with them: by looking at them, by walking round

them, or by entering them and being immersed

in an environment created by the sculptor,
including sights, sounds, textures, and other
sensory experiences.
Approaches to Three
Dimensions in Sculpture
Sculptors planning new sculptures have two
basic options for displaying them. The first
approach invites us to examine them on all
sides; sculpture made to be enjoyed in this
way is known as freestanding, or sculpture in
the round. Many freestanding sculptures are
made so that we can move around them, but
sculptures in the round can also be displayed in
a way that prevents a viewer seeing every side of
them. Sculptures can be made, for example, to
be placed in a niche or standing against a wall. In
such cases, the location of the statue determines
the vantage points from which it can be viewed,
and the sculptor will design his or her work with
the viewer’s position in mind.
The second fundamental approach to the
three-dimensional nature of sculpture is relief,
a type of sculpture specifically designed for
viewing from one side. The image in a relief
either protrudes from or is sunk into a surface. It
can have very little depth (bas-relief) or a great
deal (high relief).