Visual and Applied Arts
Visual arts are probably what you think of first when someone mentions art. These include drawing, painting, sculpture, calligraphy, and photography - basically anything that represents ideas and emotions through visual mediums. Filipino visual artists have created masterpieces that capture our culture and history.
Applied arts combine beauty with practicality, making everyday objects more meaningful. Architecture stands out as our most visible applied art form. From traditional Bahay Kubo and Bahay na Bato to modern structures like the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Filipino architecture tells our story through buildings.
Other applied arts include fashion design (think traditional Filipino clothing), pottery (like the famous Manunggul Jar), jewelry design (such as intricate Paineta pieces), and interior design. These art forms prove that creativity doesn't have to be separate from daily life - it can make everything around us more beautiful and meaningful.
Fun Fact: The Manunggul Jar isn't just pottery - it's a 2,000-year-old masterpiece that shows ancient Filipino beliefs about the afterlife!