/

Duncan, D. (2016). BALLOONS POSE A RISK TO WILDLIFE & THE ENVIRONMENT. Retrieved from http://encenter.org/visit-us/programs/birthday-parties/balloons/

Itak sa Puso ni Mang Juan: A voice for the Filipino Laborers

It was a sweltering summer day. You were lounging in the living room while scanning through a magazine. Suddenly, a feature caught your eye. It was about a painting created by Antipas Delotavo. You stopped on that page and took in the work of art.

Photo from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/138204282284953999/?lp=true

The painting was called Itak sa Puso ni Mang Juan and it featured a man standing in front of a wall mural with his body was angled sideways. His skin was painted brown and his polo shirt and pants resemble that of a factory worker’s uniform as though he was representing the Filipino laborers. Wrinkled skin, patches of white hair, and slouched posture comprised Mang Juan’s appearance. He looks tired and worn out- as if all his strength were exhausted by the company he works for. The scowl on Mang Juan’s face and the drooping of his mouth says that the workers he represents under a capitalist society are not being treated well and are being taken advantage of by companies and corporations.

Gradients of red paint engulf the background looking like splattered blood. In contrasting big white letters was the logo of Coca-Cola. The edge of the first C in Coca was sharp mimicking the tip of a knife or sword. Pointing towards Mang Juan’s chest and coupled with the blood-like background, it shows that the company he dedicated a big part of his life for is killing him. Leaning towards the tip of the letter C, Mang Juan feels hopeless and has submitted himself to the bosses or company owners. He has surrendered to that idea that as long as capitalism is alive, he will stay a slave to them and to the company.

His hunched back and hand on one elbow looks like he is in need of support or he will fall. With no other person in the painting, he thinks that he is alone in the fight against capitalism and the oppressors. However, if he just looked a little further down, he would see shades of white painted on the wall which resembles a crowd- the mass protesting and fighting for the same cause.  

Under the Coca-Cola logo, the words REG PHIL were also painted in white, however smaller.  Commonly a shortened version of Registered in the Philippines, the big companies in the countries have managed to register their mark into our lives, hence our continuous patronage and their continuous exploitation of workers like Mang Juan.

Depicting the situation of the working class, I believe that this painting is considered an art under social realism. For me, it showed how art can be a way to advocate for those silenced and voiceless in the society. Truly, Itak sa Puso ni Mang Juan is a wake up call to help the country by supporting the Filipino laborers.

Imagine: Unity despite Differences

       I used to think that boundaries and groups were set in order to create peace. However, the world we live in now might prove otherwise.  Presently, we live in a chaotic society where war, greed, and other negativity surround us. Listening to John Lennon’s song called Imagine, I realized that, sometimes, the divisions which were created to maintain peace are the ones that destroy it.

       The song urges us to imagine and fight for a world where everyone is united- no matter what our differences may be. It made me reflect, realize, and question. My main takeaways from the song are what ifs. For instance, what if there really is no county? While I believe that countries help in organization, does it really help in promoting peace or does it create a greater division among human beings? Country, as a label, presents individuality and boundary. However, on a greater level, countries vary in terms of their political system and cultures and traditions- factors which can amplify our differences leading to a cycle of non-acceptance and division.

        Also, part of our actions are driven by our beliefs, especially religious ones- our good deeds stem from our desire of being rewarded with eternal bliss after we die. Why can’t we be good because goodness is what humanity needs and not because the afterlife presents us with rewards? In this case, our religions, which classify us in groups because of our similarities, could actually disunion us if we look at the big picture.

        At some point in the song, Lennon also sings “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can”. It was a reminder on how small things can have big impacts in the sense that even our material possessions can create a divide among us. Possessions say so much about one’s social status which acts as a form of division, something I have seen firsthand with the Philippines deep in poverty.  It must be nice to live in a world where we see others as equals, no one is greater or less than just because of what he or she owns.

       As for the music video of Imagine, it featured John Lennon and Yoko Ono inside a dark house. As Lennon started singing, Ono started opening the windows and letting light in. It is symbolic in the sense that it shows us how the world would be less of a dark place if we are more open and accepting of one another.

        Admittedly, we all differ in so many ways, but the song serves as an encouragement to set aside our differences in order to create a world where we will not focus on boarders and boundaries. Truly, the song made me dream for a world where we live hand in hand in peace.