In the Eyes of the Beholder

MIA BERBA Someone who just wants to learn more about the world around her.

[franklin-berba-mia]

The Art of Film

In less than a month, people from all over the world will once again celebrate one of the most joyous times of the year, Christmas. It is a celebration that is very special to many, especially to the Filipinos. For many, Christmas is a time for the family and for Jesus (for those who believe). It is a time of love, generosity, and happiness. Family traditions keep the spirit of Christmas alive in the family. It is worth-knowing that there are also events that happen specifically during the Christmas seasons which contribute to making the holidays memorable to many. One such event is the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Since 1975, the MMFF has been an annual film festival that showcases exclusively several chosen Filipino films for two weeks, starting from December 25 to the first weekend of January in the following year. 

The official entries to this year’s MMFF were announced just recently (around a week ago) by the MMFF selection committee led by Nick Tiongson, a professor in the University of the Philippines. It is said that they unanimously chose the films not for the popularity of the leading actors/actresses to the general public but for the film’s “technical excellence”. Several have already criticized the choice of entries, especially with regards to the box office. 

I read in an article that the MMFF has to earn million of pesos in order to help several beneficiaries such as the the Movie Workers Welfare Fund (Mowelfund), the Motion Picture Anti-Piracy Council, the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). But with the chosen films for the festival, many are questioning if the MMFF will be able to earn enough for this year. The article also commented that “[t]hey (the MMFF committee members) should have not just relied on excellence alone. They should have combined commercial value with technical excellence.” Members of the committee are aware of the risk they are taking, the risk of losing money, but they have also expressed that it is a risk their willing to take for change.

Besides the issue of money, it also seems that the entries for this year’s MMFF may not be suitable for the Christmas season. The Regal Films matriarch, Lily Monteverde, has expressed her opinions to reporters regarding the official entries of this year’s MMFF. She told them how saddened she is by excluding “Mano Po 7: Chinoy” from the film festival. According to her, poor people will be receiving their bonuses during Christmas which they will use to bring their families to the cinemas to watch. She implied that these families, especially the children, would most only probably end up wasting their time and money in doing so because of the choice of entries for this year’s film festival. Claiming to have arranged indie movies in the past, she said that ”There is a time for the indie movies. But not during the Christmas season. Christmas is for the family." Well... In defence of the list of entries, Tiongson said: “Let us not dumb down the audience.”

Personally, I don’t get to watch films in the cinemas as often as I would like. But when I do go to the cinemas, I always wish that whatever movie my family and I choose would be worth it. By worth it, I mean a movie that would leave me in awe in the end because of how mind-blowing, substantial and meaningful it is. I believe that the MMFF committee is wise for taking the risk, especially if their focus is more on the stories told in these movies rather than the money it could make. Yes, it is true that money is important but that shouldn’t be the sole basis of a great movie. Film is a form of art, and giving more chances to indie films would help encourage people appreciate art itself. 

And I strongly believe that one would not really know what the general public wants unless they try it out. Take the movie, Heneral Luna, for example. Compared to romance and comedy, historical films wouldn’t really promise a huge success with how the Philippine Pop culture is. And yet, Heneral Luna has earned P240 million (as of October 2015) and has even been shown in Canada and the US. Producers of the film never expected for the movie to be as successful and popular as it has become. It truly is a risk... A gamble... Because one could not fully predict what would appeal to the public. 

Now, I think there are two ways of looking at Monteverde’s opinion on how indie films aren’t meant for the Christmas season. For one thing, I think there isn’t really a time to watch indie films, or any genre of films in general. People should have the choice to watch any genre they want at any time. Some may just prefer to watch specific genres for specific seasons (such as horror for Halloween and romance for Valentine’s). But still, there are people who may want to watch something other than the mainstream films during Christmas. On the other hand, Monteverde does have a point about Christmas being for the family. The Christmas season is a joyous time and that’s what most families would like to feel when they watch in the cinemas, especially after months in work or school. There are people who would just like to take a break, have a laugh, and be entertained during Christmas. Indie films aren’t really known for telling light and entertaining stories.

