Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis

 

Research into sculptures

 

08/09/15

What is a sculpture?

A sculpture, in general and traditional terms, is something carved or built within marble, stone, wood, etc. However, there is no specific definition, as sculpture can be anything you interpret it to be, provided that it is 3D. A sculpture can be a personal representation of something, and is visual art. In more modern terms, sculpture can include relief, modeling, which relates to constructing something or carving something away, and will even go as far as Assemblage, which is almost the 3D version of collage.

Robert Rauchenberg:

An artist that uses Assemblage is Robert Rauchenberg, Who's art rested between the end of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. That being said, his art work is almost a fusion of both. 

Rauchenberg was an American painter, sculptor and printmaker. Because of his individualism, he couldn't be classed as part of any movement, but rather stood between movements. He was an important bridge between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. He is well known for his 'Combines' of the 1950's, which are a combination of both sculpture and painting.

The materials he uses range from taxidermy animals, to simple things that others could consider junk- bike wheels, to old metal signs and collage.

Gilbert and George:

Gilbert and George were became known as a unit in 1973. They created pieces such as 'Underneath The Arches' In which they mouthed the lyrics to the song repeatedly for around 12 hours straight.

'Underneath the Arches' Performance

They also created a piece called 'Bend It', which they recreated. It is a rather aggressive piece, which was directed at certain people. The two met in the 60's, and when 'Bend It' was released, it was illegal for homosexual relations throughout most of the world. Gilbert and George were in a relationship at the time and still are, and so this piece, coupled with the actions and the music, was directed at the people who made it illegal.

'Bend It' Original

'Bend It' Recreation

Anish Kapoor:

Anish Kapoor works with varying materials and on different scales within his sculpture work. He was the receiver of a Turner Prize in 2002, and also received a knighthood in the 2013 Birthday Honours for his services to visual art.

He became known in the 1980's for his geometric and biomorphic sculptures made using materials such as Granite, Limestone, Marble, Pigment and Plaster. These sculptures were usually monochromatic and brightly coloured.

'Svayambh'

This piece was a huge sculpture that took up a total of five rooms in the Royal Academy in London, which was a huge block of red wax that moved slowly on rails throughout the rooms, which left residue. The block was too big to fit through the doors, so as it passed it left scrapings of wax on the doorframes.

 The materials he uses tend to be very smooth and somewhat cold, in the terms of the wax he used for the piece 'svayambh', and as well for the pieces he used mirrors for.

Antony Gormley:

Gormley was highly influenced by his time spent learning the ways of Buddhist meditation, which shows in his work. His sculptures are usually the of the human form and show a man's existence in relation to the world. He is primarily known for his leading figures cast from his own body.

Crosby Beach in Liverpool is covered with his sculptures, which are all singularly cast in different positions, each cast from his own body

Antony Gormley

Because of the placement of his sculptures, especially those that stand on crosby beach, since they would have been worn down by the weather and rusted by the water, so rather than being smooth, as they once were, they will now be rough with rust.

Jacob Epstein:





Epstein was a pioneer of modern sculpture. He often produced controversial work which challenged taboos and appropriate subject matter for public artworks. He also made paintings and drawings.

His sculpture is distinguished by its vigorous, rough hewn realism. Avant-Garde in concept and style, his work often shocked the audience.

Rebecca Warren:

Rebecca Warren is a British sculptor and visual artist. She s well known for her works in clay and bronze, and for her arranged vitrines.

The sculptures were primarily made of clay, and often depicted the nude female form and tackled themes of sexuality by making references to other historical works and artists.

Her more recent works are made using materials such as steel and bronze.

Karla Black:

Karla black is a Scottish sculpture whose work 'Doesn't care in the woods' was nominated for a Turner prize in 2011. She uses mostly traditional art making materials such as plaster, paint, paper and chalk in her works, along with other substances such as cosmetics and toiletries.

Her sculptures are either 'almost' or 'only just' objects and skirt amongst the mediums of painting, performance art, and installation, often contrasting with a large scale of fragility of form.

Allen Jones:

Allen Jones is mostly known for highly controversial works that usually depict the female form, presented in a sexual manner, and in most cases, as objects such as chairs, hat stands and tables. The sculptures are 'Fetish Mannequins' that are made from fibreglass.

Ai Weiwei:

Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist and activist. He collaborated with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron in creating the Beijing Olympics arena. As a political activist, he is highly critical of the Chinese Government's stance on democracy and human rights.

Ai Weiwei is mostly known for his pieces that brought attention to the collapsing of school buildings, known as 'tofu-dregs', which resulted in the death of thousands of children.

He made multiple pieces on matter, one being a piece called 'remembering', which was made up of 9000 backpacks, and read 'for seven years she lived happily on this earth.









Andrew Goldsworthy:

Goldsworthy is a British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist, who produces site specific sculpture and land art situated in natural and urban settings.