Sculpture

Sculpture is the art of making figures

such as, human forms, animals or
shapes(geometric of free-form).
Free-standing or three
dimensional sculpture: here, the
viewer can go around the figure and
gaze at it from diff. angles (back,
front and side)

 Relief sculpture- it is a kind of

sculpture wherein the image is
mounted to the background. (wall,
frame or flat surface)
This kind of sculpture does not show
the image in its actual form and
dimension(image of man and
animals)

 In high relief sculpture, the image

is embossed or raised above the
surface of the background.
In low relief sculpture, the figure is
raised only a little from the
background(coins)
Bas-relief intaglio, the artist cuts
into the surface or carves deep into
the material until the form is incised.

Types of Sculpture

3d or Free standing

Hig
h
reli
ef

Relief sculpture

Low relief

Bas Relief
Intaglio

Composition of sculpture
Sculpture is done using subtraction,
construction, substitution or any
combination of these.
Subtraction: carve works are
subtractive. Using a specific material
(wood or stone) the artist carves out the
figure or frees it from imprisonment in
its original form.

 Construction: the sculptor chooses a

base material such as metal, alum, steel
or any objects and then adds other
elements to construct the image
he/she wants to express.
Construction sculpture is a kind of sculpture
wherein the artist combines different
material to create an image.
This kind of sculpture requires welding or
adhesive materials.

 Substitution: any material

transformable from a plastic, molten
or fluid state can be molded or cast
into a work of sculpture.

Sample of Construction
Sculpture

Mediums (traditional)

Wood
Stone
Marble
Semi-precious stones (jade and
Crystals)
Ceramics
Terracotta- figures formed out of
baked clay.
Metal

Glass Sculpture

Origin of Sculpture
Sculpture is said to be the oldest form of art.
(the earliest human civilization carve drawings
on rocks of caves.

It is believed that the primary purpose of

sculpture is to manifest spiritual and manner
of worship.
The first recorded primitive sculpture is the
fertility sculpture which gave emphasis on the
female sexual attributes (wide hips and opulent
breasts)

Origin of Sculpture
The ancient Greeks made their idealized
marble sculpture human forms to honor
the gods.
The Romans learned sculpture from Greeks
and added a more natural look to show the
softness of the skin, old age, physical
defects and other human qualities.
They use sculpture to honor their leaders,
poets and other Romans noted for their
excellencies. (sports, arts and politics.)

 Sculpture is meant for public viewing.

Monuments are places outside the
building to symbolize something
significant, historical or memorial.

Philippine Sculpture
Early Philippine sculpture, before the coming of
the Spaniard had a striking similarity with
Egyptian sculpture characterized by frontal
nudity.
However, they differ in symbolism behind the
figure.
In the Philippines, particularly among Ifugaos,
the bulol also means fertility is a wooden
sculpture in human form to assure bountiful
harvest. (again, it supports the theory that the
original function of sculpture was religious.

In 1380, sculpture was used by early

Arabs as a means to introduce Islam
in the Philippines.
The Spaniard colonization in the
country did not deter from the
practice of using sculpture objects as
objects of adoration. It even worked
for their advantage (the images of
saints and deities were made as tools
in teaching Filipino natives about

Early Filipino Sculpture

1. woodcraft: woodcarving comes in
ornamental in the house of
Maranao.
Paete, Laguna has gained reputation of
being the home of best wood sculpture.
The subject of their works were people doing
there daily life activities.

 Bladed weapon they were

introduced to us by Borneo,
Indonesia and Malaysia.
They were fashioned according to the
smiths design.
Some metal blades were ornamented
with gold, silver, ivory and brass.
These were commonly found in Lanao
and Sulu.
Head hunters ax of Northern Luzon.

 Jewelry making- it can be traced

from ancient beads which is of many
types such as glass and stone
beads which was excavated from
burial caves in Palawan dated 2,000
years ago.
It is believed they were brought into the
Philippines by actual movements of
people from South-China.

 Boat building: the inhabitants of

Sibutu island have been known as
Sulus best boatmakers.
Foreign tourists called the inhabitant of
the island as the Vikings of Sulu
(superior boat building ability.

 Brass casting: brass casting in the

Philippines before 15th century was
believed to have started in Sulu.

 Ceramics: prehistoric pottery was

used by early Filipinos for religious
rituals, burial jars and other
household purposes.
It was during the coming of the
Chinese to our country in the 12th
and 13th century(Sung and Ming
Dynasty) when early Filipinos
stopped making earthenware
because of their preference of highly