All in all, I think this year’s MMFF is an experiment worth-taking. Though the films aren’t all related to the Christmas season, things may not go as bad as others would think.

[franklin-berba-mia]

Out of the Ordinary

It was great and refreshing to finally be in a different environment where I can happily appreciate art, especially since I’ve constantly been inside a classroom learning about Basic Calculus, Physics, and Biology. I visited the Ateneo Art Gallery with my older sister before but the gallery was so different from what it looked when my class and I visited last Tuesday, November 8. Admittedly, it has been about 5 months since my last visit so there was bound to be a change.

Luckily, we didn’t have to go as a class to each exhibit and we were allowed to explore the works on our own. I find it more difficult to enjoy an exhibit or gallery when I am part of a large group because, in all honesty, not everyone will have the same interest and curiosity as I have on art. And so, I was happy that I was able to explore the gallery at my own pace without much disturbance from others. I was able to examine the artworks that caught my interest and immerse myself in the message and mood being portrayed by each work.

One of my favourite artwork in the gallery is Lie Tiers by Ian Carlo Jaucian. Skeletons in artworks are usually portrayed in a dark and gloomy manner to make it feel like death or darkness. In contrast, Jaucian’s work was able to portray skeletons in a more positive and light manner. He used bright colored paint (shades of yellow) to color the skeletons instead of the usual shades of grey or white colors. I liked how he creatively portrayed the different constellations through these joyous-looking skeletons. It was something out of the ordinary. 

Speaking of out of the ordinary, the Los Disastres de la Democracia (Disasters of Democracy) exhibit was the most unusual exhibit that I have ever seen in my life. As soon as I entered the exhibit, I felt the chaos and anger all around. Honestly, I wasn’t prepared for something like that. The exhibit wasn’t my favourite but it was the most intriguing. It was interesting to try and figure out what exactly all those artworks mean or what was the story behind it all. I wasn’t able to understand several of the works but I still found the exhibit quite interesting.

I have never encountered the concept of virtual tours of museums and art galleries. I guess when choosing between virtual or physical galleries and museums, a lot of people would find it more convenient to go on virtual tours, especially when the museum or gallery they wish to see is halfway across the world. It would also be less expensive. 

Even though we are in the Digital Age, I believe that physical art galleries are still relevant today. I don’t think I’ll be able to learn as much if I were to go on a virtual tour of a gallery because I learn better through experience and hands-on activities. I need to be able to physically see these works in order for me to fully grasp the true essence of the it. It’s hard to explain, but it feels different when I look at art digitally and when I’m actually in front of the work. For me, being able to see artworks physically makes it more real and astonishing. I’d like to think that a lot of people would feel the same way as I do, especially artists. There is just something special about being able to have an artwork right in front of you (face-to-face) and not just through a monitor. 

[franklin-berba-mia]

The Living Treasure

When tourists from different parts of the world want to get a tribal-looking tattoo, many think of travelling to the Philippines to get one, more specifically to the province of Kalinga. There lies Buscalan, a small village where the oldest and last original “mambabatok” (hand-tap tattoo artist) resides. The artist’s name is Whang-Od Oggay and she belongs to the Butbut tribe. 

Photo by Sherwin Ballesteros from National Geographic

If I were ever given a chance to award someone with the National Living Treasures Award or the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, I would gladly give it to Whang-Od.

At 97 years old, Whang-Od has been traditionally tattooing men and women from her tribe for more than 80 years. Back then she tattooed warriors and hunters who earned it but now, she applies it to tourists (both local and foreign) visiting her village. 

In her tribe, tattoos are traditionally done by taking a mix of soot and water then applying it to the skin with the use of a stencil. The design would then be pounded onto the skin using a stick with a thorn of a calamansi or pomelo tree at the end. The designs can range from centipedes and trees, to geometric patterns. The tattoos are not only aesthetically pleasing to look at, but they also hold historical and cultural significance to Whang-Od’s tribe. 

