SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY, INC.

Learning Module in CPAR

LESSON 5
CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE
Most Essential Learning Competencies

 Differentiate among the basic sculpture materials nd techniques.

 Describe the art styles and movements in sculpture as they apply to given contemporary Filipino
sculpturesin the different regions
 Analyze how description, analysis, and interpretation are used in a sample sculpture.

ART PRODUCTION
Sculptural processes are done in ways most suitable to the available material. Stone can only be carved, drilled, abraded,
and polished. Woods lends itself to the same processes more easily although modern technology permits it to be
permanently bent and molded. Wood is appealing for its grain, its color, and its origin in a living tree. The disadvantages
of wood lie in its dimensional instability –its tendency to warp and crack, especially when wet.

Metals can be cast, cut, drilled, filled, extruded, bent, forged, and stamp. Abdulmari lmao’s Sarimanok with 8 Fishes is
done in brass standing in wood base. With the skillfull use of brass and excellent understanding of balance Imao is able to
make a vertical sculpture dominated by curved lines that smoothly flow from one element to the next. This diffuses the
weight and makes the sculpture look light.

More recentiy, powdered metals are combined with plastic binders so that they can be modeled and assembled by
welding, soldering, and riveting, or with adhesives. Bronze has beautiful surface and color characteristics and is the most
common casting material. Some sculptures are done in wax. It is not very permanent and can easily be changed or
damaged in handling. It can also be deformed when exposed to heat.
Terracotta or clay is more responsive than wood or stone. However, it possesses little strength in tension or compression
and requires an armature for support. Clay is not in itself a permanent material. If fired, it is subject to the size limitations
of a kiln and a variety of engineering considerations. Iligan artist Julie Lluch's Picasso and I is an example of a sculpture in
terracotta painted with acrylic. It is a good medium to use to express the artist's state of mind amidst domestic work
which prevented her from making artworks. Beside her are other art pieces done in terracotta: a cat done in cubist form
influenced by Pablo Picasso, a child in Harlequin costume and a broken
cactus from her early works.
Resin is becoming popular in the Philippines. It is used by many installation artists and sculptors. Bacolod artist Charlie
Co's Ai Weiwei busts (see p. 55) are made of resin. He made 30 pieces and 5 pieces which were personally hand-painted
by the sculptor. Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist known for his political activitism. He has openly criticized
the Chinese government and its stance for human rights and has been apprehended and jailed in Beijing. Charlie Co sees
Ai Weiwei as icon for his radical thinking. In his painting, he depicts the Chinese artist as a brave and courageous
individual. Ai Weiwei's hair is as fiery as his ideas. His bright red beard is like the fire that comes out of a Dragon's
mouth. His eyes are like white pearls against a black background, Charlie's interpretation that Ai Weiwei's views are only
either black or white, and no grey areas, http://www.charlieco.net/2013/01/charlie- cos-ai-weiwei.html

B. A. The Four Basic Sculpture Techniques

Sculpture process can be either subtractive, where the material is removed or carved out until the desired form is visible
or additive, wherein the material is added part by part until the form is completed.

Sculptors use four basic techniques.

1. Modeling. Modeled sculptures are created when a soft or malleable material such as
clay, is built using an armature and then shaped to create a form. Modeling is an additive
process. An example is the portrait sculpture of Batanes-born artist Pacita Abad done
by lligan artist Julie Lluch.

The famous photo of Pacita Abad standing in front of her mural painting of vivid and bright colors was used by Julie
Lluch as a model for the portrait sculpture of the artist. The bronze sculpture that is a bit larger than life shows Pacita's
upper body part look relaxed with her hand clasping paint brushes. Wearing her 'Miss Universe" smile and braided hair,
she has her arms folded like she is waiting for the viewer to say something to her. Although the lower body part is
relaxed, her legs seem to be in a pose that is "ready to go," in her clogs shoes, which is characteristic of Pacita as we know
that she spent her life going to so many places and doing thousands of art pieces.

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otherwise) without prior written permission from the school.
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SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY, INC. Learning Module in CPAR
2. Carving. Carving involves cutting or chipping away a shape from a mass of stone,wood, or other hard material.
Carving is a subtractive process where the material is systematically eliminated from the outside. The process calls for a
conception of the result before the work is begun. The carver subtracts non-essential material to form an image from the
block of marble, wood or stone. An example of wood carving is Franco Cagayat's jeepneys and cars.

Carving on glass is unique in the Philippines and sculptor Ramon Orlina who hasmade it popular, is now known as the
"Father of Philippine Glass Sculpture". The glass sculpture on p. 58 is an example of his works. Note the cubistic style
which is heightened by the interplay of light and color. The sculpture stands on a base, carrying a wide body that
diminishes to a triangular tip. World-renowned Ramon Orlina's body of works is shown at the Museo Orlina Sculpture
Garden and Amphitheater, Tagaytay City. It is an example of modern architecture that includes an amphitheater for
artistic and musical presentations. The museum shows his glass sculptures, hand-painted vintage cars, toy cars, and
works of other artists. To view Museo Orlina and the artist talking about his art, log on to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZtxFkFsl.

