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Sculpture

LESSON PROPER

SCULPTURE
• The word "sculpture" originates from the Latin term "sculptura," which is derived from the verb
"sculpere," meaning "to carve" or "to cut out." The Latin word combines two parts: "sculp-" (from the
verb "scalpere," which means "to scratch" or "to carve") and the suffix "-tura," which denotes the act
or result of an action. The word made its way into Middle French as "sculpture" and was subsequently
adopted into English in the 14th century, retaining its original meaning related to the art of carving or
shaping materials into three-dimensional forms.

• Sculpture is a three-dimensional art form that involves creating or shaping objects by carving,
modeling, casting, or assembling materials such as stone, metal, wood, clay, or other substances. It
can take various forms, including free-standing works, reliefs, or kinetic pieces, and often serves to
represent or symbolize human figures, animals, objects, abstract concepts, or imaginative forms.
Sculpture emphasizes volume, mass, and space, and is designed to be viewed from multiple angles,
allowing for a dynamic interaction between the artwork and its environment.

Two Processes of Sculpting

There are mainly two ways of sculpting images or objects, these are:
a. Additive Process- This process covers the use and assemblage of material pieces to form a new image.
Examples: Specific additive sculpting techniques are: pottery, paper-mache’, molding, assemblage, casting,
and welding to mention a few.
b. Subtractive Process- This principally involves the removal of necessary parts of a medium until the
desired form is achieved.

Different Materials/Mediums for sculpture

1. Stones – Durable, often used for fine detail and monumental works. Stone has a timeless quality and is
associated with classical sculpture.

Figure 1 Source: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/stone

2. Granite Tiles - Sculptors and artists may choose to combine granite and tiles in a single piece, leveraging
the durability and natural beauty of granite with the vibrant colors and intricate patterns achievable with tiles.
For example, a granite base might be adorned with a tile mosaic to add visual interest and contrast, resulting
in a unique and expressive artwork.
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Sculpture

Figure 2 Source: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/picture-of-granites

3. Wood - Offers a natural, warm aesthetic and can be carved easily, though it is less durable over time
compared to stone or metal. Wood can be stained, painted, or left natural.
Common types: Oak, mahogany, cedar, walnut.

4. Metal - Strong and versatile, metal can be cast, welded, or hammered into various shapes. It allows for fine details
and durability, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor sculptures.
Common types: Bronze, iron, steel, aluminum, copper.

5.Clay - Easy to mold and shape, often used for modeling and pottery. Clay can be fired in a kiln to create
ceramic sculptures, offering both delicacy and strength.
Common types: Earthenware, stoneware, porcelain.

Figure 3

6. Plaster - Lightweight and inexpensive, plaster is often used for molds, casts, and preliminary models. It
can be painted or finished to mimic other materials. Commonly used for preliminary models or maquettes,
architectural details, and life casts.
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Sculpture

Figure 4
7. Ivory and Bone - Used historically for small, intricate carvings, especially in ancient and
medieval art. These materials have ethical considerations today due to animal rights concerns. Its source is
the main part of the elephant tusk.

Figure 5

8. Wax - Soft, malleable, and easily shaped with hands or tools; often used for detailed modeling. It is
frequently used in the "lost-wax" casting process to create metal sculptures. Wax models are also used for
practice or preparatory studies.

9. Glass - Fragile yet can be manipulated into different forms when heated; offers transparency and color
variation. Blown or cast glass is used to create decorative and abstract sculptures, often incorporating light
as an element.

Sculpting Technique
1. CARVING is a sculptural technique that involves using tools to shape a form by cutting or scraping
away from a solid material such as stone, wood, ivory or bone.

Figure 6

Source: https://www.schaaftools.com/blogs/news/what-is-wood-carving
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Sculpture
2. CASTING involves making a mold and then pouring a liquid material, such as molten metal, plastic,
rubber or fiberglass into the mold. A cast is a form made by this process. Many sculptures are produced by
the artist modelling a form (normally in clay, wax or plaster). This is then used to create a mold to cast from.
A mold can be cast more than once, allowing artists to create editions of an artwork.

Figure 7

3. MODELING is an additive process. This means a soft material is worked by the artist to build up a shape
or form (rather than scraping or material away as in carving). Also, unlike carving, soft materials such as clay
and wax can be changed and reworked. Modelling a maquette can also often be the first step in the creation
of a finished sculpture.

