Development of Sculpture in Global Perspective

• The development of sculpture outside the Philippines has evolved over centuries, with distinct periods influenced by cultral, religious, political, and technological changes.
• Ancient Civilization

  Egyptian Sculpture

  • Sculpture was primarily religious in nature, focusing on the afterlife.
• Ancient Civilization

  Egyptian Sculpture

  • Statues were designed to house the souls of the dead
• Ancient Civilization

  Egyptian Sculpture

  • Iconic works include the Sphinx and statues oh pharaohs like Ramses II, characterized by monumental scale, rigidity, and idealized forms.
• Ancient Civilization

  Greek and Roman Sculpture

  • Classical Greece saw the rise of naturalism, emphasizing human beauty and proportions
• Ancient Civilization

  Greek and Roman Sculpture

  • Sculptors like Phidias, Myron, and Polykleitos created lifelike statues of gods, athletes, and philosophers.
• Ancient Civilization

  Greek and Roman Sculpture

  • The Romans later adapted Greek styles but focused more on realism, especially in portraiture and public monuments, as seen in the Augustus of Prima Porta and the Trajan's Column
• Ancient Civilization

  Indian Sculpture

  • In Hindu, Buddhist, and Jian traditions, they portrayed gods, goddesses, and religious stories
• Ancient Civilization

  Indian Sculpture

  • Early works like the Great Stupa at Sanchi and the stone sculptures of Buddha were deeply spiritual and narrative-based, influencing Asian art
• Medieval Period

  European Medieval Sculpture

  • During the Middle Ages, religious themes dominated.
• Medieval Period

  European Medieval Sculpture

  • Gothic cathedrals were adorned with intricate sculptures depicting Biblical scenes, saints, and gargoyles
• Medieval Period

  European Medieval Sculpture

  • The art was symbolic, and less concerned with naturalism
• Medieval Period

  Byzantine Sculpture

  • This art retained a stylized, flat aesthetic with religious icons, particularly in ivory and mosaic work, playing a significant role.
• Medieval Period

  Islamic Sculpture

  • Figural representation was limited, and instead, sculpture took the form of geometric and floral motifs in architectural decorations, seen in the Alhambra in Spain and other Islamic palaces and mosque
• Renaissance Sculpture

  • A revival of Classical ideals occurred in this period, especially in Italy.
• Renaissance Sculpture

  • Sculptors like Michelangelo and Donatello reintroduced realis, anatomical precision, and humanist themes.
• Renaissance Sculpture

  • This marked a shift toward the individual as a central figure in art
• Baroque Sculpture

  • Introduced dynamism, movement, and drama into sculpture, reflecting the grandeur of the Counter-Reformation
• Baroque Sculpture

  • Sculptors like Gian Lorenzo Bernini infused their works with emotion and complexity
• 19th Century: Romanticism, Realism, Neoclassicism

  Neoclassical Sculpture

  • Neoclassicism reviewed Greco-Roman ideals
• 19th Century: Romanticism, Realism, Neoclassicism

  Neoclassical Sculpture

  • Sculptors like Antonio Canova created calm, balanced, and idealized works, inspired by ancient sculptures
• 19th Century: Romanticism, Realism, Neoclassicism

  Realism

  • The Realist movement aimed to depict life truthfully, focusing on ordinary people rather than mythological or heroic figures
• 19th Century: Romanticism, Realism, Neoclassicism

  Realism

  • Sculptors like Auguste Rodin embraced a more rugged, emotional realism
• 20th Century: Modernism and Avant-Garde Movements

  Cubism

  • Influenced by Pablo Picasso Georges Braque, Cubism deconstructed objects into geometrical forms
• 20th Century: Modernism and Avant-Garde Movements

  Cubism

  • Picasso's sculptures, such as his welded metal works, challenged traditional representation
• 20th Century: Modernism and Avant-Garde Movements

  Surrealism

  • Surrealist sculptors like Jean Arp and Alberto Giacometti sought to explore the unconscious mind, creating abstract or dream-like forms, as seen in Giacometti's elongated, ghostly figures
• 20th Century: Modernism and Avant-Garde Movements

  Abstract Expressionism

  • Sculptors like David Smith and Alexander Calder pushed the boundaries with their abstract, non-representational works
• 20th Century: Modernism and Avant-Garde Movements

  Abstract Expressionism

  • Cader is renowned for his mobile sculptures, which introduced movement into sculpture
• Post-War and Contemporary Sculpture

  Minimalism

  • In the mid-20th century, artists like Donald Judd and Carl Andre embraced Minimalism, reducing sculpture to its most basic forms and materials, stripping away emotion and narrative
• Post-War and Contemporary Sculpture

  Pop Art

  • Artists like Claes Oldenburg created playful, oversized sculptures of everyday objects, blending high and low culture
• Post-War and Contemporary Sculpture

  Environmental Sculpture and Land Art

  • Artists like Richard Serra and Robert Smithson began creating monumental works within natural environments
• Post-War and Contemporary Sculpture

  Environmental Sculpture and Land Art

  • Smithson's Spiral Jetty used earth and rocks to sculpt the landscape itself
• Post-War and Contemporary Sculpture

  Installation Art

  • Artists like Anish Kapoor, Louise Bourgeois, and Ai Weiwei creating immersive, large-scale works that interact with their environment and audience
• Global Influence on Contemporary Sculpture

  Globalization

  • With the rise of globalization, contemporary sculpture has become more fluid, reflecting diverse cultural narrative.
• Global Influence on Contemporary Sculpture

  • Yinka Shonibare - Expores post-colonial identity through the use of Dutch wax fabrics in his figure
• Global Influence on Contemporary Sculpture

  • El Anatsui - From Ghana uses recycled materials, such as bottle caps, to create monumental sculptures, blurring the line between art and craft
• Global Influence on Contemporary Sculpture

  • Subodh Gupta (Indian) - Utilized everyday objects, such as steel kitchen utensils, in monumental installations reflecting modern Indian life
• Global Influence on Contemporary Sculpture

  Technology

  • The integration of digital technology has introduced new possibilities for sculpture. Artists now use 3D printing, virtual reality, and interactive media to push the boundaries of the medium.
• • The development of sculpture globally has been a reflection of human society's changing values, from religious devotion and the human form to political critique, experimentation, and abstraction.
• • The diversity of forms, techniques, and meanings continues to expand as new materials and technologies reshape the possibilities for sculptural expression