Essay Sample on Sculptures

Introduction

Sculptures are one of the few ways that humans have been able to make three dimensional art forms. However, that is not the only thing that makes sculptures special, sculptures allow humans to utilize three of their senses. The can utilize the visual senses by seeing the sculpture. They could also utilize the touch senses by touching the sculpture or they can utilize the intuition sense. Sculptures are an old art form. The Lowenmensch figurine is estimated to be at least 30,000 years old. The fact that the sculpture is still existing today means that sculptures have the capacity to withstand the test of time depending on the material used. In Xi'an the Terracotta warriors are the most famous sculptures. However, I found the praying Buddha more intriguing because of its traditional style and religious purpose.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The sculpture falls in the category of tradition sculpture because it only has a three dimensional art form. Second is that it adopts a solid form without empty spaces. "Traditional sculptors viewed empty space as a secondary need in a sculpture" (Encyclopedia of Art). It also doesn't have any movement. The fourth reason is that it uses one of the only two techniques used by traditional sculptors. Traditional sculptors depended on modelling and carving as a way of making their sculptures. In this sculpture, the sculptor used the modelling technique out of clay. One of the important factors to note about the art piece is that it is a sculpture in the round. According to Martin:

All sculpture always evokes our outward sensations and sometimes our inner sensations. Sculpture in the round often evokes our inward sensations, for such sculpture often is anthropomorphic in some respect. And sculpture in the round that has the human body as its subject matter not only often evokes our inward sensations but also interprets them (106).

Martins explanation explains the reason for my attraction to the sculpture. There is always the need for humans to," find a satisfactory material counterpoint for the mental images of our bodies"(106).

The purpose of the sculpture is to offer the teachings of Buddha to the budhists in China. Like most Buddha sculptures, this one carries several meanings. Eastman says," Encoded symbols in the statues were used in a preliterate, oral culture to pass on the messages" (Eastman n.p). The first obvious point to notice is that the statue is in a state of meditation. The act of meditation is an important Buddhist practice. There is also the hand gestures that show the act of meditation. There is also the dot on the forehead of the sculpture as a representation of the third eye. The third eye in Buddhist culture symbolizes wisdom achieved through enlightenment. The purpose of the statue is to help the buddist followers focus their mind to move closer to enlightenemt. The setting of the statue is in a serene open park that allows contact with nature. This serves the purpose of allowing the followers to connect with the natural world. However, the statue's main purpose is to remind the Buddhist to be commited to others rather than themselves. However, it doesn't achieve its purpose because the Chinese culture doesn't consider religion important. Most of us view it for its aesthetic purposes rather than the meanings behind the symbols.

Works Cited

Eastman, Janet. Buddha statues have meaning from head to toe. 12 June 2008. http://www.latimes.com/style/la-hm-buddhaside12-2008jun12-story.html. 18 October 2018.

Encyclopedia of Art. The Art of Sculpture. 2018. Internet. 18 October 2018. <http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/sculpture.htm>.

Martin, David. The Humanities Through Art. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. e-copy.