A Study Of Morphology In Sculpture Space

Since the day that the very first sculpture was made, it has been closely and inseparably relatedto the space. As a student major in sculpture, I am really interested in the delicate relationshipbetween the sculpture and the space. This paper aims to make a systematical understanding ofthis special relationship and a good grip on the sculpture. I also hope to have my ownunderstanding about the sculpture and the space.During the study in the Sculpture Department ofCentral Academy of Fine Arts, I find out that there is a conflict and confrontation between theSculpture on the Shelf and the Modern Sculpture. A traditional view is that the RealisticSculpture is the first step, and then the creation comes from the foundation. The foundation is aquite important factor, and here it refers to the Realistic Sculpture in the traditional idea.During the study in the Sculpture Department of Central Academy of Fine Arts, I find out thatthere is a conflict and confrontation between the Sculpture on the Shelf and the ModernSculpture.A traditional view is that the Realistic Sculpture is the first step. As a matter of fact,the consciousness to grasp the space has been subtly passed on us in the process of our teacher’slectures and demonstrations. Merely scratched the surface on the subject, I made little progress.Then there came the bottle neck which I cannot break easily. Now when I look back, I realizethat all the basic trainings and exercises, in the final analysis, are the awareness and thecontrolling ability of the space. This capability is the fundamental element in the sculpture basictraining and also the essential effect of the contemporary creation. Perhaps many artists paymore attention to the concept, form, or the social and cultrural significance of the work. In fact,there is no clash at all. The space is a basic understanding of a sculptor. It has certain instructiveeffect on the works with more profound significance. Of course, some sculptors take the space asthe study of their whole lives. Their work itself is the concept of the space. I think the artists likethem are pure sculptors, or more like a pure sculpture. This is the difference between thesculpture and other art, especially some sculptural installations, or some paintings that take somespace. Although these works take some space but it does not mean that these works can reallyhave direct dialogue with the space. This thesis, firstly, from the point of view of thedevelopment of human history, researches the understanding of the space. It is a process ofevolution of wisdom along with the technological, civil and political factors, from the thinking ofpoint mode, linear mode, surface mode, physical mode to diversified mode. Meanwhile, it keepsdeveloping toward deeper and wider trend. All the progress and development embodies the influence of the space on art, people, vision, spirit, and perception. After the British sculptureHenry Moore, there emerged a number of outstanding sculptors, who played a crucial role inpromoting the development of world sculpture. Similarly, all of these sculptors have a deeperresearch about the space. Perhaps not everyone of the sculptors take the concept of space as anessential factor when they make their creation, but I hope that I can analyze and make asummary about how the space plays a key role in the art work and improve my own level ofsculpturing. The concept of the space does not only belong to the sculpture, but also belong tothe architecture, the music, the environment, and other field that I am not familiar with. Maybethey have a lot in common, but in this thesis, I only emphasize the role that the space plays in theart from the sculptural way.