CHAPTER 10:
VISUAL
ELEMENTS IN
PHILIPPINE
TRADITIONAL
MOTIFS AND
CRAFTS
INTRODUCTION:
Decorative designs in traditional Filipino
handiwork which include woven fabrics,
potteries, wooden carvings, jewelries, and
metal crafts, feature visual elements
which may be analyzed. These lines,
colors, shapes, patterns, and symbolism
can give us understanding about the
meaning and purpose of such creations.
We will begin to deeply appreciate our
identity when we have learned to
decipher their beliefs, values, and ways of
living as we look at their works closely.
The Philippine visual arts
encompass a
range of forms developed by
Filipinos in the Ethnic, Spanish,
American, and featured thumb of
contemporary traditions.
VISUAL
ELEMENTS
LINE SHAPE
– the foundation of – may be natural or man-
drawing made
TONE COLOR
- the lightness or – has the strongest
darkness of a color impact on our emotions
PATTERN
- made by repeating or
echoing the elements of an
artwork to show a sense of
balance, harmony, contrast,
rhythm or movement.
TEXTURE FORM
– the roughness or – the physical volume of a
smoothness of a shape.
material;
MOTIFS AND
SYMBOLS
Motifs and Symbols Introduction Since the day man
began to give shape to the materials provided by
nature for meeting his rudimentary requirements, he
has never been able to resist the inward urge to adorn
and beautify his possessions and surroundings. All
these efforts have led to the creation of motifs from
different origins, organizing them in suitable layouts.
This gave the uniqueness to the motifs used in
traditional Indian textiles.
MOTIF
an image, spoken or written
word, sound, act, or
another visual or structural
device that has symbolic
significance.
Motifs typically are used in one of
three ways:
• A single object that appears multiple times
throughout the work with most of the emphasis
placed on the item.
• A collection of related objects that appear multiple
times to emphasize the theme.
• A collection of seemingly unrelated items that serve
to draw attention to the theme in a subtler manner.
Classification of Motif The
motifs or units of a textile
design may
1. Geometric Motif
be classified as:
These motifs include lines in various forms, such as
vertical. horizontal, diagonal and curved.
2. Realistic or Natural Motif
Natural motifs portray as direct replica of things as
they exist in nature, such as flowers on trees,
animals in jungle, human figure and other natural
things.
Geometric
Motif
Realistic or Natural
Motif
3. Stylized Motif
These are simplified variations of natural or man-made
objects that are no longer recognizable, these motifs
are full of creativity, as they are the result of a
designer's interpretation of naturally existing things.
4. Abstract Motif
These are combinations of color, size, and shape
without relationship to natural or man-made objects.
Abstract
Motif
Stylized
Motif
SYMBOL
The term 'symbol' comes
from the Greek word
‘symbolon’ which means
contract, token, insignia
and means of
identification
Types of Symbols
1. Iconograms are illustrative representations.
2.Pictograms are pictorial representations, such as
ISOTYPE.
3. Cartograms are topographical complex functions
4. Diagrams are functional representations.
5. Ideograms represent concept.
6. Logograms are conceptual representations like
writing.
7. Typograms are typographical representations.
8. Phonograms are phonic representations.
Indigenous Philippine Arts
and Craft
One of the most precious
traditional livelihoods that are
kept until today is weaving.
Originating in the pre-colonial
times, the art of weaving of the
Cordillera tribal groups in the
Philippine North is still existing
despite the threat of the more
practical, mass production of
cloth. The natives use backstrap
Indigenous Philippine Arts
and Craft
• Piña Cloth
• Abaca fiber
• Baskets
• Filipino potters
• Philippine sculpture
• Jewelry-making
THANK YOU!!
MEMBERS:
• PELACIA • MAPALAD
• MORA • CABACO
• SAPUTIL • ABADINES
• BRINGAS • SARMIENT
• JERUSALE O
M • LEIS
• TANTIONG • GALANG
CO