Due to modernization, the young people of her village have lost interest in learning the traditional art of tattooing. Also according to tradition, the skills of tattooing can only be inherited through lineage, meaning that Whang-Od cannot simply teach the art to just anyone.  Fortunately, she is now training her grandniece, Grace Palicas, and another bloodline successor, Ilyang Wigan, to keep the art alive.

In an article in Rappler, Whang-Od was said to be recognized for her ‘world-class contribution to the art of tattoo-making that is genuinely Filipino’. Many foreigners have climbed the mountains to Buscalan in order to get a tattoo done by Whang-Od. Also, Whang-Od featured in an art exhibit in Canada, which has been running since April 2, 2016. The exhibit, entitled “Tattoo: Ritual, Identity, Obsession, Art” showcases the “5,000-year-old multifaced world of tattooing and its cultural significance” in the Royal Ontario Museum.

If Whang-Od has been recognized by people outside the Philippines, how come her own country hasn’t given her the recognition she deserves, such as the National Living Treasures Award or the GAMABA? Many Filipinos have even voiced out that she should be given the National Artist Award.

I believe that Whang-Od has done so much in keeping the Kalinga culture alive in this modern world. She continues to show the true essence of being not only a Kalinga but also a Filipino. To me, that has earned her the right to be called one of the National Living Treasures of the Filipino culture. Through her works, we are reminded that despite how modern the way things are now, there is still beauty and wonder in the traditional ways of things.

[franklin-berba-mia]

The Philosophy of Art

Reaction to “Aesthetic Appreciation: Crash Course Philosophy #30″

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ5duzln2wI)

I was pretty overwhelmed with the points and ideas that Hank Green shared on this Crash Course video. It took some time before I was able to grasp what he was trying to teach regarding art and aesthetic appreciation. But after watching it several times, I realized that there were several points in the video that I found interesting:

Art is an object of aesthetic appreciation that prompts valuable aesthetic emotions in people;

What makes something art is the aesthetic emotion that it brings out in the audience;

The key moment is the audience’s interaction with the work;

Art seems subjective but it is also objective to some extent;

Don’t confuse the question, “Do I like it?” (subjective) with the question, “Is it good?” (objective);

The sense of aesthetic taste is the ability to detect and evaluate the aesthetic properties of an object; and

Some people naturally have a refined sense of aesthetic taste while others learn or develop it over time.

As I’ve said in my first blog post, art has always been a part of my life so I already have my own beliefs regarding art. I have a hard time describing what exactly art is but I’ve always had this way knowing what I consider as art. I do agree that art brings out emotions in people though the kind of emotion, whether it be positive or negative, really depends on how the audience interprets the message or theme of the work. 

Also, I do believe in the idea of people having a sense of aesthetic taste. How refined or how “good” a person’s taste is, depends on what works they find aesthetically pleasing and how exposed they are to different kinds of it. I would like to think that I have good taste in art. Personally, I am more fond of works that portray the natural world and are more realistic in terms of style. I also like works that are mysterious and dark. 

One of my classmates asked during Contemporary Arts class whether or not a single dot of ink/paint on a canvas/paper can be considered art. If someone were to show me that kind of work, I wouldn’t bluntly say that it isn’t art but at the same time, I wouldn’t look at it as art. Maybe a design or a pattern, but not art. To me, art tells a story and teaches a lesson in life without the use of words. Also, according to the video, it gives pleasure to people. A single dot on a blank canvas... What story is it trying to tell? What lesson is trying to teach? I wouldn’t know.

[franklin-berba-mia]

Appropriating Art

Appropriation is being able to create something new by borrowing or reusing works from the past. In other words, it is combining the past with the present.

Some say that by doing this, the pre-existing artwork is devalued. I believe that the value of past works used in appropriation somewhat changes, either in a negative or positive way. It really depends on how the artist used it to create his or her own work, as well as on why the artist created it in the first place (reason or purpose).

