Round Up of Sculptor and Sculpture Features

As the year draws to a close, our team at Sculptor & Sculpture heads out to plan our very first art themed- Christmas party, but before that let's take a quick look back at some of this year's roster of featured sculpture artists.

Who could forget the curious "sketch-like" characters of glass artist David Reekie? His kiln-made creations of childhood wonder and interest are some of our favorites. Harry Bertoia's magnificent kinetic artworks proved to be a great addition to our collection of articles about contemporary works. His is truly a medley of dynamic motion, air and balance, much like the interactive beauties made by Ken Rinaldo, a man whose attention to society is conveyed in several of his creative ideas. Rinaldo uses his study of fine arts to manifest symbolisms that the present-day societies can deeply relate to.

On the more traditional side, Henry Moore and Alexander Calder's timelessness is something that's always worth marveling at. The two art-world heavyweights still command a highly sought-after global respect amidst the new generation of art enthusiasts. Many of Moore's inspirational sculptures initially served as the  motivational creativity for many youngsters approaching aesthetic maturity in their own artistic careers. Speaking of the younger generation, abstract figure artist Kylo Chua's fluid female characters poise themselves in an undulating beauty of curves and potential. The young Chinese sculptor experiments with modernity as a reference for representational abstraction. While the genre of abstract is strictly a breadwinner in today's art circles, contemporary non-representational abstract is another big wave in the community. Barton Rubenstein's water-based kinetic monument was featured as a wonderful and somehow scenic sight for people with an interest in both physics and artistic design.

Many great works were discovered and written about this year, including works by Peter Newsome, Pierre Granche, Seymour Lipton, Tony Rosenthal, Michael Tom and Marvin Lipofsky among other master carvers and mixed-media sculptors.

We hope to see a fascinating round up of new and powerful artworks next year with the international emergence of newer and bolder styles from across Asia Pacific, Europe and America.

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The Water Wonders of Barton Rubenstein

A true blue American Sculptor, Barton Rubenstein is a keen observer of nature and kinetics. His sculptural configurations can be likened to a modenist's take on the natural flow of worldly liquids froma higher point to s lower point in space. His adamant passion has brought him a numerous amount of followers including kinetic sculptors and fountain enthisiasts from around the globe. He began first as a studying scientist of Physics at Haverford Colllege, Pensylvania, but had pursued a minor in art. He had also acquired an MSc in both Mathematics and Computer Science, while culminating a PhD in Neuroscience. Needless to say, Rubenstein is indeed a multi-talented personality, but his fondness for moving sculpture draws our attention to him the most.

Sculpture by Barton Rubenstein - Photography by Bartsher

He began experimenting with metal sculpture during his stay at the Corocoran College of Art and Design. There he learned the various processes of mold-making, wax casting and welding. He learned to create a body of work that encompassed the flow of water as part of its natural appeal. His waterworks had launched him into the modern art scene by 1994, beginning his speedy growth as an international sculptor. Rubenstein's also received several recognitions like being a member of a committee at the National Academies to design the next generation of US monetary currency. This committee directly influenced the new 100$ bill design we know today.

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Neil Dawson and the Ornamental Fascination of Sculpture

One of the more prominent New Zealand sculptors is Neil Dawson; a metal-worker of natural geometries and ornamental modernity. Best known for many of his large-scaled monuments, Dawson first gained his artistic progress at the Canterbury University in 1970 where he received his Honorary Diploma of Fine Arts. His teachers; Tom Taylor and Eric Doudney were among some of the famous mentors that gave  Dawson his passion to succeed in the world of aesthetics. Despite a groundbreaking academic journey in Canterbury,  Dawson moved on to acquire a Graduate Diploma in Sculpture  from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne during the latter 70's period.

Dawson is very fond of using techniques that imply some sort of illusion methodology. His wall-hanging and free standing sculptures are often observed to be done with optical patterns such as Moiré. He prefers gaining subject-inspiration from everyday patterned items such as a deck of playing cards and crockery work. Some of Dawson's best works include The Chalice, a huge inverted cone-shaped structure in Cathedral Square, Christchurch (his birthplace), and the Globe, a large scaled sculpture based in Pompidou Centre, Paris. He taught drawing and design classes at Christchurch Polytechnic and was also awarded with the Arts Laureate by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand in 2003.

