Definition of terms

Protest

- a social phenomenon or movement which is oppositional vis-à-vis the state and which seeks reforms economic and political within the system but which can be radicalized towards revolutionary movement for change

- a complaint or objection against an idea, an act or a course of action

Protest Art- sets itself against the prevailing

social, political and economic conditions, it is an art which is primarily one of exposure, showing striking images of the inequitable, unjust and inhuman conditions in which humans live

Levels of Protest Art:1. Deals with current social issues in the

form 2. Reacts against a particular regime3. Reacts against the political/economic

system

Realism

- style based on the keen observation of reality

Social Realism

- a school or movement in art which exposes the true conditions of society, as based on the artist’s keen observation of reality and proffers alternatives for human betterment

Three important periods of protest art

1. Latter part of the nineteenth century during the period of the Propaganda movement and the revolution

► Propaganda movement ► Produced their artistic expression► Mostly literary► Juan Luna

► Illustrated Rizal’s novels► “► “Les Chiffoniers” (The Ragpickers)► “Les Ignores” (The Ignored ones)

Spolarium”

Spolarium

Ang Spolarium ng Ating Panahon

NPAA ’71 artists’ version of Luna’s Spolarium

2. Beginning of the American Colonial Period up to the Forties

► Visual art► Protest was not visible in the paintings of

Fernando Amorsolo and his followers which constituted the dominant shcool of the period.

► Graphic arts► Editorial Cartoons for The Independent, Lipang

Kalabaw and the Philippine Free Press by Jose V. Pereira, Jorge Pineda, Ireneo Miranda, even Amorsolo occasionally, were enlivened by the spirit of satire

3. Prewar period of the late Thirties and the postwar fifties when the concept of proletarian art drew a number of adherents among the first – generation modernist painters. (After the second world war)

► Rise of labor unionism and mass mobilization of workers to struggle for their rights

► debate: “Proletarian art” VS “Art for art’s sake”► Later part of the struggle between the

conservatives and the moderns.► Socially conscious paintings appeared after

the war in the new modernist idioms

►Manansala did a number of dark paintings of Pauper’s funeral and lines of mourners unrelieved by any ray of hope expect the idea that “life goes on” as is the title of one such work

►Beginning of protest art associated with journalism

►Popular form of editorial cartoons appeared in magazines

►Philippine Free Press►Asia – Philippines Leader

►Period 1970 – 1972►Formation of militant art organization►A sizeable number of artist

►Colleges of fine arts and architecture► Nagkakaisang Progresibong Arstista at

Arkitekto ’71 or NPAA ’71►Formalized in 1971 as an organization

independent of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM)

►Function: the cultural arm of the propaganda movement

►Basic principle: “art for the masses”

►Art produced: illustrative and linked to current issues and events

►Members spread out to the depressed areas where they interacted with the people and conducted workshops

►Active members: Fortunato Pascual, Cesar Camacho, Carlos Soriano, Norma Respicio, etc...

Martial Law Period

►NPAA ’71 was reorganized as NPAA ’72 to adopt the conditions of martial rule.

►NPAA ’72►Made a more active effort to work in popular

forms, such as posters, comics and cartoons for people’s publication

►They aimed for greater visual impact and wider accessibility in art that supplemented propaganda calls related to current issues.

►Kaisahan Group►1976►Consisting of painters and graphic artist►Held workshops, lectures, and group

discussions on political art►Pablo “Adi” Baens Santos, Edgar Talusan

Fernandez, Renato Habulan, Antipas “Biboy” Delotavo, Papo de Asis, etc…

►Artist: came from different social classes and backgrounds.

End of Marcos Era

• After the Marcos regime, there was a significant increase in the cases of arrests and detentions, torture, extra-judicial killings, and disappearances from 1983.

• These conditions were reflected in the visual arts in paintings of repression and suffering.

• Such works include Malumbay si Ina by Baens Santos and Hinagpis by Doloricon done in 1983.

• Several detained artist like Fr. Edicio de la Torre Allan Jasminez, Noel Etabag and Manuel Mario Guzman held a group show in Sining Kamalig.

