About Conceptual Sculpture
Conceptual sculpture is a hard thing to define and even artists are torn on one specific definition. Typically it means that the artist is trying to convey certain feelings or thoughts through a piece and is using a machine to do it. This machine may be the artist's own hands or something more modern like a computer.
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Identification
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Artists who focus on conceptual sculpture share one thing in common: They're trying to make a piece that forces the viewer to think. The piece may be a large metal piece or it could be a 3-D image on a computer screen. The sculpture might ask the viewer to get involved and change the piece, or it could be static and unmoving. When an individual sees a piece on display that makes him wonder and think, that's a piece of conceptual sculpture.
History
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The term "conceptual sculpture" is credited to artist Zhan Wang, who during the 1990s created large pieces in Beijing that rebelled against societal norms. However, American artist Sol LeWitt used the same term in 1967 when an interviewer asked about the future of conceptual art. The term grew more popular in the 1990s as underground artists became more popular and their pieces became larger. Following the new millennium, the term expanded to include the digital art that was slowly creeping into the mainstream.
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Types
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Artwork rendered into 3-D on the computer can be considered conceptual sculpture, and many of these pieces have appeared in galleries around the world. There are also sculptures done in old-fashioned materials such as plaster or ceramic, such as those by Andrew Barton. Other artists focus on using found objects to create large pieces. Still others work in a modern medium like plastic or metal. Conceptual sculpture can be created using almost anything.
Time Frame
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Conceptual sculpture created using the computer screen first came about in the 1980s when many people had no access to the modern invention. During the 1990s the popularity grew and by the end of the century, there was a shift from sculptures made with real objects to those made on a computer. The new century brought forth a number of artists who chose this as their main medium, but this, too, has changed. Some artists are now using the computer as part of their artwork by showing it inside their sculpture.
Considerations
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Those interested in conceptual sculpture should keep in mind that there are no limits when it comes to this art form except for the limits that exist in the artist's mind. Even someone who works primarily with glass or metal may make a change to a different medium like ceramic or paper. There is also no one way to interpret a piece.
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