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Ken Rinaldo and The Interactivity of Sculptural Installations

Drawing a hybrid inspiration from both nature and technology, interaction-sculptor Ken Rinaldo aspires to meld the aesthetics of organic designs with the complex style of mechanical instruments. He has held several exhibitions in the past that were themed accordingly, showcasing a degree of bio-art and electromechanical sculpture. Rinaldo relates his interactive art to several issues plaguing society today, such as the abandonment ecological situations in favor of technological evolution. He graduated from programs in Computer Science and Communications as well as a Fine Arts Masterals program. His diversity in specialization allows him to conceptualize new ways of intertwining media into innovative ways of expression.

Sculpture by Ken Rinaldo and Amy Young - Photography by Samuel Mann

In the year 2000, he won the first prize at the VIDA 3 International Artificial Life Competition and during the succeeding year, the same winning piece also received an honorary mention during the Arts Electronica Festival. Since then, Rinaldo's work on bio-mechanical and bio-electrical art has skyrocketed into newer forms and compositions of hybrid variety. He believes that the intersection between these two fields holds the key to understanding many modern concepts, such as inter-species communication and the process of co-evolution in human technological society.

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Peter Newsome's Clear-Form Glass Assemblage

The contemporary techniques of glass artist; Peter Newsome have been some of the curiosities many artists become fascinated with. Newsome has been a passionate sculptor of glass since the early 1990's and has mastered both traditional glazier and glassworker techniques as well as some adaptive contemporary techniques. His skills allow him to hand-slice layers upon layers sheet glass in precise forms for his assembled compositions. Many of his works resemble organic strands or waves depending on the contortion of his subject. Newsome's background in the glass engineering industry has led him to acquire several original methodologies for practicing original glasswork. He has exhibited several of his sculptures at many international art hubs such as the London Art Fair at Burton's Court, Chelsea and at Newby Hall Sculpture Park, Yorkshire.

 Sculpture by Photography by Gerardus

Newsome employs a sort of ray-like intensity by focusing on the overlapping transparencies of the media. The edges where the glass cuts off into air become patterns when pit against each other in natural light. The artist's ability to materialize designs in three dimensional space is coupled with his capability to imagine the unique transparencies of their compositions as well. Since his popularization in the glass art industry, Newsome has been a well recognized modern sculptor, especially within the communal Chelsea areas.

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Pierre Granche and the Geometry of Abstractions

A notable public arts sculptor; Pierre Granche was very popular in the art community of Quebec for his works in the field of combining sculptural art with the fundamentals of architecture. Mainly working with aluminum as his primary material, Granche exhibits a unique style that bases on geometrical tendencies in abstraction. He prefers the rigid, poly-sided orientations over smooth curvatures or organic shapes.  Granche studied at the École de Beaux-Arts de Montréal and the Université de Vincennes in Paris, honing his sculptural skills to obtain a degree of great capability in metalsmithing and abstract conceptualizing.

Sculpture by Pierre Granche - Photography by François Proulx

Granche's public art has been seen in London (Canada Memorial in Green Park), Montreal (Systeme Sculpture in Namur), and many other locations around the world. His work Totem; was also exhibited at the McCord Museum in Montreal. Some of his skyline-type of works hang overhead with a certain degree of playfulness when it comes to lighting. His Systeme sculpture in Namur is comprised of several geometrically shaped aluminum polygons thar hang above the transit way. The artwork reflects light that bounces off any movement in the area, and for a transportation system, blinking lights are virtually everywhere.

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Seymour Lipton and Abstract Expressionism

Born on November 6 1903, Seymour Lipton was someone who did not initially plan to become a sculptor, but did so eventually in an admirable leap of career. He actually studied to be a dentist, training in dexterity and the accurate usage of finer tools. In 1932 though, he decided to switch his main focus to sculpture instead. He moved from media to media, specializing in wood, then lead, then eventually settling with bronze. He is a passionate abstract expressionist who is definitely well known today for many of his exquisite bronze and metal sculptures. Lipton also made several contributions to the world of sculpting techniques as well. He discovered that brazing nickel-silver rods onto Monel sheets could create rust-resistant surfaces.