Figure 8 Source: Tate Museum -

Techniques of Sculpture

4. CONSTRUCTING AND ASSEMBLING emerged in the twentieth century as a new way of making
sculpture with the cubist constructions of Picasso. These were still life subjects made from scrap (found)
materials glued together. Constructed sculpture in various forms became a major stream in modern art,
including in movements such as constructivism or techniques like assemblage. Artists have used techniques
including bending, folding, stitching, welding, bolting, tying, weaving, and balancing to construct sculptures
from a wide variety of materials and found objects.
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Figure 9 Source: Tate Museum - Techniques of

Sculpture

Types of Sculpture
a. Round- Also known as free-standing sculpture, wherein the object itself does not rely on any base. An
example of this would be statues.
b. Relief- This sculpture has a background surface to which is projected. It is further classified into high, bas,
sunk or counter-relief.

GREATEST SCULPTURES OF ALL-TIME

Over many centuries, great artists have provided humanity with incredible things. One of those incredible
things is the art of sculpting
Bronze David

Figure 10 Source:
https://artsexualityren.wordpress.com/2018/03/16/donatello-david/

Made in the 1440's, by Donatello (1386-146) Bronze David is one of the most famous sculptures today. It is
notable as the first unsupported standing work in bronze cast during the Renaissance period, and the first
freestanding nude male sculpture made since antiquity. It depicts the young David with an enigmatic smile,
posed with his foot on the severed head of Goliath just after killing it.
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Savannah Bird Girl Statue

The sculpture, known as the Bird Girl, was created in 1936, by
sculptress Sylvia Shaw Judson (1897- 1978) in Lake Forest, Illinois.
It achieved fame when it was featured on the cover of the 1994 novel,
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It was sculpted at Ragdale,
the summer home of her family. Bird Girl is cast in bronze and stands
50o inches tall. She is the image of a young girl wearing a simple
dress and a sad or contemplative expression, with her head tilted to
the left. She stands straight, her elbows propped against her waist
as she holds up two bowls out from her sides. The bowls are often
described by viewers as "bird feeders.
Figure 11 Source: https://www.dzstatue.com/custom-
made-famous-statues/large-savannah-bird-girl-statue-

Discobolus
The Discus Thrower, or the Discobolus, is a famous lost Greek bronze original. The
sculpture of it is still unknown. The Disco-bolus was completed towards the end of the
severe period (460-450 BC). It is known through numerous Roman copies, both full-
scale ones in marble, such as the first to be recovered, the Palombara Discobolus, or
smaller scaled versions in bronze. As always 'in Greek athletics, the Discus thrower is
completely nude.

Figure 12 Source: https://news.artnet.com/art-

world-archives/discobolus

The Kiss
The Kiss is an 1889 marble sculpture by the French sculptor, Auguste Rodin
(1840-1917). This sculpture has an interesting story to it. It depicts the 13th-
century Italian noble-woman immortalized in Dante's Inferno, who falls in
love with her husband, Giovanni Malatesta's, younger brother Paolo.
Having fallen in who love while reading the story of Lancelot and Guinevere,
the couple are discovered and killed by Francesca's husband. In the,
sculpture, the book can be seen in Paolo's hand.

Figure 13 Source:
https://learn.ncartmuseum.org/artwor
k/the-kiss/
Lady Justice
The Lady Justice Sculpture is one of the great known sculptures in the world. This statue is attributed to any
one artist, but the fact that it adorns so many courthouses in the world made it one of the more popular
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sculptures. The sculpture goes by many names, including Scales Justice and Blind Justice, but is most
commonly known as Lady Justice. The statue dates all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman times the
Goddess of justice and law.
Pieta
Created by Michelangelo (1475-1564), the Piet depicts the Virgin Mary
holding her only son, Jesus Christ, in her arms. Prior to sculpting the Pieta,
Michelangelo was not a very known artist. He was only in his early twenties
when he was told to do a life-sized sculpture of the Virgin Ma holding her
son in her arms. In about two years from a single slab of marble,
Michelangelo create one of the most beautiful sculptures ever.
Figure 14 Source:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mic
helangelo-Buonarroti-Pieta

