Start | A Blog | May 10, 2023

“Magandang umaga,” “Maayong buntag,” or should I say “Good morning!” These are some phrases that we use when we start the day, greeting our family, friends, or people that we encounter.

Simple phrases or greetings can have a big impact on someone. 

But this is not the only way to start your day positively. This can also be checking your phone for notifications, fixing your bed neatly, or thanking Him for having another day. Nonetheless, It really depends on where you make yourself anticipated and continue your life.

Which is also presented from the video entitled, “Secret life of Buildings.” To summarize it, every aspect or part of the interior has a big contribution to the overall appearance of the interior space. Similarly to starting your day positively depending on what you want affects your overall mood throughout the day.

As I remembered from the previous lesson of AESTETA from the module of Philosophies on Aesthetics: recognizing beauty is more than just being good in one area or being lovely in one portion. As we observe something or someone, we should concentrate all our senses on the entire picture.

This life is a journey that will give you a lesson after a test. As for me, I would want to let things happen and follow the waves of the ocean as I believe that everything happens for a reason. Every day, there are different scenarios and encounters. Knowing what you want and need, doing unexpectedly good for a subject, offering small acts of kindness, and meeting new people.

This helps me to become a more considerate person and a designer. I would like to ask to show my clients’ spark or true essence of their life. I want them to let their personality also reflect in real life spaces.

However, my identity of designing has changed from focusing only on simplicity and minimalism. I tend to only follow what I want and which I think is good for the eyes. 

As I realize my development as a person and designer, witnessing each person with different preferences from the video, I conclude my manifesto with three S’ words: solace, safety, and story.

Knowing what kind of environment or ambiance she or he wants will make them feel comfortable in the space they are in. If this interior space is offering solace to them, this will make them feel safe and secure as they trust their surroundings and feel at home. 

Lastly, knowing their story and personality is another factor that should be considered, as I want to show what kind of person they are by reflecting their true self in the interior spaces they live in.

Architectural and Design Philosophies | March 31, 2023

Architecture Design has its own language. We do not enter a space or an interior full of practicality but we also experience elements or emotions such as being happy or elicit a strong or negative action. 

There should be an understanding on why certain elements are used in a particular space. What we should understand in design or what is the true role of aesthetics, theory, and/or philosophies to this?

There are two terms discussed in this: Systematization and Prescription. 

Systematization: there is a particular method and principles based on theories which allow us to follow appropriate guidelines that are related to the ideal form or how it is built.

Prescription: how it should be done. There should be a predictive outcome which is based on the applied theory.

Moreover, these architectural designs should also be teleological, which means functional goodness. The designs should be functional and provide the true purpose of it to the people.

Other than theories, there are plenty of philosophies that I did not expect to be studied or even exist. I am a person who does not think that critically but rather more on simpler and limited knowledge about theories and philosophies. 

There are so many philosophical traditions discussed such as semiotics, structuralism, ontology, formalism, and rationalism or functionalism; Continental traditions: phenomenology, post structuralism, hermeneutics, rationalism, functionalism, constructivism, and deconstructivism. 

However, I found interesting the continental tradition or the movement of deconstructivsm or post strcutralism. It revolved around that there is not absolute truth or a singular understanding in certain aspects or topics like power, identity, sexuality, or gender. Because of this philosphy, we are able to derive the meaning or perceive the world differently.  There are no dominant institution or interpretation.

These theories and philosophies are significant when it comes to practicing in designing and architectural spaces as this will be an appropriate and correct guide to the people when understanding a space or an architectural form.

Theories of Representation | March 10, 2023

When we are asked the questions, “Who decides what art means?” “Where could we derive the meaning of art?” We could have varying answers and interpretations, there is a certain attachment and intentions.

These meanings can be the subject of philosophy, whom’s meaning or interpretation are more significant. Is it really about the artist or from a random person? There is no absolute truth, each interpretation of a person would be equally significant. 

Death of the Author is also discussed, in which it is stated that just because the author produces that certain art, it doesn’t mean that he or she owns the absolute truth or the true meaning of the created art. This will allow the individuals to interpret their own perspectives which results in different interpretations. It also allows the audience to have the freedom to suit their taste or based on their mood to derive different layers or meaning to the created art.

However, how do we find these meanings in art? What is the value of art? Is art more valuable because we give more meaning or give importance to it?