Sculpture by Seymour Lipton - Photography by Ser Amantio di Nicolao

Lipton selects the themes of his art forms by drawing inspiration from natural things such as flight, and man-made chaos such as war. The photograph above was of Lipton's 1957 Winter Solstice II made of his specialty nickel-silver on monel sheet. It is currently at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. As an abstract expressionist sculptor, his compositional style varies a bit from piece to piece, but one may notice his chaotic drive in some works that may be attributed to his inspiration (war). Lipton's works are usually random in contour, but his media's unique properties make use of his flared protrusions and curving shapes in a good way. They reflect light through the shapes and convey a beautiful and interesting composition as a whole.

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Tony Rosenthal's Monumental Art Style

If you've ever seen the Alamo sculpture at the Astor Place in Manhattan, New York, then you're like to have heard of Tony Rosenthal, the public sculptor. Rosenthal's work is most often with large scaled abstractions that are quite basic in shape, but very distinct in style. His use of geometrical fundamentals adds in the overall beauty of every one of his projects.

Sculpture by Tony Rosenthal Photography by David Shakbone

Rosenthal was born on August 9, 1914 at Highland Park, Illinois. Like many American sculptors, he did undergo formal schooling at art schools, starting with the famous Art Institute of Chicago in 1932. Shortly after, he also attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he graduated with a B.A. In 1939, he went to the Cranbrook Academy of Art and studied with artist Carl Miles. After all these years of education, he served for a period of time in the US Army and even acquired the title of commander. Rosenthal decided to become a teacher after his years of service because he wanted to pass on the knowledge given to him through all his years of studying.

Many of his public sculptures today are widely appreciated by American citizens around the nation. His sculpture Rondo at the 59th Street off Park Avenue is a frequently remembered display by visitors. Big Six, a sculpture he completed in 1975 is resident art piece of the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia. Rosenthal's masterpieces were meant to be in the public view because that's how he sees them fit. He desires for art to become a communal thing, shared in the essence of society and its history.

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Richard Serra and his Minimalist Abstractions

Serra created his very first sculptures in the late 1960's. He made use of materials such as fiber glass and rubber, a simple combination that would eventually lead him to discover more innovative applications in his later years. Now known for his minimalist beauty, Serra previously installed several works of art around the world, such as the Tilted Arc in New York City's Federal Plaza and Snake, permanently located at the largest gallery of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Many people tend to describe his sculptural style as an elegant distortion of planes. He tends to use many flat surfaces that can either be straight or curved, to display an array of complementary elegance to one another. His simplicity in design gives even more reason to his theme of minimalism, however many of his artworks are created on a grand scale, encompassing a large area.

In 2001, the MoMA or Museum of Modern Art actually presented some of Serra's sculptural work in its New York location. there were around five works of his that were set on display, including Torqued Eclipse IV which he did in 1998 and Intersection II which he did in 1993. Serra fondly takes into consideration the different perspectives and viewing angles that go with his works. He likes to play around with the contour of the objects when seen from other spatial points. A fun fact from the artist's history reveals that his sculpture "Out-of-Round X" was used as a cover for a musical album called Monoliths and Dimensions by a famous drone band. Serra had several recognitions for his artist's passion, including a feature on BBC and an honorary degree for Fine Arts from William College. His works, though basic in their foundation and conception, have found their way into the hearts of many art enthusiasts because of their sublime beauty and relaxed orientation.

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David Reekie : Sketch Artist and Contemporary Glassmaker

Glass has always been a tricky media, because of its material traits and difficulty in handling. Throughout the years many glass sculptors have found it hard to stretch the spectrum of their subject matter, today however, there are those who seek to bring the art medium of glass into a contemporary frontier.

David Reekie has exhibited his sketched art and glass creations at several museums around the globe, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. He also maintains many collections in various locations spanning the UK's art societies. Reekie's love of drawing initially fed his creative desire to portray the human condition, but eventually it also led him to find a new love; the creation of cast glass. Today, Reekie uses both media to convey caricatures of satirical humor and an expression of the external forces that shape human life. Reekie's art was also inspired by his childhood activities of watching television shows like Forbidden Planet. One of Reekie's artful messages to us is the comparison of man's routinized lifestyle to a robot's mindless behavior.

