Sculptures of abstraction

 

Canto-Aperto by francesco somaini

‘Canto Aperto’ –  Francesco Somaini

Italy, 1955

 

Helene-Fielder--sculptural bust

Helene Fielder

 

 

 

_Sorel_Etrog-Double_Key_Head__RUMI-GALLERIES abstract sculpture head in green

‘Double Key Head’  — Sorel Etrog

Rumi Galleries – 1stDibs

 

Abstraction Creation

 

For our ancient primitives, it was possibly through the absence of any formal education and intellectual training, that when they attempted to create artistic depictions of their idols of worship, they tended to be pure abstract interpretations with only a simplistic resemblance to reality. The Neolithic and Bronze Age Cycladic figures expressed a combination of omissions, distortions and exaggerations that created a tension between the abstract and the real, that resulted in impressionistic, unique sculptures. The Africans merged many perspectives into a single viewpoint, with abstract intersection of the planes that had similarities to the creations of the cubist artists. Carl Einstein, after studying African sculpture, concluded that rather then just being a construction of objects, it was also an attempt to create both the object and consciousness, to determine a way in which an individual could combine different perspectives of the object into one unified impression. Exacting visions of reality were ignored in favour of a more biomorphic grasp of details infused with a rhythmic interplay of solid and related void. Maybe our subconscious intuitive perception of reality perceives the world this way all the time. It was only after education became more established for the elite classes that more realistic imagery began to emerge in the arts.

Picasso claimed that the “primitive sculpture has never been surpassed” It was ironical that at a time when technology was becoming more sophisticated, there was an evocation of the primitive in the arts with a homage being extended to their subtle approach to creativity. Henri Matisse stated “just like the primitivists and the painters of the East, I consider that the most valuable and productive work is that which is guided by direct perception. This opens up greater possibilities to the artist to reveal his own conception of the world, and does not distract attention with unnecessary details, which too often happens when one works from nature”. Henry Moore said that his visits to the ethnographic collections of the British Museum were more important than his academic study. The influence of primitive arts on the early contemporary sculpture is undeniable.

 

Alexander-Calder abstract mobile

“Calder and Abstraction: From Avant-Garde to Iconic,’’ at LACMA’s Resnick Pavilion

2014

 

Amedeo Modigliani, Constantin Brâncuși, Jean Arp, Ossip Zadkine and Alexander Archipenko were all notable sculptors who converged on Paris at the beginning of the 20th century and along with Rodin, Picasso and other artists shaped European modernism. They interacted with existing art movements of Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Les Nabis and other emerging trends like Cubism, Dadaism, Futurist, Constructivist and Surrealism to create striking evocative works and develop independence from the traditional classical constraints of depiction. The classical sculptures that preceded this were quite often connected to historical events and had the constraints of a time frame whereas the emerging abstract sculptures transcended time in comparison. Albert Einstein claimed ‭”‬Men invented time to feel comfortable in space.‭ ‬But it doesn’t actually exist.‭ ‬All experience is happening at once.‭” Eastern mystics also mentioned this concept. Modernist forms alluded to this with their liberated fluidity that moved between the physical, quantum and metaphorical realms. Continuities between the mass of an object and the space around and object were explored in innovative ways. The distillation of form and space with reduction and abstraction, as pioneered by Brancusi at the turn of the 20th century, was widely embraced. These sculptures, having no historical reference or precedence of definition, unleashed a dynamic that became timeless.

 

Henry-Moore- 'Mother and Child: Egg Form' 1977

‘Mother and Child: Egg Form’  – Henry Moore

1977

 

‭Another pioneer of abstract forms, Henry Moore, believed the sculpture mediums had a “vitality of their own” and it was his job to reveal the “truth of the materials” The intense involvement that direct carving in stone and wood demanded required a supreme dedication and understanding of the medium. Franco Russoli noted that the duality of realistic representation and abstraction of form in Moore’s work reflected his drive to express the vitality of the universe: the harmony between the mysterious existence of nature and the secret current of man’s primary feeling–tenderness, passion, energy–in simple powerful forms. He successfully combined the intrinsic forms of nature with humanistic motifs in his abstract sculptures. ‬By the late 1950s and the 1960s, modern sculptors had begun experimenting with a wide array of new materials and sculptors such as Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Calder, Jean Tinguely, Peter Voulkos, Richard Lippold, Louise Bourgeois, and Louise Nevelson reinforced the emerging styles of Abstract Expressionism, Geometric Abstraction and Minimalism, which saw sculpture reduced to its most essential and fundamental features. Other interpretations of modern sculpture such as environmental, kinetic, sound and light also entered the contemporary arts.

