Tips for Sculpture Appreciation
2008-08-01

Tips for Sculpture Appreciation

First let's look at some pictures. All these are great pieces of sculptures. 

Words like "extremely fantastic" or "excellent works" can be used to express your feelings about those sculptures, but maybe you don't know why you get the feelings. Lacking in elementary knowledge about sculpture art, you would consider it so hard to understand some sculptures. So you might not enjoy the trip to a museum of modern art or an exhibition coming in the next week. But don't worry. Just read on to understand basic things about sculpture and following the steps below, you'll find that there's lots of fun in sculpture. 

¡ñBasic Things About Sculpture

Sculpture is a major form of art dating back to ancient civilizations. Ancient sculptures were made of clay, wood, stone, metals and other precious materials. Modern sculptures are also made of these materials but also include materials such as plastic, glass, and other recyclable materials including junk. Sculptures take many forms including abstract shapes, life-size and portrait. They can be realistic and natural, or completely abstract and unrecognizable.

Then now you need a sculpture to view, observe and analyze. Also you should make sure that you have a desire to appreciate sculpture art. When you're ready, let's do it step by step. 

¡öStep 1
Don't forget that sculpture is a form of communication. Consider what the sculpture is communicating to you. It can inspire your imagination also; this is another way of a general understanding of the works.

¡öStep2
There are three basic types or dimensions to sculpture. Full-round where you can walk around the sculpture. Relief where you can view it on the wall from one side or Linear which often hangs from a wall above with long materials. Tell your friend which type of dimensionality the different sculptures are: Full round, Relief or Linear. You will impress your friend and spark conversation about the art work.

¡öStep3
There are four basic methods used in creating a sculpture: Addition, Subtraction, Manipulation and Substitution. A work of art becomes a sculpture when the artist adds a material, subtracts a material, manipulates a material or substitutes a material to the work as a whole. Try to figure out which method was used in the making of the sculpture you are viewing.

¡öStep4
You should know the style of the sculpture. Is it representative or non-representative? Representative sculptures are clear and obvious representations of the subject that they are supposed to represent. Non-representative sculptures are the opposite. They are sculptures that are not so clearly representative of the subject, and are often abstract or expressionist in form. If the sculpture is representative, is it realistic, naturalistic or idealized? While a sculpture that is representative of its subject may be clear about what it represents, it may not be an exact or natural image. A realistic sculpture is one which represents the subject as it is exactly in life. A naturalistic sculpture is one which is inspired by the physical appearance of its image in nature. Idealized sculptures strive for the perfect realization of a subject. These were often used in classical Greek sculptures.

¡öStep5
What material is the sculpture made of? Generally there are wood, stone, clay, plastic, metal, or even a mixture of materials.

→Wood or stone. Wood and stone sculptures are usually carved because both materials are not malleable (adaptable) and must be carved into the desired shape.
→Metal. Metal sculptures are usually cast or assembled by welding or some other means of joining together scraps of metal.
→Clay or plastics. The materials used to make model sculptures are usually soft and pliant so that they can be molded and shaped.
→A mixture of materials. Can you identify the materials used in this piece? Where are these materials used?

¡öStep6
Consider how the sculpture effects or interacts with you. Consider the size, lighting, environment, texture and mood of the sculpture. Consider what message the artist was trying to communicate to its audience.

¡öStep7
Ask more questions, such as what historical period or era does this sculpture recall? Is it a modern, or classical piece? Try to know much more about sculpture.

By following the steps above, you'll enjoy the sculptures a lot. At last, if allowed, don't forget to take some photos of the sculptures and enjoy them late again!