Reekie uses an adapted method of casting glass- the lost wax process. He also adds a bit of his own tried and tested techniques to this age old way of casting glass. His kiln time and annealing process can take up to ten and seven days respectfully. He also paints a type of vitreous enamel inside the still damp mold to give the glass material its original exterior later on. Reekie's latest project was a solo exhibition hosted by Dan Klein Associates and was entitled An Exchange of Information. Humanshaped glass heads and ceramic birds allow Reekie to showcase both a sense of surrelism and a pinch of humor at the same time by illustrating the gap between subjects in existence.

-Sculptures by David Reekie
-All Photography (2) by Pamela Gardiner

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Peter Van Dievoet's Classical Sculpture

Van Dievoet's intricate classicism during the 16th century was a demonstration of old-style mastery and detailed masonry. His portrayal of famous personalities like King James II was well known throughout England. Born in Brussels, Van Dievoet was was at the church of Sainte-Gudule midyear in 1661. His brother; Philippe Van Dievoet had a link in art history as well, being the formal goldsmith of Louis XIV.

Peter Van Dievoet was a passionate sculptor, whose talent became quickly noticed by King James II during a period when he was residing in Van Dievoet's locale. He took the sculptor's artistry to his fancy and decisively took him to London with him when he returned.

James II Statue by Peter Van Dievoet - Photography by Fin Fahey

While Van Dievoet was in London in the late 1680's he honored his patron by creating a fine sculpture at St. James Park. He was also considered as a frequent visitor of the Grinling Gibbons studio as well, having a distinct interest in the fine art of casting sculpture. After the revolution, the returned to his hometown of Brussels where he continued to pursue his craftsmanship. He was also one of the artists who created the new Grand-Place in a baroque mannerist style.

Van Dievoet's life as as a sculptor exhibited some of the historical influences observable in parts of Belgium and England in the earlier periods of classical mannerism. Sculpture used to be an isolated genre that spoke through detail, accuracy and portrayals of the concrete world. Nowadays, with the emergence of contemporary, modern, minimalist and kinetic sculptures, we still have to remember where our artistry originated from.

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René Lalique and the Legendary Glass

Lalique today is a very well-known name in the glass craft industry. Born in Ay, a small village in France, the young Lalique drew much of his influence from the frequent trips back to his home town. His naturalistic style of sculpting glass creations is a frequent sight in many of the Lalique boutiques around the world. He studied art all his life, since his time at the College Turgot to the evening classes at the Ecole des arts décoratifs and the two years at Sydenham Art College. Lalique trained as a goldsmite and jeweller at first, moving around work areas like Cartier and Boucheron honing his skills. in the late 1800's Lalique was already seen as one of France's leading designers of Art Nouveau. He also moved on to become one of the top artists in the Art Deco style, further adding to his popularity as a designer. As a glass maker, he was unparallelled by rivals. The line of artistry also continued on to his daughter Marie Claude Lalique, who followed diligently in his footsteps.

I believe that what makes the creations of the Lalique family so inspiring is their play of elegance using the unique traits of glass. Light, reflections and finishes are always combined in the perfect way with every glass creation that comes out of their process. These days, the brand of glass that Lalique has strived to achieve is directly synonymous to quality and creativity in the highest grade.

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Harry Bertoia : A Pioneer of Wire, Space and Sound

Harry Bertoia was born on March 10, 1915. Aside from his passion in the world of sculpture, he was also into modernist furniture design. Despite being born in Italy, Bertoia decided to stay in Detroit during his teenage years, studying high school at Cass Technical. It was here where Bertoia developed his skills in design as well as handcrafting jewelry. He moved on to the College for Creative Studies (back then called by another name) in the late 1930's.

Bertoia taught jewelry design and metal-smithing in his new found workshop in 1939. During the war, he made use of hi time crafting rings for prestigious personalities like Edmund Bacon's wife and Ray Eames. Eventually he settled down with a woman named Brigitta Valentiner in the early 1940's. He had several moves during his life, including one to California and another one to Pennsylvania. He later started to design several wire pieces such as the famous "Diamond Chair".

