A work of art is a scream for freedom

We all have the freedom to choose what we want to do and what we want for ourselves. We don’t need others to tell us what should be done because we wouldn’t be making any progress that way, we won’t be able to decide and do what we think is best for us.

Same as for art; it should be free. Art itself is freedom. And we, as artists are free to decide on how our artwork should be made and how it should touch others’ hearts.

Living in the Christian period must be a living hell to some of the artist back then. There is a possibility that some artists stop making art because they are forced to have only one topic, which should be anything related to Christianity. But I also admire those artists who could think of something to create, to speak through people with their art. There could also be artists who are lucky because the said theme is their forte.

If I were told to have only one topic or theme for my art, I would have two options. Either, stop because I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself making art if I don’t have my own freedom on my hands or pursue and look for ways to make it happen. I could even take advantage of that certain theme and squeeze in hints of double meaning and different messages that what the ordinary eyes can see. And if my artwork would be successful and is worthy enough for people today to study about, then as an artist I would be very proud. Imagine then trying to solve the mystery with different theories, of course they would also look through the Christian period and learn the way of living for them to understand more about the art in that period. Productive, isn’t it? It would be killing two birds with one stone for them; they’ll be able to learn more about the Christian period and they would be able to make hypothesis and/or theories regarding the artworks or there is a possibility that they could find out the true meaning of the art.

Free yourself and make your own art that you could be proud of showing the world. Don't let yourself down. Be different. Different it good. Being unique so you could be called "one of a kind."

The Classics

The term classic may have a lot of meaning like clearness, elegance, symmetry and repose produced by attention to traditional forms. It is sometimes synonymous with excellence or artistic quality of high distinction.  So, I’ll be talking about a part of classical art in this entry.

(c) Google Images

There were three architectural orders dated way back in the Archaic period in Greece; the Doric order, the Ionic order and the Corinthian order. But how does there three different orders differ from each other? As you can see on the picture above, their designs differ from each and order after order their designs get more complicated than the ones that came first to them. 

The Doric Order

(c) Google Images

Doric order was the first style of classical architecture, which is the chic and classy architectural styles of ancient Greece and Rome that set the standards for beauty, harmony, and strength for European architecture. Doric order is recognizable by two basic features: the columns and the entablature.

The Ionic Order

(c) Google Images

The Ionic columns are the most thin and small columns out of the three architectural orders. Unlike the Doric order, the Ionic order has a base; a stone platform at the bottom of the column. It also has a shaft; which is located on top of the base and is the long part of the column with groves running down the sides. There is also the capital; which is located at the very top, with decorative stone that supports the roof and alone with the volute; the swirly, scroll-like capital of the column. 

The Corinthian Order 

(c) Google Images

The Corinthian order is the last developed of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. It is fancier and heavier than the other two orders. In Corinthian temples, the columns have an extravagant base to stand on. And at the top of the columns, on the capital, there's a stone carving of acanthus leaves, under the architrave which looks complicated to do. 

Another difference from the other two is the ornaments on the capital that flare outwards, like a bell, signifying a sense of height.

Corinthian columns in Jerash Jordan
(c) Google Images

I like how they tried to develop these type of structure and eventually having them considered as art by the people today. I can't imagine how they were able to make such high structures, not to mention the complicated carved designs at the very top of the columns which makes it very unique from other forms of art.  In this period they already have the proportions and balance. 

Today, we still have these kinds of structure. Like for example, the Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas located in Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila. I have been there once when I was in my 3rd or 4th year of high school, we had our field trip there. There external structure of the building before the entrance applies the Corinthian order.

Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas
Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila
(c) Google Images

And other one inside the museum is the Old Senate Hall which also show the Corinthian order at the second floor and other places inside the museum.

Old Senate Hall inside the Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas
(c) Google Images

Spolarium by Juan Luna inside the Pambansang Museo ng Pilipinas
and the Corinthian columns which can be seen a every post

There is also another in Fort  Santiago in Intramuros, Manila but it has the Doric order. We''ve had our field trip there when I was in my first year of high school.

Doric order in Fort Santiago located in Intramuros, Manila
(c) Google Images

Steinzeit

When we hear the term ancient, one of the first things that pop on our mind would be the “Stone Age”.  According to Wikipedia, Stone Age was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make implements with a sharp edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 6000 BCE and 2000 BCE with the advent of metalworking.

The late years of the Old Stone Age of the Paleolithic Era had an attempt of naturalism in their arts. It’s amazing how they can create such art just by using dried, ground pigments and were blown through a hollowed-out bone or reed from a certain animal that is used in their spray painting. And in their cave paintings, they used their fingers and sticks in applying pigments.

Generally, back then they used animals as their subject matter and ever as their medium.

I am deeply overwhelmed by the fact that even though this era has almost nothing, like for example they do not have education and they do not know how to speak like us, they manage to survive. They were able to develop a way on how they’d communicate by drawing through their cave’s walls. They were able to discover a way on how to hunt animals so they could eat and the fact that they did not just draw on the rocks and walls just because they have nothing to do. You know why they did that? It’s because they were trying to pass over their generation on how they should live their life and how to survive.

As the Stone Age advanced from Paleolithic era to the Neolthic era a lot has changed. They were more stable and predictable. They also learned food production which makes their way of living easier than of the Paleothic periods.

These are considered as their remarkable contributions in the world of art and many people would be able to learn from it; that it’s not very convenient to have a life similar to the Stone Age. They’d reflect on the how they are very comfortable and some would even realize that their life is too comfortable enough and can survive every day that they would decide to help other people that are poor and having a hard time to live because they lack food, money and shelter.