What is sculpture

A kind of plastic arts.

Also known as carving, it is a general term for the three methods of creation: carving, engraving and molding.

Refers to a variety of plastic materials (such as plaster, resin, clay, etc.) or can be carved, can be engraved hard materials (such as wood, stone, metal, jade, agate, etc.), to create a certain space of visible, touchable artistic image, to reflect social life, to express the artist's aesthetic feelings, aesthetic emotions, aesthetic ideals of art.

Carving, carving by reducing the carvable material, molding through the pile of plastic material to achieve the purpose of artistic creation.

Circular carving, relief carving, and translucent carving (openwork carving) are its basic forms.

In the same environment with a group of round or relief **** the same expression of a theme is called group sculpture.

The creation and development of sculpture is closely related to the production activities of mankind, and at the same time by the direct influence of religion, philosophy and other social ideologies of each era.

When mankind is still in the Paleolithic Age, primitive stone carving, bone carving and so on.

Sculpture is a relatively permanent art, many things in ancient times have been washed away by the long river of history, the sculpture heritage of successive generations has become the history of the human image in a certain sense.

The traditional concept that sculpture is static, visible, touchable three-dimensional objects, through the sculpture to visual space image to reflect reality, and therefore is considered the most typical plastic arts, static art and space art.

With the development of science and technology and the change of people's concepts, in modern art, there is an anti-traditional four-dimensional sculpture, five-dimensional sculpture, sound and light sculpture, dynamic sculpture and soft sculpture.

This is due to the emergence of Einstein's theory of relativity, breaking the world view established by the Newtonian doctrine, changing people's view of space and time, so that the sculpture art from a higher level of understanding and expression of the world, breaking through the three-dimensional, visual, static form, to the multi-dimensional space-time mentality to explore.

The history of sculpture

The creation and development of sculpture and human production activities are closely linked, and at the same time by the various times of religion, philosophy and other social ideology of the direct impact.

Such as the French Paleolithic round sculpture of a naked woman and mare, wild boar and other reliefs, China's Shaanxi Hejiawan and Liaoning Lingyuan, Jianping and other places found in the Neolithic 5000 to 6000 years ago, stone carvings, bone carvings, portraits and goddesses colorful head, reflecting the human worship of natural forces and the worship of animals, as well as to understand the process of man himself, understanding of the world.

The Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang reproduce the might of the imperial army of more than 2000 years ago.

Sculpture is the crystallization of the times, thoughts, feelings and aesthetic concepts, and is a record of the visualization of social development.

Types of sculpture

Sculpture according to the use of materials can be divided into wood carving, stone carving, bone carving, lacquer carving, shell carving, root carving, ice carving, clay sculpture, surface sculpture, ceramic sculpture, plaster statues, etc.;

The three basic forms of sculpture: sculpture in the round, bas-relief and relief

1) round sculpture.

The so-called round sculpture is non-compressed, can be multi-directional, multi-angle appreciation of three-dimensional sculpture.

The techniques and forms are also diverse, realistic and decorative, concrete and abstract, indoor and outdoor, on the shelf and large-scale city sculpture, coloring and non-coloring, etc.; sculpture content and subject matter is also colorful, can be a figure, can be animals, and even still life; material is more colorful, stone, wood, metal, clay, textiles, paper, plants, rubber and so on.

Circular sculpture

Round sculpture as one of the sculpture modeling techniques, the application range is very wide, but also the most common form of sculpture of the people, this book will focus on the sculpture of the portrait round sculpture techniques.

② relief.

The so-called relief is the product of the combination of sculpture and painting, with a compressed approach to the object, relying on factors such as perspective to show three-dimensional space, and only for one side or two sides to watch.

Reliefs are generally attached to another plane, so they are more often used in architecture, and can often be seen on utensils.

Because of its compressed nature, it takes up less space and is therefore suitable for decoration in a variety of environments.

In recent years, it occupies an increasingly important position in the beautification of the city.

Relief sculpture is as colorful as round sculpture in content, form and material.

It mainly has a shrine, high relief, shallow relief, line carving, hollowing and other forms.