Sculpture by Harry Bertoia - Photography author: N. Jeppson

Bertoia described his artistic chairs as artworks that are curiously present as a result of space passing through them. Many of his works, whether in wire sculpture or kinetic sculpture, revolve around the theme of air. Whether it be to produce sound, like those exhibited in his performance album "Sonambient" or to merely coexist within the chambers of his composition, Bertoia's pronouncement of air as an artistic element is as admirable as it is interesting.

Today, many of his works can be found at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Detroit Institute of Arts among others.

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Modern Elegance and the Eve Sculptures of Kylo Chua

A modernist abstract sculptor from the Philippines, Chua was born into a Chinese family in Richmond, British Columbia in 1988- a year considered within Chinese circles to belong to the Dragon zodiac. The interplay of Chinese traditions and western influences in the Philippines cultivated an aesthetic hybridity in Kylo Chua's cast sculptures during his college years. In 2006, while studying at the Ateneo de Manila University under a Bachelor of Fine Arts Program, Chua began creating elegant pieces that resembled a continuous flow of liquid white. There exists a purity and sensuality in his artistry that permeates the visual appreciation of his patrons.

Currently at 22 years of age, Chua has garnered a following of modernists and art enthusiasts because of his abstract mannerisms. He has exhibited pieces nationally around the Philippines, but takes up his residency as the youngest sculptor of the Artasia Gallery in Quezon City. He has also exhibited several works through esteemed shows held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sculpture by Kylo Chua (2009) - Photography by Philip Yu

Chua was the first to receive the Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts in Sculpture when he graduated in 2010 at the Ateneo. He has also won an Honorary Mention at the Shell National Art Awards held at the Ayala Museum in 2009.

Sculpture by Kylo Chua (2009) - Photohraphy by Philip Yu

His figures of serpentine contour often resemble an infinity trait that can also be understood as the numerical 8. Chinese trace the number eight to be a fortunate symbol in their traditions and lifestyle. Aside from female and paired figurines, Chua also makes use of animal subjects, such as his creation "River Swan" in 2010 and an upcoming moving cheetah sculpture in 2011.

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Michael Tom's Brass Creations

Born on 1946 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Michael Tom was an American sculptor who practices the art of metalsmithing abstract compositions through his own aesthetic depiction. Tom originally pursued painting as an artistic career, however he gradually moved in favor to the three-dimensional forms of modern art. He received his degree in painting and metalsmithing from the Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California, and eventually went to the San Diego State University for his graduate studies. From painting, he turned to the world of art jewelry, combining the intricacies of art with the presence of luxury in today's jewelry. This endeavor gave him the inspirations to aspire more out of metalsmithing as well. He pursued the craft of mixed media and honed his working skills with copper and brass.

Sculpture Work by Artist Michael Tom - 1985 - (East West Center)

Tom's works showcase a variety of geometric elements such as ridges, angular surfaces and platform contours. His spectrum of elements combine with one another to create an overall composition that is lasting to the eye as it is to the touch. His works allow viewers to see a perceived sense of texture that they can imagine in their heads to be something never felt before. He was very famous for his small copper sculptures created by several hammering techniques.

In 1992, Tom obtained the Catharine E.B Cox Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts. His works are still housed today in the Hawaii State Art Museum and the East-West Center.

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Christopher Bathgate and Working with Metals

A Metal sculptor residing in Baltimore Marland, Bathgate's pieces exude a sense of mechanical complexity in their aesthetics. The contours in his artworks often reflect on the shapes associated with industrial beauty and design. He practices multiple variations of craftsmanship, including handworking, electoplating, heat coloring and computer aided design. For Bathgate, his art is also as much about the process as the final output. The long and tedious creation of each and every work allows Bathgate to further develop his self-taught style of metal-sculpting.

Sculptures and Photography by Christopher Bathgate

Bathgate's metal artworks have been exhibited throughout the Maryland area, as well as in New York, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C., and also in North Carolina. He is currently being represented by Fine Arts Gallery Imperato in Baltimore. Bathgate is also a member of Viridian Artists Inc, an artist cooperative.

