Lesson 3 -Modern Art and Artists of the Philippines and other Countries

Some Filipino artists used western art styles and their works had an influence of C'ezanne and Gauguin. They depicted their subjects in terms of the technical considerations of line, color, space, and mass. These Filipino modern artists include:
1. Victorio Edades 4. Cesar Legaspi
2. Vicente Manansala 5. Carlos "Botong" Francisco
3. Hernado Ocampo 6. Romeo Tabuena

These painters represented subject matters that were about the social and economic life of the Filipinos. They depicted in their works contemporary issues, conditions, aspirations, and dreams of the Filipino masses. Their themes dealt with poverty;slums; injustice; exploitation of the poor, of women, of children, of plight of the OFWs; unfair labor practices; inequality; abuse of political power; oppression; and others.

Different art styles such as the application of expressionism and abstract cubism were used in their constant search for national identity and in expressing Philippine "realities" in their artworks. They used bold colors such as black, purple and red to express their feelings.

Victorio C. Edades is the " Father of Modern Art " in the Philippines. Edades, Ocampo and Francisco were the triumvirate of Philippine Modern Art. Their artworks were influenced by the western styles in the international scenes such as pop art, maximalism, minimalism, abstraction, expressionism, constructivism, magic realism, and environmental art.

Other Filipino painters who joined the modernist group are the following:
1. Fernando Zobel 6. Federico Aguilar Alcuaz
2. Arturo Rogelio Luz 7. Lee Aguinaldo
3. Jose Joya 8. Mauro Malang Santos
4. Ang Kiukok 9. Hugo Yonzon, Jr.
5.Anita Magsaysay-Ho

The artworks of thes painters gained international reputation and credibility and can be found in prestigious galleries, museums, and private collections all over the world.