China's ancient grotto sculpture can be attributed to the shrine sculpture, according to the different styling techniques, can be divided into realistic, decorative and abstract;

high relief refers to the compression of a small, undulating, close to the round, or even half a form of circular sculpture, this relief contrast between light and dark, the visual effect is outstanding;

shallow relief compression, undulation, it maintains an Architectural flatness, but also has a certain sense of volume and undulation;

Line carving is a combination of painting and sculpture, it relies on the light and shadow, light instead of pen, and even some subtle undulation, giving a sense of elegant and subtle;

③ Translucent carving.

The relief carving with the base plate removed is called translucent carving (openwork carving).

The so-called relief carving of the base plate removed, thus creating a changeable negative space, and make the negative space and the positive space of the contour line has a kind of mutual conversion of the rhythm.

This technique was often used in the past on the door and window railings furniture, some of which can be viewed from both sides.

In addition to the above two forms, the sculpture according to its function, can be roughly divided into monumental sculpture, thematic sculpture, decorative sculpture, functional sculpture and display sculpture five.

① The so-called commemorative sculpture is the theme of people or events in history or real life, can also be a kind of **** with the concept of permanent memorial.

Used to commemorate important people and major historical events.

Generally these sculptures are mostly outdoors, but also indoors, such as Chairman Mao Memorial Hall of the President.

Outdoor such sculpture is generally configured with the monument, or the sculpture itself has a monument consciousness.

Such as the completion of the "Red Army Long March Monument" in 1990, known as China's largest sculpture art complex.

② thematic sculpture, as the name suggests, it is a particular location, environment, architecture, the theme of the description, it must be organically combined with these environments, and point out the theme, and even sublimation of the theme, so that the audience obviously feel the characteristics of this environment.

It can have a commemorative, educational, beautification, illustration and other significance.

Thematic sculpture reveals the theme of urban architecture and the built environment.

In Dunhuang County, there is a landmark sculpture "Bouncing Pipa", taken from Dunhuang mural Bouncing Pipa Kabuki Flying Sky statue, which shows the unique elegance and charm of the ancient "Silk Road", but also shows that the city has a world-renowned Mogao Grottoes attractions features.

This type of sculpture closely linked to the city's environment and history, you can see a city's life, spirit, personality and pursuit.

③ decorative sculpture is a larger number of urban sculpture in a type of sculpture, this type of sculpture is more relaxed, cheerful, bring people the enjoyment of beauty, also known as sculpture vignettes.

Here specifically put it as a class to put forward, because it is more and more important in people's lives.

Its main purpose is to beautify your living space, it can be as small as a living appliance, as big as street sculpture.

The content of the performance is extremely wide, the expression is also colorful.

It creates a comfortable and beautiful environment, which can purify people's minds, cultivate people's sentiment, and cultivate people's pursuit of beautiful things.

We usually say that most of the garden vignettes are such sculptures.

④ Functional sculpture is a kind of practical sculpture, is the combination of art and functional use of a kind of art, this kind of sculpture is also from your private space, such as "lamp seat", to the public **** space such as "playground" and so on ubiquitous.

It is in the beautification of the environment at the same time, but also enriched our environment, enlightened our thinking, let us in the details of life really feel the beauty.

Functional sculptures whose primary purpose is practical, such as park bins, large children's play equipment.

⑤ Display sculpture is also known as shelf sculpture, from which the size is generally not large.

It also has indoor and outdoor points, but it is the sculpture as the main body of the full expression of the author's own ideas and feelings, style and personality, and even some kind of new theories, new ideas of the test.

Its form is even more dazzling, the content of a wider range of subjects, the application of materials is also more modern.

But in any case it gives talented artists a creative space, and ensures that one of the most important forms of human art - sculpture - will have a bright future.

The five classifications mentioned above are not clearly demarcated.

Modern sculpture art interpenetration, its connotation and extension is also expanding, such as monumental sculpture may also be decorative sculpture and thematic sculpture; decorative sculpture may also be display sculpture

Materials and production methods

The art of sculpture is often due to the use of different materials, the production method is also different.

Clay sculpture

The production methods of clay sculpture are divided into two: one is the production method of sculpture imported from Western Europe in modern times; the other adopts China's traditional clay sculpture production methods.

The production method of sculpture imported from Western Europe is: first of all, there should be a sculpture of iron frame, frame according to the posture of the statue, the proportion of the size of the body, and to determine the shape of the internal skeleton; in the skeleton around the tie on a number of small crosses, which is the role of the clay linked to become a whole, not to collapse, easy to shape.

After the shelf is ready, according to the pre-made clay composition to enlarge the shape.