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The Giants of Calle Örnemark

Hailing from Sweden, this curious sculptor is famous for his crafting of larger-than-life wooden artworks. The very first big sculpture he produced was entitled the Jätten Vist which meant the Giant Vist. It stands eleven meters tall and is located next to route E4 at Huskvarna in Europe. The sculpture art comes with its very own legend background: This giant was coming home from Vastergotland when he threw a mix of grass and dirt into the lake Vattern for his wife to trudge through. This act created the island of Visingso. Örnemark's creations, intimidating in size, stand to us as a great novelty in the world of art. He shares a proud uniqueness through these works and they give a bold insight to the international community of sculptors and art enthusiasts.

Sculpture by Calle Örnemark - Photography by Melo Man

In the 1980's, he created a sculpture that resembled a giant ship. The artwork was entitled Bounty. Along with another artwork; Indiska reptricket, Örnemark's pieces drew up huge crowds to marvel at their sheer size and impact. Indiska reptricket at the time, became the world's highest sculpture, standing at 103 meters into the sky. In 2007, both of  Örnemark's pieces had to be taken down though due to natural deterioration. Today, he currently lives and works in Gränna, but still maintains a sculpture studio in Visingso. Other famous works include a huge wooden balloon in his home-place of Gränna and a replica of the wreckage of Henry Morgan's ship in Gratangen, Norway.

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Marvin Lipofsky : A Glassful of Imagination

Lipofsky was an integral catalyst in the spreading of glass art throughout America. He was the artist who introduced the craft to the state of California by teaching at various universities like the state university, Berkley and the College of Art and Crafts. Born on Sept. 2, 1938, Lipofsky always had a knack for the language of the arts. Though raised with a family-business in mind, he graduated as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois and eventually graduated with an MS and MFA in sculpture from the University of Wisconsin in 1964. The studio-glass movement was Lipofsky's central passion. While studying in Wisconsin, he encountered Harvey Littleton as an art mentor who taught him varying degrees of exploring the media. Dominick Labino also met Lipofsky there, and together they shared information, lessons and creative ideas.

Creative Glass by Marvin Lipofsky - Photography by Chris Miller

Later on, he took up tenure at the the University of California, Berkeley up until 1972. John Lewis and Richard Marquis were among the students who were able to learn under Lipofsky's guiding hand. He became a well-travelled workshop instructor as well, traveling as far off as Japan, Spain and the Netherlands. This didn't mean that he had abandoned doing seminars locally though. He had also instructed many students at the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood and the Columbus College of Art and Design.

In 1967, He founded and headed a university's formal glass program (California College of Arts and Crafts). He also founded the Glass Art Society, where he became president for two years. He was also famous for being one of the pioneer glass artisans to travel to Czechoslovakia.

His work when described, could be considered as rather colorful and truly organic in structure. Dan Klein described his art as visceral and gestural. Lipofsky preferred to create his glass works in partial translucency and contour them into curvaceous shapes such as bubbles and irregular objects. Glassblowing was his to conquer with his adamant skills and talents. He garnered many awards for his passion, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass in Chicago, as well as two National Endowment for the Arts grants in 1974 and 76'. His works can currently be found at many locations spread across the United States and other countries. He has art pieces at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto (Japan).

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Ng Eng Teng : The Grandfather of Singaporean Sculpture

Singaporean artist Ng Eng Teng was well known for his legacy of figure-shaped sculptures, including themes such as maternal love and human emotion. Forever remembered as the grandfather of sculpture in Singapore's culture, he lived up to the name ever since his human creativity began. In 1934, Ng was a child who loved to play with plasticine. He would make figures out of the material and shape miniature artworks in his play sessions. The young Ng graduated from his Senior Cambridge exams in 1955 and together with fellow artist Liu Kang, went to the British Council to take classes of painting and sculpture. In 1959, Jean Vullock introduced Ng to ciment fondu, a novelty medium at the time.

Sculpture by Ng Eng Teng, Picture taken by Marcus Lim

Studying at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Georgette Chen often invited him to talk about art at her home. There, Ng would find himself amazed by the aesthetic beauty of the ceramic displays. Chen realized that the Singapore she knew did not house any notable sculptor at the time. She told Ng that because of his talent and his fluency with the English language, he should seek to become a pioneer in this artistic field for Singapore. Heeding her advice, Ng left Singapore for the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent in England after he graduated. He also later worked at the Carrigaline Pottery in County Cork as an industrial designer. His designs were often exhibited at the Arts and Crafts Centre of Britain and at various Spring Fairs.