• Their works have nightmarish images with themes of death and resurrection and the hope for freedom.

• After Ninoy was assassinated, murals proliferated. Most works paid tribute to the martyrs.

• Mural works include:– Justice for Ninoy Justice for All – shows

faces of Ninoy and martyrs like Macli-ing Dulag, Dr. Bobby de la Paz, Edgar Jopson, and Dr. Johny Escandor.

– Fight for the People’s Right to Know, Fight for the Press Freedom (1986) – painted by Manuel Gutierrez

– Alay sa Bagong Bayani (1884)– done by Baens Santos as a homage to the martyrs.

• Then artists shared spirits of regeneration in their works. Paintings have images of people’s aspirations for freedom and sovereignty.

• Works having such themes were:– Bagong Pinay – Baens Santos– Arko ng Pag-asa – Fernandez– Hanap ay Laya (1984)– Edgar

Fernandez, mother –and-child.

• During this period, symbols were very apparent. Popular symbols present in the art works include:– fists – symbol of struggle . Hand Series by Al

Manrique.– birds – symbols of freedom and aspiration.– Philippine flag – symbol of many martyrs of

the struggle.– confetti strips – cut down from PLDT

“yellowed pages”. Employed in some of the works of Edgar Fernadez.

– Ancient Malay scripts – symbol for nationalist spirit.

• Color symbolism was also strong during the period. These were noticeable in the banners of the rallyists of different groups. – red – national democratic organizations– yellow – moderate urban, middle-class

groups supportive of Mrs. Aquino.• Ninoy assassination became a subject of

numerous paintings. • During this period, most entries for national art

competitions like the Metrobank painting competition dealt with this subject.

– During this time also, there was a number of paintings with a “united front” message. Images convey unification of the different social classes. Such works include Martsa ng Bayan by Edgar Fernandez – feet of people from different social classes.

– When Pres. Corazon Aquino came into power in 1986, there was euphoria among the middle class. This found visual expression in two celebratory exhibits: Piglas – at the CCP and a similar one in the Museum of Philippine Art.

– These shows political art became a celebration of the overthrow of Marcos and the coming to power of Aquino. One work was Congratulations to the Liberal Democrats (1983) where Cory was shown.

– During this time, hundreds of birds were released in paintings and sculptures. Many including a number of artist entertained the illusion that freedom had finally been achieved.

– Aquino government was back to old condition of corruption, feudalism and US imperialism. Images of euphoria, celebratory paintings paled, dwindled and were replaced by grim even shocking images.

– The Mendiola assassination of peasants by marine in July 1987 gave way to photo exhibits and posters reflecting brutality during that incident.

• Paintings of this time include Favali at iba pang Biktima by Ana Fer in 1987. Edgar Fernandez replaced his images of birds of celebration to an incisive series.

• The works are Seeing Red in the Target Range and Laying their Cards. Both portrayed contending elites – Aquino camp, Honasan coup plotters and the loyalist with military backing- striving to win the favor of the United States.

– The protest art of the Marcos period produced by the social realist and other protest artists showed how art reflects the events and issues of the time.

– It expresses the true sentiments of the people in struggle, and contributes to social change through powerful images drawn from the people’s experiences.

Contemporary Protest Art

KARATULA

• Kabataang Artista Para sa Tunay na Kalayaan

• September 16, 2006

• A group of artist for social change

• Flourished during the Erap Administration

• Had 3 murals with concepts of protest.

Alay Sining

• 1994• Members are fine arts students and theater artists.• 4 collectives: 1. visual art

2. music3. theater 4. creative writing

• Forms of protest art:1. comics2. editorial cartooning3. photography4. posters

CAP

• Concerned Artists of the Philippines

• Artists include:

1. Neil Doloricon

2. Antipas Delotavo

3. Tence Ruiz Cruz

4. Papo de Asis

Ugat Lahi

• Another organization practicing revolutionary art.

• Most arts are 3 dimensional

• Famous for protest effigies