3. Casting. When a sculpture is formed using terracotta clay, it is made permanent through plaster of paris. Casting it in
bronze or metal accurately reproduces the torm from an original clay or wax model. It is durable, can be transported
without breaking and can also be duplicated. Ed Defensor's The Battle is done in terracotta and casted in resin.
Artist’s Slatement:
“The battle is an imagined battle that happened when the ten Bornean Datus, their tamilies, and their soldiers were about
to sail out to sea to escape the tyranny of Sultan Makatunaw of Borneo. After overcoming their enemies, the ten Datus
sailed out without any known destination. After several days of sailing, they eventually landed in the island of Panay,
which they later purchased from the original inhabitants, the Aetas, with a golden hat and a dangling necklace. - Ed
Defensor, February 14, 2015.

4. Assembling. Sculptors gather and put together ditferent materials, including found objects to create an assembled
sculpture. Assembling is an additive process using adhesive, welding, and other chemicals for adhesion. An example is
Josephine Turalba's General Mariana.

Artist's Statement:
The recent corruption scandal in the high ranks of the Philippine military calls our attention
to the lifestyle of the wives of many generals of the country. They log several overseas trips in
a year. How does one do that with the decent salary of a general? With the integrity of our
military leaders compromised, our identity is smeared with this farce." - Josephine Turralba,
October 15, 2014

NCR.Josephine Turalba's General Mariana. 2011.

REGION 6 ILOIILO. Ed Defensor's The Battle. 2013. Resin. Courtesy of the Artist Plastic, brass, copper, steel, gold. Courtesy of the Artist

With some metal parts gold-dipped, this sculpture speaks of the money that these "oficials are entrusted with and
questions their honor. "Maria, the first name given to about 70% of Filipinas born in the Philippines, brings to the
forefront an identity with colonial past, having been colonized by Spain for more than 300 years and converted to the
Catholic faith. We have the concept of the pristine and pure "Maria" of many generations past intertwined with the
modern and practical Filipina. Who is the contemporary Filipina now? Josephine Turalba, October 15, 2014.

B. B. Styles and Movements in Sculpture

Technology, modern tools and materials generate new artistic ideas and sculptural effects that have developed
into different styles and movements. We now describe the more common art styles and movements in sculpture.
Feldman's (1981:329-369) discussion on sculpture is used as a reference for this lesson.

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SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY, INC. Learning Module in CPAR

1. Monolithic Scuplture is carved froma slab of stone and is limited by the material's shape and size. This means that the
sculptor can only make a form that is allowed by the material's shape and cannot exceed its size. Neither can the sculptor
produce complex open forms and shapes where arms and legs are stretched. The form is taken as one whole closed form
or shape. Lucell Larawan's Prostrate is an example of this type of sculpture. He embedded thousands of nails on wood
and painted the form with acrylic.

Artist's Stalement:
Art in a flux does not conform to what we know because the soul of the artist should be peculiar. It is the soul that makes
prodigious art. In my artworks, I venture into different mediums but remain conscious of my real voice" - Lucel Larawan,
January 23, 2015.

2. Constructivism is popular among contemporary artists. It makes use or new materials such as plastics, plexiglass,
metal wire, etc., and allows a break from the f1gurative representation of sculpture. The Russian artists who introduced
constructivism, Vladimir Tatlin, Naum Gabo and Antoine Pevsner, advocated the approach which brought Sculpture in
harmony with physics and mathematics, engineering and industrial aesign. The main traits of constructivism applied to
sculpture are abstraction, transparency, interpenetration of sculptural form, overlapping of planes, and the employmen es
in tension to describe direction and movement. An example of this is abstract experiment Wilson Baldemor's Vise
Tandem.