Famous Artworks in Public Spaces, Philippines

1. EDSA People Power Monument - This monument towering along EDSA was designed by sculptor
Eduardo Castrillo in 1993.
2. The Quezon Memorial Circle - The tallest triad structure in Quezon City designed by Filipino architect
Federico llustre.
3. The Oblation – The University of the Philippine’s' renowned landmark, it is a masterpiece of National
Artist Guillermo Tolentino in 1935. Guillermo was commissioned by Rafael Palma (then University President)
to craft a monument that would express in visual form the second stanza of Jose Rizal's "Mi Ultimo Adios"
("Last Farewell").

4. Andres Bonifacio Monument - This sculpture featuring a 45-foot high pylon topped by a winged figure
of victory was crafted by national artist Guillermo Tolentino in 1929.
5. The Transfiguration Eternal Garden – It is one of Napoleon Abueva's (national artist and Father of
Modern Philippine Sculpture) religious-themed creations in 1979, found at the Eternal Garden Memorial in
Balintawak, Quezon City.

Famous Filipino Sculptors:

1. Guillermo Tolentino (1890–1976)
• Considered the "Father of Philippine Arts," Tolentino is a National Artist for Sculpture (1973). His
Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan is an iconic representation of the Philippine Revolution. The
Oblation, a symbol of freedom and selfless offering, is a landmark statue at the University of the
Philippines.
• Notable Works: Bonifacio Monument (Monumento), Oblation (UP Diliman)
2. Napoleon Abueva (1930–2018)
• Recognized as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture," Abueva was the youngest National Artist
for Sculpture at age 46 (1976). He was known for his innovative use of various materials such as
wood, metal, and stone and for pushing the boundaries of traditional sculpture in the Philippines.
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• Notable Works: The Transfiguration (Eternal Gardens Memorial Park), Kaganapan, Mother and Child
3. Eduardo Castrillo (1942–2016)
• Castrillo was known for his dynamic, large-scale metal sculptures that often depicted historical events
and figures. His People Power Monument commemorates the 1986 People Power Revolution that
restored democracy in the Philippines.
• Notable Works: People Power Monument (EDSA), The Heritage of Cebu Monument, Rajah
Sulayman Monument (Manila)
4. Abdulmari Imao (1936–2014)
• Imao was the first Muslim National Artist for Sculpture (2006). His works are characterized by
traditional Mindanaoan motifs, like the Sarimanok (a mythical bird) and the okir (a traditional design).
He played a significant role in preserving and promoting indigenous Filipino culture through his art.
• Notable Works: Sari Manok sculptures, Sarimanok series
5. Ramon Orlina (b. 1944)
• Orlina is renowned for his unique glass sculptures, which have gained international recognition. His
mastery in cold-working glass techniques has made him a pioneer in this medium in the Philippines.
• Notable Works: Quattro Mondial (UST), glass sculptures like Muse, Kiss of Judas
6. Solomon Saprid (1917–2003)
• Achievements: Saprid is best known for his Tikbalang series, which explores Filipino folklore through
twisted and textured bronze sculptures. His works are characterized by dynamic forms and rough
textures, capturing a sense of movement and emotion.
• Notable Works: Tikbalang series, Ballerinas
7. Anastacio Caedo (1907–1990)
• A former apprentice of Guillermo Tolentino, Caedo was known for his classical style and numerous
busts and statues of historical figures, including Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio.
• Notable Works: Rizal Monument (Fort Santiago), Benigno Aquino Monument (Manila)
8. Isabelo Tampinco (1850–1933)
• Tampinco was a prominent sculptor during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, known for
his intricate carvings, altarpieces, and furniture designs, combining Western and indigenous Filipino
motifs.
• Notable Works: Carvings in the churches of the Philippines, including the San Agustin Church
(Manila)
9. Julie Lluch (b. 1946)
• Lluch is a contemporary sculptor known for her terracotta works that often depict the female form
and explore themes related to women's issues, identity, and empowerment.
• Notable Works: Ana Maria (NCCA), Women of Malolos series

These sculptors have played significant roles in shaping the Philippine art scene, each contributing unique
styles and techniques that reflect the country’s rich cultural heritage and diverse artistic traditions.