| Modern sculptures, as an art form, are witnessing | | | | Glass Sculptures - Glass sculptures are an |
| significant divergence from the ancient theory of | | | | extremely popular form of artwork created by a |
| sculptures. During the primordial times, sculptures | | | | number of methods such as glassblowing, glass |
| were either made of ivory or clay. A few | | | | fusing and glass casting. Glass sculptures do not |
| centuries later, basalt, diorite, sandstone and | | | | aim at highlighting the delicate quality of glass, |
| alabaster were employed. Superior quality | | | | rather to aspire to creating innovative designs |
| sculptures and inlays were created with precious | | | | using them. Certain renowned glass sculptors are |
| stones, such as copper, gold and silver. Today, | | | | William Morris, Steven Weinberg, Christopher Ries |
| however, a variety of media is used for making | | | | and Marvin Lipofsky. |
| the most innovative modern art sculptures. | | | | Another unique sculptural form is the renewable |
| Types of Material Used in Modern Sculpture | | | | energy sculpture. The term suggests its function - |
| Had Michelangelo learnt the art of modern | | | | it generates power from renewable sources like, |
| sculpture, he would not have had to struggle for | | | | solar, geothermal, tidal and wind energy. Such |
| years in the Sistine Chapel. This is because | | | | sculptures fulfill utilitarian, aesthetic as well as |
| modern sculptures are technology friendly and | | | | cultural purposes. Artists such as Sarah Hall, |
| therefore, less time consuming. These days, | | | | Patrick Marold and Julian H. Scaff are regarded as |
| sculptures are mainly created by carving, welding, | | | | the pioneers of renewable energy sculptures. |
| casting or molding a variety of materials. The | | | | They believe that aesthetics of art forms must |
| most common materials used in modern art | | | | be inextricably connected with their ecological |
| sculpture are: | | | | functions. |
| Scrap Metal - 'Scrap' of course being recyclable | | | | Challenging Concepts of Modern Sculptures |
| materials which are left-over from vehicles and | | | | Modern sculpture has introduced a variety of new |
| buildings. The modern term for this art form is | | | | concepts and terms to the conventional theory of |
| 'scraptures'. It is a difficult form of art which | | | | sculpture. One of these is the concept of |
| requires an in-depth knowledge of mechanics. A | | | | readymade sculpture. This term, coined by Marcel |
| small number of artists pursue it as a career and | | | | Duchamp, refers to the art created from |
| although still wanting in popularity, this art form is | | | | common objects with some modifications to |
| definitely very innovative. | | | | them, making it an art form. An example of this |
| Living Sculpture - This type of sculpture involves | | | | is Duchamp's urinal, which he named "Fountain", or |
| creating artwork with living or recently harvested | | | | a bottle drying rack named "Bottle Rack". Another |
| plants. Generally, three techniques of living | | | | concept in modern art sculpture is the installation |
| sculpture are created: topiary, tree shaping and | | | | art, an artistic genre of site-specific, |
| tree sculpture. Topiary involves pruning plants and | | | | three-dimensional form designed to alter the |
| training them over frames. Tree shaping requires | | | | perception of a particular space. Such works of |
| designing trees, and tree sculpture involves | | | | art find their place in museums and galleries. |
| creating art with newly cut branches. With | | | | Aestheticism may not be inherent in modern |
| horticultural dexterity, one can create | | | | sculptural concepts, yet these qualify as art |
| breathtakingly sculptured gardens and parks. | | | | because they are creative constructions. |