There are two ways to value art, the first one is called, Intrinsic value: the value of art for its own sake. If the art is beautifully made without really knowing the true meaning of it since you were impressed. Secondly, Extrinsic value: when we understand the art because of the meaning we derived from it such as connecting it with emotional approach. More from a moralistic point of view which can result in optimism. 

However, I would like to be recognized and valued for my art extrinsically. As I mentioned in the previous blog, being beautiful with a purpose or goodness is a positive component of art. This provides me with an answer to the fact that there is always an emotional approach, even before I learnt how to appreciate my art. The artist’s role is as an observer which is to document reality. They have a much larger role which also shows what’s happening within the artist or to us. Just like the aesthetic experiences from intense emotions like catharsis and sublime

It also discusses the two different Art Expressions: Objective and Subjective. Objectivity is an expression where everything from the external world is reproduced. Subjectivity, on the other hand, is an expression where it is not realistic or observable, but based on how the artist imagined something or someone.

How do we exactly express or interpret? There are terms, Representation, Exemplification, and Metaphor.

We can express through representation, exemplification and metaphor. Representation: Imitation of reality and nature. Exemplification: They are more stylized and not realistic but recognizable and understandable. Metaphor: is the application of a name, or a category, or a descriptive term or phrase to something to which the label does not apply literally, but only imaginatively. It has independent meaning which represents a whole new meaning or interpretation which is also needed to be visible from the art.

This teaches me how to communicate myself accurately and properly when using something or someone. As an emotional person, this provides me with a clear notion of how I should use anything I wish to use and give it a deeper meaning.

Art is intended; transmission to an audience; expression of an emotion; experiences of the artist; and clarified by means of lines, shapes, colors, sounds, actions and/or words. We cannot take things face value. All artworks are possessed with association and expressive properties. As art evolved and as time passed, the understanding of an individual through things is getting broader. This emphasizes the value of art since it is not just about being drawn or developed creatively, but every component of it has meaning from what you see and from behind or during the production of art.

Coven of Sisters | A Film Critique | March 23, 2023

Who knew that a film might have significance and purpose from a single shot to the entire film? According to the synchronous meeting, a movie is a moving image and sound that uses processes that vary over time. As a fan of movies, this was an interesting topic to study. 

Movies present us with a much deeper reality, which implies that we can see perspectives that we would see in real life. We can tell where it started and where it ended, it is a more expressive and efficient method of capturing reality. Furthermore, a cinema may recreate and create more realistic moments than any other form of visual art. This also provides a different way to have various correct and proper perspectives when capturing something or someone. As this also gives meaning to the audience, who the director or artist is as it pertains to that particular shot.

Another aspect of cinema is that it has its own language. What is the line, color, balance, composition, or how everything fit together?

It is also vital to observe the setting, as different elements might be seen in different scenes. Mis-cen-scene is what makes cinema so effective. When we watch the film, it does not appear fake, but rather how things would appear in the real world. It enhances every moment by adding intricacies and intensity to the scenario. It emphasizes tension and drama. 

Just as interior design has elements and principles with meanings for why they are used in an interior space, cinema or film shows that everything is used in a scene is because it is connected and related to the concept of film, which gives a more correct meaning on why they are used as the director wanted to see. That is why everything is included in the story.

Intensity | Photo Essay | March 3, 2023

As I reflected on my life's events in the past, it was difficult for me to recall any times that evoked strong emotions in me. Because I am shy, quiet, and insecure about myself, I am labeled as gentle and humble. I know I said I treasured all the memories that had occurred, but it was difficult for me to understand what had occurred in order for me to feel intensely.

As you read my midterm essay, you saw that I answered fear. I am aware that I am terrified of all the encounters that I shall face in the future. I discovered that I have so much more to discover in life because I am only now beginning to venture outside of my comfort zone. I realized that the majority of my life would be a tale of demonstrating the concept of sublime, as I am constantly trying to start something new that I have wanted to do for a long time that makes me scared but excited.

Kant claimed that the sublime is also an aesthetic experience, which can be mathematically or dynamically expressed. However, for me, it is more dynamic than analytical. I am a creative person who values positivism, energy, and inventive thinking. This aided my creativity by allowing me to become more personal in a way that benefits both my artworks and oneself.

It takes a lot of bravery for me to say "Bayad po" alone. It's a brief phrase that takes me a while to get spoken of. As time passes, I notice that I am gradually moving forward to finish what I began. According to Kant, Sublime is like a negative response from something or someone that provides you a sense of relief, leading you to remark "yeah, that's how it is," "okay," and "oh, I got it." 