Round sculpture is three-dimensional, to have a holistic view.

The first four sides of the clay pile, from simple to complex, gradually deeper.

The first step is to pay attention to the overall effect of each angle.

The second step is to analyze whether the structure of the form is accurate, and whether the relationship between the whole and the local is unified and harmonious.

The third step focuses on the detailed portrayal of the image until completion.

Clay sculpture is susceptible to cracking due to the climate, and it is difficult to preserve it permanently, so it is usually turned into a plaster statue after completion of the clay sculpture.

It becomes a work of art.

Now we come into contact with the sculpture, mostly made of plaster, often sprayed with a variety of colors, so that it produces bronze, wood, stone and so on the texture.

With regard to turning plaster, there is a complex set of techniques that are not described here.

Our traditional method of making clay sculptures is different.

In our country's temples, many statues of gods and Buddhas are brilliant, if broken, it turns out to be a pile of wood, mud dough, cotton, broken hemp, sand, straw, wheat straw, reed straw, grain chaff, yuan nails and so on things.

Its production process is generally this way: the first step, according to the subject matter of the gods and buddhas, size, dynamics, first build a good wooden skeleton, bundled on the skeleton straw or straw to increase the volume, and then mixed with grain husks and straw mud in the skeleton of the coarse mud hard pressure, paste firmly; the second step, such as the coarse mud dry to the seventy percent of the way and then add fine mud (fine mud with clay, sand, cotton and other mixed), the characters of the The third step, such as clay sculpture is fully dry after the size of many cracks, and then be repaired; the fourth step, such as mud dry, the surface polished, and then glue mounted on a layer of cotton paper, and to be pressed and ground, so that the surface layer of a more level, detailed and solid, and then coated with a layer of white powder (white powder with glue); the fifth step is in the white form, according to the needs of the characters on a variety of colors, to be all the colors on the good, and then coated with a layer of white powder (white powder with glue); the fifth step is in the white form, according to the needs of the characters on a variety of colors, to be all color on the good, and then coated with a layer of oil to protect the colorful bright, to this point it is all done.

Wood carving

China's wood carving art has a long history, in Yin, Zhou has been popular.

By the Warring States period, the production of wood carving was quite popular.

Because wood materials are easy to rot and burn, so not many wood carvings have been handed down.

The materials used for wood carving are adapted to local conditions, generally poplar, mahogany, golden wood, white fruit wood, longan wood, camphor wood and so on.

China's traditional wood carving production methods: (a) design due to the material, give full play to the natural form and characteristics of wood.

(b) generally first draw a composition or make a draft of the clay, even if the experienced artists have to carefully study and refinement, to play a good mature draft.

(3) first rough blanks, such as carving figures to carve out the initial figure of the dynamics of the figure, proportions, shape and volume of space, etc., the basic form carved out.

(4) the use of a variety of different shapes of chisels, from coarse to fine, from the whole to the local, from simple to complex, step by step, in-depth method, carving out the form of vivid, distinctive character of the image.

There are also large wood carvings, now using a new process: first do a good job of clay sculpture, turned into a plaster statue, and then a plaster statue (model) as the basis for the use of the "point-shaped instrument" tool, before and after the up and down around the wood to find out the point (the shape of the body parts).

With this method of carving out the works, the image of the correct not out of shape, the effect is very good.

Stone carving

Stone carving is the use of a variety of different stone carving works, it is an important place in history, whether Chinese or foreign countries have developed the art of stone carving very early.

Stone carvings generally use marble, Huagang stone, Hui'an stone, Qingtian stone, Shoushan stone, Guicui stone and other materials.

Hualang stone, marble is suitable for carving large statues; Qingtian stone, Shoushan stone colorful, more suitable for small stone carvings.

The production methods of stone carving are varied, according to the nature of the stone and the carver's habits are different, can be broadly divided into two: one is the traditional method, the idea, composition, modeling, as well as hit the carving of the stone are completed by the individual alone.

And large-scale carving to draw a good horizontal and vertical lines on the stone, hit the grid to take the material, with simple measurements to position the method of carving.

The second is to use a new process, that is, first do a good job of clay modeling, turned into a plaster statue, and then the plaster statue (model) as a basis, relying on the point-shaped instrument, and then carved into a stone statue.

Jade carving

Jade carving, generally known as jade, has a long history.

China in the Neolithic period has been the emergence of jade pendant, the Shang Dynasty jade carving technology is more mature.

