AESTHET Individual Activity #4

These photos were taken last February 7, 2016 at the National Museum of the Philippines. I was with my friends and blockmates. Inside the National Museum, we have seen different paintings, artifacts and sculptures which caught our attention.

These paintings were created by the best artists in our country like Juan Luna, Vicente Manansala, Victorio Edades and Ang Kiukok. Some of the photos are paintings that show the nature of the Philippines, the history and the daily lives of many Filipinos. These paintings have a big impact on me because the artists showed nationalism through their artworks. They have expressed their love for the country and for their fellow Filipinos. They made us proud as a Filipino. While I was walking inside, I saw many foreigners looking at the paintings. I saw their reactions and they were so amazed. They took photos of some of the paintings. They also stood in front of the paintings and they were appreciating it. It made me feel proud of our national artists.

Artists have different messages to the audience. For example, the painting of Vicente Manansala entitled "Magsasaka" shows simplicity. For me, it shows the simple way of living of Filipinos before. Planting rice and other crops were enough to fulfill their daily needs. Another example is the "Bahay Kubo" by Vicente Manansala. Whenever I see a picture or a painting of a nipa hut, I always think of Bayanihan of Filipinos. It reflects the unity and the eagerness of Filipinos to help each other in times of need. Another one is "Isda" also by Vicente Manansala. In the painting, I saw the beauty of the seas and oceans in the Philippines. It was full of water creatures showing how rich and how wonderful the Philippines is. Another painting I have taken a photo is “Justice under Martial Law” by Orlando Castillo. In this painting, I saw the suffering of many Filipinos during Martial Law. I saw their poor situation under Marcos. It is a reflection of society we have now and then.
 
We have learned a lot from these paintings. These paintings were like an eye-opener, letting us see the world around us. Artists informed and entertained us through their works and they have these messages that may vary to different audience. But the most important is, we learn to appreciate art and define it in our own understanding.