An Introduction to The Kinds of Sculpture

Cast sculpture is a methodological technique that gives you more versatility in form and contour, but also creates a lasting artpiece that you can hand down from generation to generation. Here, abstract cast sculptures by sculptor Kylo Chua exhibit a flowing continuity through illusory motion. Kylo’s sculptures give an idea of what artists think when they seek to “defy a medium’s limitation”. Sculpture is something hard and solid, generally static and immovable. These examples showcase the fluidity that a concrete work of art can actually portray given the right mannerisms.

Unlike its counterpart- carved sculpture, cast sculpting requires a negative mould of the figure to be made. This is done by using plaster, silicone rubber or any other moulding agent suitable to your material. The mould is then used to cast a positive version of the design using materials such as marble, bronze, glass and precious metals.

Carved Sculpture is the traditionalist and older methodology of the artform. Artworks made by this technique are usually very dense and durable, withstanding natural weathering effects and even time itself. In the Philippines, there are many notable sculptors that make use of this method, such as Fred Baldemor who sculpts using alabaster stone gained directly from natural deposits. He carves representational figures with extraordinary attention to detail and texture that sometimes it makes you forget the hard material he used in the first place.

Carving can make use of many unique tools, from the basic chisel to the modern water-jet saw. Each tool has its own benefits and limitations as well. For the most part, a chisel will give you a great deal of accuracy in small detail, but will consume most of your working time. One traditionalist sculptor, who tried carving glass is now known for his unique process. Ramon Orlina began glass sculpture over ten years ago by utilizing  the unconventional method of carving abstractions from solid green blocks of asahi glass. Today, his glass works are in galleries all over the world.

Assemblage Sculpture is one of the newer techniques in the variety of sculpting methods. This one take the notion of a “collage” and applies it to a three dimensional idea by constructing a unified subject from several different  objects. Assemblage is usually used by younger sculptors because of its diversity in material. It has grown popular within this niche society also because of its easy cost and availability. The most common place to find such sculpture are at art shows depicting an abstract or interpretive theme. Assemblage sculptors love to modify something they see in the real world and turn it into a visual rendering by their own hands.