Artist's Statement
My Infinity-inspired sculptures signifies eternity, loyalty, truth, and soulful attachment between the viewer and object.
Visually appreciated in complex forms and dimensions, my sculptures transpires a man's artistic desire for solemnity
over its value"- Wilson Baldemor, March 22, 2014.
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3. Sculptural assemblage provides a method to the contemporary artist that abandons carving, modeling, and casting.
Several forms of found objects, including "metal (wire, pipe, sheet, rod, spring, tube, bar, and plate) are put together
through a single method of attachment: welding; and a single color and surface texture. Thus, the sculptor is free to deal
with problems of volume and contour, movement and balance, illusions and reality." (Feldman, 1981: 347) Michelle
Hollanes Lua's Broke Bag Mounted is an example of sculptural assemblage. She created a variety of texture by putting
together pieces of aluminum, brass, stones, and diamonds collected from hundreds of broken shoes, belts and bags,
covering the inner layer of a fiber glass cast.
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Artist’s Statement
The artwork is made out of pieces of aluminum, brass, stones, and diamonds collected from hundreds of broken shoes,
belts and bags, covering the inner layer of a fiber glass cast by the artist. My artworks are mostly made of things from the
throw-away culture that the world ship to the periphery, my country. We are all living, theretore consuming and this can
result to destruction.bSomehow, I tend to reciprocate the action by giving back to life through recycling. - Michelle
Hollanes Lua, February 8, 2014.
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4. Kinetic sculpture is a sculpture in mechanical motion. When they are suspended in the air, they can produce musical
sound as the elements move with the wind and touch each other. Strong wind can also propel movement in a sculpture
just like in Theo Jansen's plastic tubes that are shaped like giant animals that can walk along the beach. Impy Pilapil's
interactive kinetic sculptures such as Rainbow Rings, Nautilus, and Nature's Embrace are made of bambo0, plastic, and
other light materials. They are constructed vertically to interact with the wind and are designed to accommodate the
movement of the viewers who interact with the kinetic sculptures. You can view the artworks at
http://www.impypilapil.com/Interactive/interactive_main.htm. Gabby Barredo's sculptures are set into motion by
machine and generators that enable the objects to move up and down or left to right while producing sound. He uses rods
of electric fan covers, broken particles of car windshields, wood, paper, wrought- iron, antique radios, coconut husks,
bottle caps, bed springs, fire-hose coils, conveyor belts, wooden beads, computer and refrigerator parts, and cement
grinder that serve as elements of the sculptural form.

5. Niches, Boxes, and Grottoes

A niche is a recessed place in a wall where a sculptured figure or bust can be located. It is important to think of niche
sculptures as "born from" walls, conceived out of necessity to endow plane surfaces with dramatic meaning. The niche
encloses forms physically and governs the angle of vision from which the sculpture can be seen. Psychologically, the
sculpture is "protected" by its enclosure; it is removed from full exposure to the elements and can thus be perceived as
something which requires shelter. This psychological meaning adheres to a box sculpture and construction (Feldman,
1981: 350-351). An example is Renato Habulan's Takatak Series #s 1,2,3,4. As a social realist, the sculptor uses his art as a
commentary to social realities. In this particular artwork, he used "scapulars buried in wax! Underneath is a figure whose
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SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY, INC. Learning Module in CPAR
head and hand are exposed, followed by a crown of thorns surrounded by flowers. In the last panel are roses submerged
in wax. One Takatak box shows hints of devotion to the Virgin Mary with pastel-colored flowers and scapula. Gayuma
bottles are formed in the third lakatak panel. Renato Habulan's commentary through art shows the syncretised state of
Filipino faith. His Takatak Series highlights peoples state of mind. The person's "loob, in relation to the combined beliefs
in society (Ysa dela Cruz, 2014).

Artist's Statement:
“Presenting the incongruity in belief as practiced by folk religious groups and mainstream Christianity in my country is
similar to my (old) presentation of clashes between the powerful and the powerless (when I was a social realist in the
'70s),... I am fleshing out the "still visible effects of resistance" to the colonial emasculation (of folk religion) which took
place 500 years ago, gives his art a primitive vigor" - Renato Habulan, UP Vargas Museum, July 2014.

Boxes are closed and can become packages, a portable container for something worth keeping. They are
distinguished by their careful craftsmanship and connection to something. The many art balikbayan boxes bundled
together by Alfredo and Isabel do Aquilizan to symbolize the way Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) accumulate things
to send to their family left behind in the Philippines. Although most of these goods such as noodles and Yakult, are
available in Philippine markets, the OFWs send these home as a manifestation of love and care that they could not give
their family because of their Z, absence. The Aquilizan boxes also contain old things that symbolize sentimentality. Some
people keep things until they are worn out and no longer functional because these have sentimental value to them. Below
are images of these boxes.

Grotto is not associated with the wall and is more like a room. It relates instead to the vault or convoluted inner
spaces of natural caverns. The shaping of interior space resembles a hybrid form of sculpture and architecture.
Richnmond Campil's Revelation presents a neat arrangement of staircases and cubes in one of the spaces that once served
es as stud farm for herd of horses. As grotto sculpture, the place was converted into a on, pleasant looking room that
gives the viewer an illusion of various levels all in one plane m. enclosed by architectural structure.

How far I learned?

A. (Answer this on a separate of paper and submit on the next distribution)

1. The different sculpture materials

are_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. The four basic sculpture techniques

are_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Niche differs from grotto in the following

ways_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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B. Independent Learning

Visit a welding shop, junk yard, or any place that has a variety of objects that can possibly be used for contemporary
sculpture. Plan a creative form and design that can be made using the objects can be used for. Make your own sculpture
based from your chosen material. On a sheet of paper, explain the style of the style of the sculpture: is it monolithic,
constructuvist, etc. Then describe the process by which you think the artwork can be done.

(to be passed on November 23, 2o2o)

No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or
otherwise) without prior written permission from the school.
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