You see, there are those who make use of appropriation in order to make a joke or insult. This is quite evident in many memes that spread all over the Internet. By definition, a meme is an amusing or interesting picture or video (or other forms of media) that is spread widely through the Internet. People  would usually make use of existing photos, even artworks, and add a caption to it that is both funny and relatable to many. This, I believe, can result to the degradation of an artwork’s worth, especially when the meme’s message is nowhere near that of the past work. Some will also see it as a form of disrespect towards the original artist.

At the same time, there are artists who are more serious of their work and really take into consideration the whole essence of the borrowed artwork. Instead of making a joke or changing its meaning entirely, artists would simply try to modernize a past work in the hopes of making it more relevant and significant to society. It may be the artist’s way of reaching out to the modern world and the youth. It may also be his or her response to the current issues of the world, whether it be economical, political, social, or environmental. But still after all the changes the artist has done, the original artwork will still stay true to its meaning. What happens is that, people may still feel the essence of the past work but at the same time, be able to relate to and understand it in a more personal and significant way.

People have to be careful when they plan to borrow existing works in their artworks. Here are my guidelines to appropriation:

The new theme and message have to be relevant to society. It can be a portrayal of worldly concerns or the modern lifestyle of people.

It is important to understand the message or theme of the pre-existing work. One has to ensure the true essence of the past work is not lost in the new one, instead it is enhanced or modernized.

To give respect and recognition to the original work and artist, it is also important that the past work isn’t changed entirely. This is also to acknowledge the fact that one used an idea or work of another. 

Recently, I have tried to create an artwork with the use of appropriation (http://franklin-berba-mia.tumblr.com/works). I used my own photograph of an ancient tree in the Ta Prohm temple in Cambodia and related it to deforestation, the sad outcome for many forests today. I entitled it, “Stay Strong,” because I wanted to point out that nature has gone through so much. Many organisms today have existed way before humans have. They have gone through many changes, but the impact of humans is testing their ability to survive a new kind of change. “Kapit Lang” is a phrase used among Filipinos, especially the youth, when they are experiencing hard times. It is somehow similar to “Don’t Give Up” and “Stay Strong” in English, hence another reason for my work’s title.

I wanted to send a message to people. The Earth has gone through so much to become what it is now. We, humans, have gone through so much, as well,  to get to where we are today. Let us not ignore the fact that we are all going through something and it is time that we all help each other strive for a better world. For the future of the Earth and of our own.

[franklin-berba-mia]

The Visit (II): Photo Exhibit

Right outside the Art Gallery, was the Photo Exhibit in celebration of the 90th year of Miriam College. 

90 shots of many photographers were featured in the exhibit. The photos generally showed the story of Miriam College, showing the “Campus & Community Life, Heritage & Landmarks, Environment & Nature, and Innovation & Creativity.” 

It was as if I was looking back in the past. Going down memory lane, as some would say. Even though I was a new student in Grade 9, I still felt like I was part of their story, their history, and their legacy when I was going around the exhibit.

I personally loved the photos of nature in the exhibit. The photos I particularly admired are in the link below.

http://franklin-berba-mia.tumblr.com/photography

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The Photo Exhibit for the 90th Celebration of Miriam College. 09/30/2016

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The Visit (I): The Gallery

Last Friday, September 30, my classmates and I visited the Women’s Art Gallery in Miriam College. It was a single room that was simple and quite small, but at the same time, spacious. To me, I felt like I went into an underground base that was filled with artworks. I believe it was because from the ground floor, we had to go down a few steps to enter the gallery. Also, the warm lights that were used to lit the room, were more of giving a spotlight to the works than lighting up the whole room, which made the room dimly lit. The plain, white walls all around the room had paintings neatly hanged (at eye-level) on them for display. Having white as the background of the gallery would give more emphasis to the colorful artworks on display.

I noticed that most of the works displayed in the gallery focused more on either women (particularly Filipino women), Filipino culture, or a mix of both. All of the works were also made by female artists. Out of all the works on display, there were several works that really took my interest.