This immense emotion taught me to value all events in life, whether positive or negative, as they would assist me to convey and express art more effectively and provide identity to my works.

Philosophies on Aesthetics | February 17, 2023

If you ask me, "What is life to you?" I will tell you, "It's a journey." If you ask me, "How is life?" I will tell you, "It's unexpected." It is an unexpected journey, an unplanned journey full of expectations and surprises. This assignment makes me very emotional since I treasure every single moment of my life, especially when I first began to stand on my own feet and confront the real world.

As I recall from our previous discussion, recognizing beauty is more than just being good in one area or being lovely in one portion. As we observe something or someone, we should concentrate all our senses on the entire picture. With life, there are so many flaws in this world that individuals prefer to notice only the "beautiful" or "perfect" aspects of their existence. As I heard in the meeting, I have been able to do this ever since I have had something to complete or a necessity on my plate, but the difference is that I am not organized and prepared. Having beauty in an art should consider taking the entire picture or object, as I have always wanted plates or paintings to seem ideal, but it always ends up looking perfect in one specific place. 

The images were taken from the module Philosophies on Aesthetics. As you can see in the pictures, we can describe these photos as "perfect" or "beautiful." As I previously stated, I end up accomplishing my work and being beautiful in only one area, but this helped me to develop more creative solutions such as being beautiful in the entire picture while also having the goodness because they are fundamentally identical. My understanding is that this goodness and beauty may benefit both parties, the audience and the artist. 

Also, the concepts of Catharsis and Sublime are explored, which are related but distinct. These are profound emotions that we have had or witnessed in our lives. Catharsis is stated to be a strong emotion in which you add more sensation to it and process it more with the usage of anything that makes you more intense. Sublime, on the other hand, is another extreme emotion that has an initial unfavorable reaction for you before concluding in a revelation of being okay or unexpected relief.

As I am not a critical thinker, I was proud that I was able to understand both of these terms and know the similarities and differences, particularly the term Sublime. This is completely new to me as an optimist. I had no idea there was a name or method for processing an overwhelming emotion that leads to a sense of relaxation. We all know that art is a process, and that process can result in a variety of emotions, whether passionate or calm. As I understand this, I will always believe that there are always beneficial results from these feelings since you created a procedure to create that specific art.

"Ways of Seeing Things" by John Berger | February 3, 2023

When we know or believe something, we perceive things differently. This is known as a "frame of reference," which is a significant aspect of how we perceive the world.

When we perceive and evaluate a work of art, we learn something about ourselves and our surroundings. Humans respond to their surroundings based on their point of view.

John Berger is an art critic, author, painter, and poet who reflects on how different people see things. He says that perspective organizes everything in the mind of the beholder. A large component of sight is determined by habit and convention, particularly the perspective convention specific to art.

When we gaze at art, such as a painting, the painting looks back at us. It's more than what you see on the surface; it's what you see and how you view it. When we look at a painting with all of our senses, our brain receives information from all directions: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and even thought itself. The visible world, often known as reality, is anything somebody sees in front of them. Our eyes can only be in one place at a time, and they carry the visible world with them everywhere they move.

Paintings, on the other hand, are not subject to movement. In addition, John Berger analyzes how the invention of the camera affected the creation of works of art. Photography is a form of visual art. It's not just about capturing photos; it's about perceiving things in new ways. This means that photography is more than just recording images; it is also a way of experiencing the world through your own eyes and feelings.

As a result, they have already been exposed to movement and sound manipulation. It has a negative impact on art since the camera takes away the authenticity of the artwork. Therefore, as an outcome, the true objective of paintings displayed in the media can be further distorted.

The most interesting quality of paintings is that their images are silent and still, which can be quite striking to the audience's eyes. It delivers a genuine sensation that proves the reliability of each component of the image.

Using advanced methods such as merely photographing a painting can give the work a different impact. This is incredibly enlightening as a student in a creative field. Art is more than just a sketch or painting that you can easily reproduce, transfer, or modify in comparison to the original. It is a lengthy procedure in which each aspect is created with originality, imagination, and realism, demonstrating how wonderful an art is to just reproduce it.

Our education, culture, and personal experience all have a significant impact on our worldview. What we know or believe about things determines how we see them, and how we see them influences what we know or believe about them.