ART. Ano 'to?
Module 1 | Reflection on the documentary series, "Ano Nga Ba Ang Art?"
If you ask someone this question, they will probably have an immediate answer. Even I was quick to respond when presented with this query. Unknowingly, multiple theories and debates regarding this question have emerged through the years, and up to now, there is no definite answer. There is a textbook definition for this, but the category determining art from non-art continues to evolve.
In an attempt to tackle this issue, Ano Ba Talaga ang Art? is a docuseries that explores various types of Filipino artistic expressions, unpacking local artists' unique visions and creative processes. It presents insightful discussions on the human and societal issues in the Philippines and how all these reflect the art culture in the country.
For this journal entry, I will highlight key points from the three videos and relate this to Module 1: Aesthetics through the Ages while infusing my thoughts and learnings.
Defining Art.
This first video is an introduction showing excerpts from the whole series. The question was asked to random locals (primarily students), professional artists, and curators, which allowed us to compare their responses. Of course, their answers varied, but who can say which ones are right or wrong? After all, art as a construct has no universal meaning. Just like humanities vary from age to age, our understanding of art also evolves across time and cultures.
The video concluded with an interdisciplinary performance by Donna Miranda. Personally, I find it hard to appreciate the "art" or beauty of the dance because I do not understand the meaning behind the steps. She started doing odd movements in a public area while not minding the people watching. To the untrained eyes, she may appear as someone strange doing God-knows-what; while others might see the artistry behind her performance and even find a liking to it.
On another note, I still tried to analyze and make sense of it. I think her steps are influenced by the energy in the area. It was in Divisoria, a fast-paced market where people are so busy buying and selling goods. As a shallow comparison, her performance was like a manual timelapse of all the happenings in that place. Alternatively, it can also be a compilation of the different activities present in the place — customers looking for sulit products, vendors making a sale, people walking hurriedly and sometimes pausing to rest, etc.
Art Market.
This episode shares the marketing and commodification aspect of art from the Philippines by looking into the different perspectives of art gallery owners, artists, and art critics. Here, it is made clear that the field of business is different from art practice, BUT artists cannot survive solely on making art; hence, the need for an art market.
One of the most striking points for me is the discussion on the process of selling and creating artwork. It was mentioned that artists sometimes feel like machines because they constantly need to produce for the market. Making art became a demanding task rather than something done out of enjoyment. According to art scholar and critic Eileen Ramirez-Legazpi, artists should be more proactive. If we allow the collectors to take over and dictate what gets put in galleries, then the art industry is in great danger. However, she also mentioned that this has always been the history of art in general, so artists should be more vocal.
Another highlight is the discourse on how many Filipinos (at least before) do not appreciate art, making it difficult for art gallery owners to sell pieces. Silvana Diaz, the owner of Duemila Gallery, agrees with this, but she does not blame the people. The accountability, according to her, falls on the government for not providing quality education. She says,
“To make a soul of the people, you have to educate the people of all the arts (including history)” - Silvana Diaz
She firmly believes that the great power of a nation is its people. Excellent education creates great people, therefore, a great nation. Art is not for the rich and should be used to educate everybody. Her argument got me thinking, and I concur with this. Being educated gives a country the vast potential to develop because its people have the capabilities to fight injustice, violence, corruption, etc., and ultimately have a more extensive outlook on the world.
Another interesting point is that the artworks that usually bring in the most money are figurative pieces (Ronald Ventura, Geraldine Javier, Yasmine Sison), not abstract works. I guess what this says is that people are more interested in artworks that they can understand or interpret rather than complex works or those with unclear meanings. I can relate to this because I have difficulty making sense of purely nonpictorial works compared to those with defined representations. Artworks that catch my attention more are those I can interpret and make sense of.
Traditional Art
This third video explored the traditional art of the Cordilleran people. My main takeaway from this episode is the fact that they do not have a direct translation of "art" into their language and that "art" is a word introduced by the academe. According to the natives, art depends on their environment and way of living. They do have art, but they are unaware that what they do is already considered art. Since, for them, it is just part of their daily activities. For example, uggayam, which is similar to a chant, is something they do regularly to make speeches more exciting and engaging to the listeners. This isn't done only during special occasions, but rather part of their lifestyle. There is also no one way of doing uggayam, because it depends on each person's style. "Importante nandon yung feeling," says a local musician.
Their concept of art is fascinating because it significantly represents the saying "art imitates life," which can be observed in their Cordillera region.
Author’s Note
These few episodes of the docuseries helped me expand my knowledge of the different art sectors (in this case, art galleries and traditional art) and made me realize how art can differ from person to person. This series piqued my interest and I’m genuinely excited to watch the remaining episodes.