Wikipedia
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard, plastic material, sound, text, light, commonly stone (either rock or marble), metal, glass, or wood. Some sculptures are created directly by finding or carving; others are assembled, built together and fired, welded, molded, or cast. Sculptures are often painted.
Because sculpture involves the use of materials that can be moulded or modulated, it is considered one of the plastic arts. The majority of public art is sculpture. Many sculptures together in a garden setting may be referred to as a sculpture garden.
Types of sculpture
Some common forms of sculpture are:
* Free-standing sculpture, sculpture that is surrounded on all sides, except the base, by space. It is also known as sculpture "in the round", and is meant to be viewed from any angle.
* Sound sculpture
* Light sculpture
* Jewelery
* Relief - the sculpture is still attached to a background; types are bas-relief, alto-relievo, and sunken-relief
* Site-specific art
* Kinetic sculpture - involves aspects of physical motion
** Fountain - the sculpture is designed with moving water
** Mobile (see also Calders Stabiles.)
* Statue - representationalist sculpture depicting a specific entity, usually a person, event, animal or object
** Bust - representation of a person from the chest up
** Equestrian statue - typically showing a significant person on horseback
* Stacked art - a form of sculpture formed by assembling objects and stacking them
* Architectural sculpture
Materials of sculpture through history
Sculptors have generally sought to produce works of art that are as permanent as possible, working in durable and frequently expensive materials such as bronze and stone: marble, limestone, porphyry, and granite. More rarely, precious materials such as gold, silver, jade, and ivory were used for chryselephantine works. More common and less expensive materials were used read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sculpture