The modern abstract sculptures that are revered today are the result of bold, visionary artists that in some instances had to endure ridicule and political interference in pursuit of their artistic ideals. Artists are distinguished as such by the relative vividness of their inner life, strength of their intuitions and their ability to express it. The ‘abstractions’ of the artist exist to be advanced as the significant forms of an underlying and enduring reality, their critical potential all the greater for their emancipation from the merely apparent.

 

 

Alberto-Giacometti - Head 1934 abstract sculpture

‘Head’ – Alberto Giacometti

1934

 

 

 

2003-Ballerine-Bronze---André-Eijberg

Ballerine’ Bronze — André  Eijberg

2003

 

 

 

The-Ball---Roger-Capron

‘The Ball’  – Roger Capron

 

 

 

Constantin Brancusi, Cock, 1935, Bronze, National Museum of Modern Art -Georges Pompidou Center, Paris-constantin-brancusi-theredlist

Constantin Brancusi, Cock, 1935, Bronze

National Museum of Modern Art – Georges Pompidou Center, Paris

 

 

Paris-jacques-lipchitz-sculpture Centre Pompidou - Musée national d'art

Jacques Lipchitz

Centre Pompidou – Musée national d’art moderne – Paris

 

 

 

 

Curved-crease-sculpture---Erik-Demaine - abstract contemporary sculpture

Curved crease sculpture  — Erik Demaine

 

 

 

archipenko_queen_sheba-Frances-Archipenko-Gray--Collection

‘Queen Of Sheba’  – Alexander Archipenko – 1961

Frances Archipenko Gray Collection

Photo: Petro Hrycyk – The Ukrainian Museum, New York

 

 

Alexander-Archipenko,-'Architectural-Figure,'-1939-1954,-painted-terra-cotta

‘Architectural Figure’  – Alexander Archipenko

painted terra cotta – 1950

Photo: Petro Hrycyk – The Ukrainian Museum, New York

 

 

 

 

Alied-Nijp-Holman-Netherlands modernist sculpture figure

Alied Nijp Holman, Netherlands

 

 

 

Antigraceful--Umberto-Boccioni--1913, futurist sculpture

‘Antigraceful’ —  Umberto Boccioni

1913

 

 

 

Ochicagogo-Bronze-Antoine-Poncet,-1979-Museum-outdoor-sculpture-garden-Tino-Rossi,-St

‘Ochicagogo’ –  Bronze sculpture by Antoine Poncet, 1979

Museum outdoor sculpture garden Tino Rossi,St. Bernard Port, Paris V

 

 

 

Antoine-Pevsner,-Spatial-construction-in-the-3rd-and-4th-dimensions,-1961,-Bronze,-National-Museum-of-Modern-Art---Georges-Pompidou-Center,-Paris

Spatial construction in the 3rd and 4th dimensions –  Antoine Pevsner

1961, Bronze

National Museum of Modern Art– Georges Pompidou Center, Paris

 

 

 

 

Barbara-Hepworth,-Two-Forms-1938

‘Two Forms’ –  Barbara Hepworth

1938

 

 

 

Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs---Valeria-Yamamoto

Valeria Yamamoto

Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs

 

 

 

Brooklyn-museum--contemporary-art-earth-forge-ii----Seymour Lipton

‘Earth forge II’  — Seymour Lipton

Brooklyn museum contemporary art

 

 

 

Beatrice Hoffman-titled-'Questioning- Big-Abstract-Female-Head-Sculptures

‘Questioning’ – Beatrice Hoffman

 

 

 

Soulmates---Alied-Holman park sculpture

‘Soulmates’ – Alied-Nijp-Holman

La Lanka: Arts: Sculpture Garden and Gallery in Friesland

 

 

 

Barbara-Hepworth---Curved-Form-(Bryher-II),-Bronze,-1961

Barbara Hepworth with the plaster of ‘Curved Form (Bryher II)’