There are dozens of materials used in jade carving, including white jade, jasper, green jade, nephrite, jadeite, crystal, agate, topaz, monazite, and ciuyu.

Because jade itself is delicate, hard and warm, or white as grease, or turquoise and green, with glossy and lovely color, it is suitable for making valuable decorations.

Jade carvers are good at utilizing the pattern of the material itself, designing the tone and form of the material, and creating many exquisite jade carvings through careful conception.

For example, the water gall bladder agate product "The Rising Sun" made by Beijing Jade Factory is a treasure.

What is called water gall agate? The water in it was formed when a volcano erupted billions of years ago and the water vapor was sealed by the magma and condensed after it cooled down, and it is called water gall bladder because it takes the shape of a gall bladder.

And the magma outside the water gall bladder as the years go by, the density is increasing, then the formation of agate, which is extremely rare in nature.

Beijing Jade Factory artists are the use of water gall bladder agate's natural characteristics, carving out a round of red sun from the sea, waves flying scrolls, cranes chirping the scene, as heavenly, amazing!

As for the production of jade, people generally think that it is carved with a carving knife, in fact, it is not.

The texture of jade is very hard, the carving knife can not be carved into, but to take the method of faceting, that is, in the production of various shapes of drills, sand and water, according to the shape of the work of the excess part of the faceted off.

Therefore it takes a long time to complete a jade carving.

Other ceramics, dental carvings, brick carvings, etc. are made in a similar way to those discussed above, and will not be described here.

Sculpture tools

Tools are the most direct assistant and companion of the sculptor's creation.

The basic tools of sculpture are:

① Sculpture knife.

For clay sculpture tools, used to scrape, peel, paste, pick, press, wipe clay and modeling.

Divided into three kinds: the first is a metal tool, made of steel (blue rust), stainless steel, brass, etc., the head is divided into oblique triangular, willow-leaf-shaped, dolomite and arrowhead-shaped, some edges are serrated.

The second type of non-metallic tools, made of bamboo, wood, bone, ivory, horn, plastic and other materials.

The shape of the large tool has a sole-shaped, cuttlefish bone-shaped, thumb-shaped, oblique triangle, etc.; small tool shape has a rhombus-shaped, small foot-shaped, spherical, bar-shaped, etc..

The third type of scraper, can be cut to shape and do the pattern, there are a variety of arc-shaped and square double-sided scraper and so on.

② stone chisel.

For the steel rod-shaped stone carving tool, the lower end of the wedge or conical, the end of the end of the edge, hammer the upper end of the lower end of the blade force, according to the shape of the edge of the pointed chisel, chisel, semi-circular chisel and chisel, is the basic stone carving tool.

③ stone carving hammer.

For the hammering tool, used to hit the stone carving chisel or wood carving knife carving stone, wood, divided into large, medium and small three.

Flower hammer is also a stone carving hammer, directly to the hammer face to hit the stone, resulting in a rugged, heavy, natural sculpture.

Chopping axe is used to chop the stone surface directly, cut out the neat parallel fine lines, can strengthen the sculpture decent sense of direction, sense of rhythm.

④ Wood carving knife.

Generally by the head of the knife, handle and iron hoops, according to the shape of the edge of the flat mouth, oblique edge, triangular and round mouth knife 4 kinds, according to the neck shape of the curved neck, straight neck two kinds of each type of and each of the large, medium and small 3 numbers.

⑤ Bow handle.

For sculpture calipers.

Can measure the distance, there are two can open and close the ivory-shaped feet, can also change the bend of the feet at any time.

⑥ Proportional bow handle.

It is a measuring tool for sculpture enlargement.

⑦ Point type meter.

A three-coordinate positioner used to reproduce stone and wood carvings.

In the plaster statue to find out the 3 datum points, with the point type instrument on the positioning of the steel needle alignment and fixed, using the point type instrument on the sliding parts and universal joints and pointers, can be aligned with any one of the statue of the spatial location of the moving parts of the lock .

Moving the point modeler to the stone or wood, the steel needle is aligned with the corresponding reference point, the pointer can mark the points on the plaster statue on the stone or wood, it can be accurately reproduced as a stone carving and wood carving.

With the degree of industrial development, carving tools also into the modernization, cutting machine, angle grinder, electric turn and other machine tools or small power tools, are the carver's good helper.