Eventually, after making a name for himself, he came back to Singapore to set up a potter workshop and teach ceramics to the local youths. He also wanted to provide support for his family by doing so. Initially he had wanted to set upa  workshop at his alma matter; the Nanyang Academy, however he was rejected by the Academy's administration, so he set up his workshop elsewhere with the help of his father. Despite their good efforts, profit was very little and Ng soon had to seek employment to pay the bills. His friend Vincent Hoisington had recommended him to the International Planned Parenthood Federation in 1968 where he worked for over a year as a visual aids personnel.

In 1970, Ng had his first solo 5-day exhibition held at the lecture hall of the National Library. Since that exhibition, Ng's career skyrocketed and he became known as a well-deserving artist all over Singapore and Australia. He was given the Cultural Medallion Award in 1981 by his country; Singapore. 1988 proved to be an interesting year for Ng as well. He met up with the director of the Paris Arts Centre who acted as the representative of the Olympic Selection Commitee at the time. Ng was commissioned to do a work for the Olympics in Seoul. They eventually agreed on replicating Ng's piece entitled "Portrait" as a larger artwork. This was used in the Olympic ceremony, making Ng a worldwide accomplished sculptor.

He received the Patronage Award from the Singapore Art Museum in 2001. He was also presented several other awards, because of his generous donation of paintings, drawings, pottery and sculptures to the museum. Ng was remembered as a pioneer of sculpture for Singapore, and to this day, lasts in the memory of young and old sculptors alike who wish they could follow in his footsteps and bring greatness to the Singaporean art world.

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An Introduction to Henry Moore : A Timeless Abstract Sculptor

Born on July 30, 1898 in Castleford, West Yorkshire, the English artist Henry Spencer Moore eventually went on to become one of the world's leading creative minds on the theme of abstract sculpture. His monuments of bronze and metals highlight the landscape of several art galleries, museums and sculpture parks across the globe. Moore began his fond interest for sculpture at an early age in his home town. He would constantly be seen playing with modeling clay and carving small designs out of wood. He decided that he wanted to become a great sculptor at the age of 11 when he was introduced to the history of a great sculptor: Michelangelo.

Henry Moore's "Two Piece Reclining Figure"

Photography by Andrew Dunn

 
At school, his talent and interest was fostered by his teachers, who granted him a scholarhip to Castleford Secondary School. His parents however, did not agree with the young man's ambition to pursue a full-time sculpting career, so in time Moore began a career as a teacher at the school he studied in. He also joined the army soon after that. He was one of the youngest participants in the Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles Regiment, but was injured during a gas attack in the Battle of Cambrai (1917). He eventually found his war-time experience to be beneficial to his career as an artist though. They granted him a way to continue his education and become the first student of sculture at the Leeds College of Art. There he met many famous sculptors and became good friends with many of them. He also won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London, where he studied extensively about primitive art and the Victorian style of romanticism in sculpture. Moore later on had a clash with his teacher- his method of carving involved leaving the natural scratchmark and toolmark from carving as part of the piece's finishing. This methodology was too modern for the professors at the college. Despite this, nothing hampered his desire to grow as a modernist sculptor.

Henry Moore's "Reclining Figure"
Photography by Andrew Dunn

Eventually, after spending time via another sculpture grant in Italy. Moore returned to London and became a teacher at the Royal College of Art. There, he married Irina Radetsky, a painting student. They later moved to Hampstead and joined a small groud of modernist artists.

In 1932, Moore became Head of the Sculpture Department at the Chelsea School of Art. Moore and several other sculptors playfully experimented with influences from Surrealism and other art movements, but this was called to a halt at the outbreak of World War II. Moore was commissioned to be a war artist and did several powerful artworks depicting the turmoil going around.  After their home was hit by a bomb, they moved to a place called Hoglands near Hertfordshire. During these years, Moore had a daughter- Mary Moore, named after his mother. His subjects then took a turn towards depicting family life. He later exhibited at the MoMA in New York City. This was followed by several achievements like the International Sculpture Prize at the Venice Biennale, the Companion of Honor (1955) and the Order of Merit (1963). He even turned down knighthood because he thought it might separate him from his place with the local artists.