1961

 

 

 

Bertil-Gado contemporary sculpture Sweden

Bertil Gado, Sweden

 

 

 

BitontoLive Emanuele Rubini on display in MIlan

Emanuele Rubini on display in Milan, Italy

 

 

 

Bloem-Simone-van-Olst - Netherlands

‘Bloem’ – Simone van Olst

Netherlands

 

 

 

 

Bruno-Pedrosa - sculpture - Blue Angel

“Blue Angel”  – Bruno Pedrosa

2005

 

 

 

Exile-Bronze-Patrick-Blythe,

‘Exile’ – Patrick Blythe

 

 

 

La-femme-à-la-guitare---Henri-Laurens---1919-23 Christies

‘La femme à la guitare’  —  Henri Laurens

1919 – 23 1/4  inches height

Christies

 

 

 

Brutalist-Bronze-Sculpture-by-Roland-Monteyne,-Dated-and-Signed-1973

Bronze Brutalist panel sculpture by Roland Monteyne

 

 

GORDON-BALDWIN---Warrior-1960

‘Warrior’ – Gordon Baldwin

UK, 1960

 

 

 

Clay-sculpture-and-mirrors-with-wood-accents-by-Jan-Jacque

Clay sculpture and mirrors with wood accents – Jan Jacque

 

 

CONES-ET-SPHÈRES-Joseph-Csaky---1919---Christies

‘Cones and Spheres’ – Joseph Csaky

1919

Height: 31 1/8 inches   Christies

 

 

Fons-Bemelman-_sculpture 'Energetica' -Holland

‘Energetica’ – Fons Bemelman

Netherlands

 

 

 

Dan-Molyneux abstract sculpture

Dan Molyneux

 

 

 

davidson_robert_18x13x5_lacquered_aluminum_ed26_supernatural_eye_maquette

‘Supernatural Eye Maquette’  – Robert Davidson

18x13x5 inches – lacquered aluminum

 

 

Deutsche_Bank_Place_Tom_Bass---Relief-by-Tom-Bass-Originally-installed-in-1983-in-the-AGC-building

 Sculpture by Tom Bass

Deutsche Bank Place, Sydney, 1983

 

 

 

Figure--Alberto-Giacometti--1926--Bronze

‘Figure’ — Alberto Giacometti

1926

 

 

102-79-35

‘Rhythms of life 3’ – Andrew Rogers

Southbank, Melbourne

 

 

 

Hermann-Glöckner-1975 red-angular-abstract sculpture

Hermann Glöckner

1975

 

Eames-sculpture-Ray-and-Charles

Charles and Ray Eames

 

 

 

Richard Rhodes_Embrace photo Clyde Lee

‘Embrace’ – Richard Rhodes

photo Clyde Lee

 

 

 

Dominique-Allain-Raku-sculpture-(2)

Dominique Allain Raku

 

 

 

Doug-Herren sculptural teapot

Doug Herren ceramic teapot

 

 

 

Ed-Bentley--http://www.edbentley.co.uk/

‘Hidden Dip’ – Ed Bentley

One-off slab built stoneware sculpture. Vitrified for internal or external installation.

edbentley.co.uk

 

 

Ferne-Jacobs-Medusas-Collar,-2010,-coiled-waxed-linen-thread,-18inchx14x19-Nancy-Margolis-Gallery-NYC

‘Medusas Collar’, Ferne Jacobs

2010, coiled waxed linen thread

18″ x 14″ x 19″ – Nancy Margolis Gallery NYC

 

 

 

Figura-Sdraiata-GIANCARLO-FRANCO-TRAMONTIN

‘Figura Sdraiata’ – Giancarlo Franco Tramontin, Venice

 

 

 

JUAN-GRIS-(Spanish-1887---1927).-Harlequin,-circa-1917---1918.-Bronze

‘Harlequin’, Juan Gris  circa 1917-1918

Bronze

 

 

 

Lake-Ballard-Sculpture-by-Anthony-Gormley

 Sculpture by Anthony Gormley

Lake Ballard, Western Australia

Photo credit: by Sally Wittenoom (salkiwi, via Flickr)

 

 

 

