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Philippine Indigenous Arts

Sculpture/Carving – Sculpture is a visual and three-dimensional art form, this art form uses different types of materials such as wood, stone, glass, etc. to create different figures for a certain reason. The art of sculpture is done by combining or breaking down a certain material in order to create the desired form. Carving is a common way that a person sculpts a piece of material to it’s desired shape and design.

Weaving – Weaving is a functional art form wherein multiple threads go through a process of being harvested, dyed different colors, then they are measured and cut before being placed onto a mechanism called the loom. In the Filipino tradition of weaving the materials used are fibers that come from abaca, cotton, and bark cloth. This art form is done for both practical and traditional purposes, the art of weaving uses intricate designs with a variety of colors.

Pottery – The art of pottery is both a practical and spiritual art form, this art form goes through the process of collecting the clay which require different types of clay depending on the purpose or what region you’re in, then it goes through processing procedure to make the clay usable for the actual creation of the pottery. Pottery by tradition can be created for purposes such as food storage, collecting water, etc. It can also be used for spiritual purposes such as creating a jar to store ashes and help the deceased pass on.

Taka – The taka art form is all about its bright and enjoyable color designs and shapes. This art form is used by the people of Paete as either ornaments and aesthetic design around the house or toys for children. This art is the embodiment of creativity and evolution as its designs change throughout time and how much it still holds its traditional art form.

Pottery In The Philippines

History

-          The history of the tradition of pottery in the Philippines started long ago in the third millennium BCE. Pottery was an important part in the exchange industry of the Philippines with its neighboring countries. The tradition of pottery making in the Philippines generally started with collecting clay from the nearby river called the Sibalom River. The modelling and shaping of the clay traditionally needs the use of wooden paddles, and the clay should be shaded and kept away from sunlight to avoid cracking at its early stages.

-          Pottery in the Philippines that started long ago were also used to store the remains of their deceased loved ones, this was done to show as a sign of respect for the afterlife and to help their deceased loved ones pass onto their next life. In this tradition, the pots were designed with anthropomorphic shapes and patterns to show that it contained the human spirit and would also include a symbolism of passing on such as a boat with the people inside.

-          As time passed on, the tradition of Filipino pottery started having other uses, they started using the pottery for storing different goods such as food and water, the pots were also used for cooking rice. Depending on where you visit in the Philippines, the tradition of pottery varies in its design, size, and shape of the pottery. Based on tradition there are different forms to the pot namely Kalinga Pottery, Iron Age Pottery, Kalanay Pottery, Bau Pottery, Novaliches Pottery, and Bagupantao Pottery.

Art-Making

-          Pottery is functional and aesthetical art form, it can be used for design, storage, and spiritual purposes. The process of making pottery starts from collecting the type of clay needed for the tradition you are following and the purpose of the pottery. The clay then goes through the process of being powdered, mixed with water, then filtered until it is ready for use. The clay will then be pressed and rolled to eliminate any air bubbles so that the clay is smooth and consistent all around. Once the clay is ready, is put onto a wooden wheel and is spun for the person to start forming the shape needed, during this process the clay is soaked with water to make it easier to mold. Part of the clay is used as a base to make the actual part of the pottery easier to mold, and once the desired shape is acquired, the clay is then taken of the wheel to be covered and left to dry for 1-2 days. The clay is the trimmed by using tools or by hand, which afterwards the artist signs it and leaves it to fully dry. The piece of pottery is then bisque fired, glazed, and put through the final process of glaze firing. After this is all done, the pottery is then sanded/grinded to remove any rough texture so that it can have that smooth and clean texture.

Aesthetic

-          The aesthetic of traditional Philippine pottery is a combination of the fundamentals of aesthetic and the tradition of the pottery. The aesthetics of pottery is contained within the size and shape, patterns, and symbolism of the piece of pottery. Based on which tradition of pottery you’re following in the Philippines, they have different standards for the correct size and shape needed for the pottery, and also the traditional designs whether it be for its visuals or spiritual connection. An example of this is the manunggul jar, where the aesthetic of the jar is in the meaning it holds, it’s all about the spiritual connection and helping their loved ones move on. Other traditional forms of pottery can then focus the visual creativity and the patterns in order to catch the people’s attention. The aesthetics of pottery is not only in how you see it, but also in what it’s purpose is and the meaning behind its shape, size, design, etc.

Importance

Learning about pottery and the other traditional art forms is important in the current and future generations because that’s where it all started, without the traditional art forms, then the art of today would not exist or not reach this point. Art changes and develops over time, the traditional ways of indigenous art paved a way for the modern art of today. It’s important for us to learn about the traditional ways of art because we can learn the basis of our own art form and why things are a certain way. We need to learn the roots of art in order to understand the essence of art itself. People nowadays want to create their own style and do what they want with their art, but for me the best way to create your own style is to look at the past and learn from it, develop your own path from what is already there.