Untitled Art Piece
Painted by Abdulmari Asia Imao, National Artist of the Philippines (1936-2014)
Sining Saysay Exhibit
Philippine
Painted by Abdulmari Asia Imao, National Artist of the Philippines (1936-2014)
Sining Saysay Exhibit
Philippine
How does this music or art connect to your culture as well as other cultures?
This artwork connects to my culture in many ways, but the ship stands out to me. It represents the voyages and society of Philippine ancestors, similar to how my ancestors were known for Viking exploration.
What is the central theme or message of the piece(s)? How was that evoked by the piece? How is that message relevant to cultures other than the one shown in the piece?
I believe that the central theme of this piece is that the Philippine history is filled with beautiful and interesting times that acted as building-blocks for the modern nation. This is evoked by the images which capture important people and events from that past. This message is relevant to other cultures, for it tells people that rich history is an important part of any culture, even if the events happened centuries ago. People all over the world can relate to this, for every culture has a past of war, exploration, patriotism, or tradition; all of which can be seen in the painting.
What does the piece indicate about the culture of the country where the piece is from?
This artwork indicates that history is very important to the people of the Philippines. It shows that they understand the value of knowledge and remembrance. It also demonstrates that the nation and its people went through a lot to get where they are today.
Describe the mood or thoughts (affect) evoked by the piece. Describe the devices used by the artist(s) to create this effect (i.e. compositional technique, media, use of elements and principles, etc.)
The mood of this artwork is whimsical and reflective. The artist created this with the overlapping of historically important images and bright, saturated colors. One needs to look closely at each section to truly understand every aspect of this painting and when one does, it comes to life.
Research the historical context/significance of the piece. How does the piece “fit” into this larger/global context?
This piece fits into a larger global context by proving how rich the history of our world is, as well as demonstrating diversity. The piece does a very good job of incorporating motifs that are important to many nations. For instance, religious figures are present in the background, which reminds the viewer of the importance of Christianity in the region. Specifically, Roman Catholicism is the dominating religion in Philippines. This alone sets them apart from their neighbors, for the Philippines is one of the only Christian nations in Asia. Additionally, to the right of the painting is the depiction of a shark mouth plane. These were first used during WWI to intimidate the enemy and show fighting spirit. The practice originated in a Chinese volunteer air force. A final example of how the piece relates to many nations, is the dove in the lower right corner. A dove with an olive branch is accepted as the universal symbol of peace.
How did this experience change your world view?
This changed my world view, for it reminded me that there is so much I don't know about this Earth. I not only learned about the history of the Philippines, but I was taught the larger lesson that culture is overlapping and is derived from past defining moments.
This artwork connects to my culture in many ways, but the ship stands out to me. It represents the voyages and society of Philippine ancestors, similar to how my ancestors were known for Viking exploration.
What is the central theme or message of the piece(s)? How was that evoked by the piece? How is that message relevant to cultures other than the one shown in the piece?
I believe that the central theme of this piece is that the Philippine history is filled with beautiful and interesting times that acted as building-blocks for the modern nation. This is evoked by the images which capture important people and events from that past. This message is relevant to other cultures, for it tells people that rich history is an important part of any culture, even if the events happened centuries ago. People all over the world can relate to this, for every culture has a past of war, exploration, patriotism, or tradition; all of which can be seen in the painting.
What does the piece indicate about the culture of the country where the piece is from?
This artwork indicates that history is very important to the people of the Philippines. It shows that they understand the value of knowledge and remembrance. It also demonstrates that the nation and its people went through a lot to get where they are today.
Describe the mood or thoughts (affect) evoked by the piece. Describe the devices used by the artist(s) to create this effect (i.e. compositional technique, media, use of elements and principles, etc.)
The mood of this artwork is whimsical and reflective. The artist created this with the overlapping of historically important images and bright, saturated colors. One needs to look closely at each section to truly understand every aspect of this painting and when one does, it comes to life.
Research the historical context/significance of the piece. How does the piece “fit” into this larger/global context?
This piece fits into a larger global context by proving how rich the history of our world is, as well as demonstrating diversity. The piece does a very good job of incorporating motifs that are important to many nations. For instance, religious figures are present in the background, which reminds the viewer of the importance of Christianity in the region. Specifically, Roman Catholicism is the dominating religion in Philippines. This alone sets them apart from their neighbors, for the Philippines is one of the only Christian nations in Asia. Additionally, to the right of the painting is the depiction of a shark mouth plane. These were first used during WWI to intimidate the enemy and show fighting spirit. The practice originated in a Chinese volunteer air force. A final example of how the piece relates to many nations, is the dove in the lower right corner. A dove with an olive branch is accepted as the universal symbol of peace.
How did this experience change your world view?
This changed my world view, for it reminded me that there is so much I don't know about this Earth. I not only learned about the history of the Philippines, but I was taught the larger lesson that culture is overlapping and is derived from past defining moments.