0 Likes

Varieties of Sculptures

Last editing time 2016-05-29 20:56:45
Sculpture is a kind of plastic art using three methods of creation, engraving, carving and moulding. Artists create some visible and touchable artistic images by using some plastic materials like gypsum, resin, clay and others or some hard materials that are engravable. For example, wood, stone, metal, jade, agate, aluminum, glass fiber reinforced plastics, sandstone, copper and others.


The tools that are frequently used are carving knife, chisel and hammer for stone carving, wood carving knife, riser, proportion riser, point pattern machine and so on. The materials are wood, stone, metal, clay, dough modelling, composite material and so on.



According to the form of engraving, sculpture can be divided as circular engravure, relief and openwork carving.

Circular engravure refers to three-dimensional sculpture that is uncondensed and can be appreciated from different dimensions and perspectives.

Relief is the product of sculpture and painting which attaches on other plane. So it is more frequently used in architecture. You can also often find it on appliances and implements.

Relief without the baseboard is called openwork carving or empty carving. By removing the baseboard of relief, a changeful negative space is created and its contour line tends to exchange with that of positive space. This technique used to be applied on doors, windows, handrails and furniture so that they can be appreciated from both angles. 



According to the function, sculptures can be divided into memorial sculpture, thematic sculpture, decorative sculpture, functional sculpture, shelf sculpture and so on.

Memorial sculpture is used in memory of important figures or historical events.

Thematic sculpture has to be integrated with the natural environment in order to reveal the theme of urban architecture and built environment.

Decorative sculpture is a type of sculpture that is large in number found in urban sculptures which is relaxed and joyful, bringing the aesthetic joy to people. 

The chief purpose of functional sculpture is practical, for example, rubbish can at parks, large-scale amusement appliance for children. 

Display stand sculpture, or shelf sculpture expresses the artist’s thought, and can also be called artistic sculpture.

Bibliography: \