In one of your encounters with art through museum visits, musical plays and among other, recall one specific moment to which you have ever felt disconnected from an artwork? What was that instance when you did not understand what message the art was trying to convey? Write the name of the artwork in the box and attach an image of the artwork. Then, explain why you think you did not understand the art and the steps you made to be able to understand it eventually using the space provided below.

Note: You may use a separate sheet of paper (if necessary) to attach the image of the artwork and your explanation.

 

There was one time when I have encountered some artworks in Manila during our Educational Tour back then and saw a painting that captured my attention. However, I felt disconnected at my first sight to the artwork. Not because it was dull or something, but because of the deep message that it conceals. As dark shades of colors used to surround the canvas, it defines the tone and character it wants to portray. This was the time when I did not understand the message it was trying to convey. It requires deeper level of desire to know what is the message behind the painting. The name of the painting is Spolarium by Juan Luna. I think I did not understand it easily because at a young age, I wasn't that ready and open minded to such artworks that depicts about death and how brutal people were, back at those historical times of the world. I was able to understand it by slowly looking at the thick lines and about how it was drawn. I also looked at the people in the painting and thought about the scenario inside. It clearly states of how soldiers in the past times were brutal and doesn't give importance to the value of life.

Step-by-step explanation

Spolarium by Juan Luna *photo from National Museum Collections

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