 

Henry Moore's "Hill Arches"

Photography by John O' Neill

Despite his humility, by the late 1930's Henry Moore overshadowed all other modern sculptors who aspired to reach his level of achievement. He became the "Voice of British Sculpture" and his legacy would then be immortalized like the lasting sculptures he produced during his time.

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A Look Into the Work of Alexander Calder

Alexander Calder a.k.a Sandy was an American Sculptor whose name became most famous for his invention of a particular form of kinetic sculpture: 'the mobiles'. Although not limited to this specific way of doing sculpture, Calder excelled at it the most, creating stunningly beautiful hanging monuments. Both his father and grandfather were also sculptors who were famous themselves, while his mother was a portrait painter. Calder's very first sculpture of a clay elephant was completed in 1902. His family home in Pasadena, California held a cellar which eventually became his very first art studio. in 1909 Calder created one of his very first kinetic sculptures; a duck made out of sheet brass which rocked back and forth when touched. Calder eventually went on to study Mechanical at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Later on in his youth, Calder decided to move to New York and become a real visual artist. He enrolled at the Art Students' League and worked for the National Police Gazette. One of his assignments was to sketch a Ringling Brothers' Circus, and that project got him deeply fascinated with the subject. in 1962, Calder moved to Paris and began trying his creativity at toy making. It was there he made his Cirque Calder a portable circus which filled up about five suitcases. It allowed him to give performances similar to a real circus enactment. This gave rise to his popularity as a toymaker and unconventional artist. In 1929, Calder held his very fist solo show at the Galerie Billiet in Paris. This consisted mostly of wire sculptures he had fashioned into original designs. In 1931, he eventually moved into creating more aero-inclined sculptures, gaining the kinetic energy they needed by utilizing natural flowing air currents from the surroundings. Duchamp eventually called these curious works "mobiles"; a French Pun meaning both "motive" and "mobile". The 1950's led Calder to produce more monument-sized works to quench his thirst for creativity. Most of his works rose to about 24 meters tall and some employed his kinetic style of motion as well. After completing many notable works, Calder published his autobiography in 1966. One of his famous works was WTC Stabile (also known as Bent Propeller) which was stationed in front of the World Trade Center's North Tower in America (1971)

Additional Resources Can be Found at the The Calder Foundation

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Drawing a History from the Great Sculptors of the Renaissance

What does the word Renaissance mean? Its definition correspondingly refers to the term “rebirth” and the reason why this time in history was called as such is because art historians found out that society during this period re-submerged itself in the classical and secular undertakings that were done away with in the past. Renaissance sculptures reflected mainly on classical antiquity, giving rise to many master such as Donatello di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (Donatello’s real name) and Andrea del Verrocchio. Both of these men were Florentine artists. Donatello’s prime masterpiece was the sculpture of David. Standing at five feet tall in solid bronze, he made it for the Medici family of Italy’s famous history. The sculpture was later erected at the Palazzo Medici as the first human-sized nude sculpture piece since Antiquity. Verrocchio, for his part, was an accomplished painter and sculptor whose works certainly rivaled the great Donatello. He was made even more famous however, for being the teacher of another young artist we all know- Leonardo De Vinci.

Growing from the area of Florence, Italy in the 15^th century, the Renaissance movement extended on to the north, reaching the Alps during the early 16^th century. There was a huge desire to move beyond the old ways of thinking and drive art back into the high standards of Greek and Roman art.

Common subjects during the Renaissance period (aside from religious art) were young greek male figures, nude and proportioned to proper anatomical perspective. Other artists also deviated and turned to human emotion and/or suffering as a prime subject for depicting sculpture, such are some works by Michelangelo- “Young Slave, for the tomb of Julius II” made in 1520 at Florence, and “Prisoner”; a sculpture thought to be depicting the titan Atlas, which was also made for the tomb of Julius II.

Philosophy played a significant role in the development of humanism as a way of viewing artistic endeavors. The subject selection at the time prioritized human beings and human life over other important aspects such as religion. This type of art placed man at the center focus of things.

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