A journey through Asian art
- The art of the independence movement of the Philippines gained inspiration from Diego Rivera’s political murals in South America where he employed pre-Hispanic figures and icons. What kind of potency is attached to imagery and how does this affect the viewer? When making ‘resistance’ art is it more potent to adopt the imagery of the oppressor or avoid it? Or both? What might determine this?
- Nune Alvarado combines Christian iconography with the solidity and robustness of pre-Hispanic figures to paint his politically inspired portraits of his ‘special people’. The combination is fluid and powerful. In your own experience can you name a group or sub-group who you are familiar with and who are oppressed? What might be there iconography?
- Should art reflect, record and/or critique the current political situation?
Resources
- Philippine Triumvirate
- Filipino Independence movement
- Outline of events around the Philippine declaration of independence
- Land reform
- Galleon trade route 1565-1815
- Battle of Manila (WW2)
- Diego Rivera
- Carlos V Francisco
- Victorio C Edades