Sculpture

• Sculpture is the art of making figures such as, human forms, animals or shapes(geometric of free-form).

• Free-standing or three dimensional sculpture: here, the viewer can go around the figure and gaze at it from diff. angles (back, front and side)

• Relief sculpture- it is a kind of sculpture wherein the image is mounted to the background. (wall, frame or flat surface)

• This kind of sculpture does not show the image in its actual form and dimension(image of man and animals)

• In high relief sculpture, the image is embossed or raised above the surface of the background.

• In low relief sculpture, the figure is raised only a little from the background(coins)

• Bas-relief intaglio, the artist cuts into the surface or carves deep into the material until the form is incised.

Types of Sculpture

3d or Free standing

Relief sculptureHigh relief

Low relief

Bas Relief Intaglio

Composition of sculpture

• Sculpture is done using subtraction, construction, substitution or any combination of these.– Subtraction: carve works are subtractive. Using a

specific material (wood or stone) the artist carves out the figure or “frees” it from imprisonment in its original form.

– Construction: the sculptor chooses a base material such as metal, alum, steel or any objects and then adds other elements to “construct” the image he/she wants to express.• Construction sculpture is a kind of sculpture wherein

the artist combines different material to create an image.• This kind of sculpture requires welding or adhesive

materials.

• Substitution: any material transformable from a plastic, molten or fluid state can be molded or cast into a work of sculpture.

Sample of Construction Sculpture

Mediums (traditional)

• Wood• Stone• Marble• Semi-precious stones (jade and Crystals)• Ceramics• Terracotta- figures formed out of baked clay.• Metal

Glass Sculpture

Origin of Sculpture

• Sculpture is said to be the oldest form of art.– (the earliest human civilization carve drawings on

rocks of caves.• It is believed that the primary purpose of

sculpture is to manifest spiritual and manner of worship.– The first recorded primitive sculpture is the fertility

sculpture which gave emphasis on the female sexual attributes (wide hips and opulent breasts)

Origin of Sculpture

• The ancient Greeks made their idealized marble sculpture human forms to honor the gods.

• The Romans learned sculpture from Greeks and added a more natural look to show the softness of the skin, old age, physical defects and other human qualities.– They use sculpture to honor their leaders, poets

and other Romans noted for their excellencies. (sports, arts and politics.)

• Sculpture is meant for public viewing. – Monuments are places outside the building to

symbolize something significant, historical or memorial.

Philippine Sculpture

• Early Philippine sculpture, before the coming of the Spaniard had a striking similarity with Egyptian sculpture characterized by frontal nudity.

• However, they differ in symbolism behind the figure.• In the Philippines, particularly among Ifugaos, the

“bulol” also means fertility is a wooden sculpture in human form to assure bountiful harvest. (again, it supports the theory that the original function of sculpture was religious.

In 1380, sculpture was used by early Arabs as a means to introduce Islam in the Philippines.

• The Spaniard colonization in the country did not deter from the practice of using sculpture objects as objects of adoration. It even worked for their advantage (the images of saints and deities were made as tools in teaching Filipino natives about Christian doctrines.)

Early Filipino Sculpture

1. woodcraft: woodcarving comes in ornamental in the house of Maranao.

– Paete, Laguna has gained reputation of being the home of best wood sculpture.

The subject of their works were people doing there daily life activities.

• Bladed weapon – they were introduced to us by Borneo, Indonesia and Malaysia.– They were fashioned according to the smiths

design.– Some metal blades were ornamented with gold,

silver, ivory and brass.– These were commonly found in Lanao and Sulu.– Head hunters’ ax of Northern Luzon.

• Jewelry making- it can be traced from ancient beads which is of many types such as glass and stone beads which was excavated from burial caves in Palawan dated 2,000 years ago.– It is believed they were brought into the

Philippines by actual movements of people from South-China.

• Boat building: the inhabitants of Sibutu island have been known as Sulu’s best boatmakers.– Foreign tourists called the inhabitant of the island

as “the Vikings of Sulu” (superior boat building ability.

• Brass casting: brass casting in the Philippines before 15th century was believed to have started in Sulu.

• Ceramics: prehistoric pottery was used by early Filipinos for religious rituals, burial jars and other household purposes.

• It was during the coming of the Chinese to our country in the 12th and 13th century(Sung and Ming Dynasty) when early Filipinos stopped making earthenware because of their preference of highly polished porcelain ware.