Lee-Gass-The-Gift-stone-sculpture

‘The Gift’ – Lee Gass

 

 

 

marler-miner-abstract-sculpture in succulent garden

Marler Miner

 

 

 

Maternity-2000-SAK-Sculptures---SCULPTURES-EN-BRONZE-Sahra-Abdallah-Khodja

‘Maternity’  – Sahra Abdallah Khodja ( of SAK Sculptures)

2000

 

 

 

Max-Bill-sculpture,-Zurich,-1946-47

‘Continuity’ – Max Bill

Zurich, 1946-47

 

 

 

---HABATAT-GALLERIES----Florida---Herb-Babcock--cast-glass-and-bronze--High-Plain

‘High Plain’ – Herb Babcock–cast glass and bronze

Habatat Galleries—-Florida

 

 

 

Monica-van-den-Berg bronze sculpture South Africa

Monica van den Berg, South Africa

 

 

 Joan Miro sculpture Tate

4 Wings by Alexander Calder,

Joan Miro Foundation, Barcelona, Spain

 

 

 

MOSES-&-THE-TEN-COMMANDMENTS-SCULPTURE-BY-GUISEPPE-MACRI-SIGNED-1969---flea4all

‘Moses and the 10 Commndments’ bronze sculpture- Guiseppe Macri

1969

flea4all – ebay

 

 

 

No-one-combs-my-hair-like-the-wind'-Marta-Cadonici-exhibits-sculptures-at-MUG-in-Forte-dei-Marmi-2014

‘No one combs my hair like the wind’  – Marta Cadonici

Casa Museo Ugo Guidi ( MUG ) in Forte dei Marmi, Tuscanny

2014

 

 

 

Aigua-Blava,-2006,-Slip-cast-earthen-ware-from-hand-built-model-17``-9``x-7`

‘Aigua Blava’, – James Kemp

 2006, Slip cast earthen ware from hand built model

17“ 9“x 7″

 

 

 

Pablo-Curatella-Manes-Sculpture-'Le-Contrebassiste,'-1922 GALERIE-JACQUES-DE-VOS

‘Le Contrebassiste,’ Pablo Curatella Manes

1922

GALERIE JACQUES DE VOS

 

 

 

Puerto-Vallarta-Malecon-Sculptures-The-Good-Fortune-Unicorn-by-Aníbal-Riebeling----vi-warkentin-travel-photography

‘The Good Fortune Unicorn’ by Aníbal Riebeling

Puerto Vallarta Malecon

Vi Warkentin travel photography

 

 

 

Raku-Sculpture-by-Roger-Capron---Vallauris---France---1995

Raku Sculpture by Roger Capron

Vallauris—France—1995

 

 

 

Sculpture-by-Le-Corbusier-The-child-is-there-,-1961.-Made-out-of-Polychrome-wood

‘The child is there’ – Le Corbusier  1961

Polychrome and wood

 

 

sculputral glass pieces are by artist Vladimira Klumpar

Vladimira Klumpar glass sculpture

 

 

 

Seymour-Lipton-(1903-1986),-flood,-1937

‘Flood’ – Seymour Lipton (1903-1986)

1937

 

 

Abstract sculpture Sequita---Richard-Erdman-Studio

 ‘Sequita’ — Richard Erdman

 

 

 

Sophia-Vari-DOUBLE-EPEE,-1997-Nohara-Haime-Gallery

‘Double Epee’ – Sophia Vari  1997

Nohara Haime Gallery

 

 

 

Theodoros-Papagiannis---Sculptures,-1994-2000---National-Technical-University-of-Athens

Theodoros Papagiannis

 

 

Torso-eines-Riesen-von-Jean-(Hans)-Arp

‘Giant Torso’ – Jean Arp

1957

 

 

 

Barbara Hepworth Pelagos ('sea' in Greek)

‘Pelagos’ – Barbara Hepworth

 

 

 

umberto-boccioni-dynamism-of-a-man-s-head

‘Dynamism of a man’s head’ –  Umberto Boccioni

 

 

Untitled-Stoneware-Sculpture-by-Peter Voulkos

Peter Voulkos

 

 

 

Wouter-Dam-Untitled-Blue-Sculpture-2004 Cowans

Wouter Dam

 

 

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