Ang Pamilya (The Family) by Anita Magsaysay-Ho

Wood Cut. 2003.

Mga Tindera ng Mani (Peanut Vendors) by Anita Magsaysay-Ho

Print Edition. 1994.

Nakakahon: 3 Serye (Boxed: Series of 3) by Katti Sta. Ana

Mixed Media. 2001.

Hubad (Nude) by Julie Lluch

Terra Cotta. 1998.

Walang Katapusang Habilog (Eternal Oval) by Agnes Arellano

Cold-Cast Marble. 1983.

Bougainvillaea II by Lenore R.S. Lim

Etching. 2000.

Tagapangalaga ng Kapuluan (Guardian of the Islands) by Jade Navarro Bengco

Watercolor on Paper. 2000.

(For more artworks in the Gallery: http://franklin-berba-mia.tumblr.com/works)

The last painting, by Jade Navarro Bengco, in the list is my favorite. She made use of watercolor to create this masterpiece. First look at the painting, I felt empowered. The woman portrayed seemed so independent and strong that it made me feel a bit like that as well. And without much thought, the combination of warm and cool colors represented the Philippine flag. This gave me pride to call myself a Filipino. The outcome of the color combination is very pleasing to the eyes. Most of the warm colors used weren’t that bright and so when combined with the cooler colors (such as the blue used for her dress), it wasn’t clashing. In fact, only the colors of her dress were brightly colored while the rest were more dull. The painting may be interpreted as a symbol of freedom, beauty, and independence, as well as strength for the Filipinos, most especially for young women.

The Women’s Art Gallery was nice and simple. To me, the visit was calming and relaxing. Having the time to just look and appreciate art made me feel that way, especially after being so caught up in STEM-related subjects in school. It was nice to finally be in a more creative and artistic atmosphere. I’ve realised how much I miss studying and learning about art.

I do hope in time, more works will be displayed in the gallery because the visit felt short to me. Also, I highly suggest to display sculptures or three-dimensional artworks on stands or tall blocks. There were only a few of those in the gallery and they were on the ground. People may end up overlooking these works because most of the works are displayed at eye-level.

[franklin-berba-mia]

A Visit to the Women’s Art Gallery in Miriam College. 09/30/2016

[franklin-berba-mia]

High Hopes

Even though I mostly focus on Science and Math in school, art has always been a part of my life and a part of who I am. Ever since I was a child, I loved to doodle on any paper that I could get my hands on. At times, I even use my own skin as a canvas, especially when I’m bored or just in the mood to draw something. Whenever I go to museums, especially art and historical ones, I find myself carefully examining the pieces of art on display. Unlike my younger siblings who tend to just look and walk away, I usually try to learn more about these things and take in as much of the detailed masterpiece as I can into my memory. I not only do this when I visit museums but also when I explore historical and environmental sites. I guess… One may say that I have a different way of seeing world because of art.

Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what Contemporary Arts was at first. I didn’t know what topics we were going to tackle and what kind of art we were going to do. Though when I learned that we would be focusing more on Filipino Arts, I got pretty excited. Unfortunately, I believe I have more knowledge about the arts in foreign cultures rather than my own but I hope that I get to learn more about my own through Contemporary Arts. I remember visiting the art gallery in Ateneo and being in awe of the artworks of several Filipinos, especially the works of Juvenal Sanso. During that time, I really wished I knew more about the works of Filipino artists. Now, I have the opportunity to gain more knowledge about different forms of Filipino art such as music and film. 

I really hope that I will not only learn, but also enjoy. I believe that even if the workload in Contemporary Arts may be heavy, as long as I am able to have fun in the tasks that I do, I will be alright. Also, I know that I can’t escape group works, which is one of the most challenging for me. But, if my groupmates and I work as a team, then things will turn out fine. Lastly, I hope to be able to broaden my creativity and imagination, enhance my skills in art, and develop a genuine appreciation for Filipino art.

Oh how interesting this will be!