Material explaining the concepts organic/geomteric form, mass and volume

1. SCULPTURE / CONCEPTS
Pasi Kirkkopelto

2. CONCEPTS
ORGANIC FORM
GEOMETRIC FORM
MASS
VOLUME

3. ORGANIC FORM / NATURAL, EVOLVING / HENRY MOORE
ORGANIC FORM
• Natural, imitating nature
• evolving
• free rhythm
• soft transitions and arching forms
HENRY MOORE
• human figures
• positive form and negative space
• volume
• Inside & outside at the same time

4. MOORE IN HIS OWN WORDS:
‘A piece of stone can have a hole through it and
not be weakened - if the hole is of a studied
size, shape and direction. On the principle of
the arch, it can remain just as strong. The first
hole made through a piece of stone is a
revelation. The hole connects one side to the
other, making it immediately more three-
dimensional. A hole can itself have as much
shape-meaning as a solid mass. Sculpture in air
is possible, where the stone contains only the
hole, which is the intended and considered
form. The mystery of the hole - the mysterious
fascination of caves in hillsides and cliffs’ (‘The
Sculptor Speaks’ in The Listener, 18 August
1937; reprinted op. cit., p.xxxiv).
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/moore-
recumbent-figure-n05387/text-catalogue-
entry
Video: https://youtu.be/Hr09gZitg1s
ORGANIC FORM / NATURAL, EVOLVING / HENRY MOORE

5. GEOMETRIC/CONSTRUCTED FORM / AMILCAR DECASTRO
CONSTRUCTED FORM
• manmade
• geometric forms
• mathematical rhythm
• Flat surfaces, straight lines,
symmetrical curves
• e.g.-- cubes, spheres, pyramids
AMILCAR DE CASTRO
• geometric form
• abstract
• positive / negative space

6. GEOMETRIC/CONSTRUCTED FORM / AMILCAR DECASTRO

7. GEOMETRIC/CONSTRUCTED FORM / AMILCAR DECASTRO

8. BLENDING ORGANIC AND GEOMETRIC / MARTTI AIHA / RUMBA
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fi/0/0f/Martti_Aiha_Rumba_1992.jpg

9. CONCEPTS OF SCULPTURE | MASS
CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI : KISS
• What does this work consist of?
• What properties/qualities does this work have?
info: minimalism
• How is it made?
• What kind of tool?
• What does the work depict?
• What feelings does it evoke? How does it do it -
by which visual means?
Definition: The outside size and bulk of an object,
such as a building or a sculpture; also the visual
weight of an object.

10. JU MING TAI CHI-SERIES
• Compare the sculture above to ”the Kiss”
• What similarities can you notice?
• What differences?
• What qualities does it have other than the Brancusi Kiss?
• What does this sculpture depict?
• How is this related to space?
A STEP FORWARD: JU MING TAICHI-SERIES

11. Push Hand Untitled
MASS AND MOVEMENT: JU MING TAICHI-SERIES

12. MASS AND MOVEMENT: JU MING TAICHI-SERIES
Taichi single whip Arch
• How is this sculpture different from the other Ju Ming
sculptures?
• How does it influence the whole sculpture?
• Does it change it's relationship with the spectator, surrounding
area?

13. CONCEPTS OF SCULPTURE / VOLUME
Look at these three images: What do they all have in common?
• How are they different from Brancusi Kiss or Ju Ming sculptures?
• What similarities do you notice?
Gianlorenzo Bernini: DavidMyron: Discobolus Henry Moore: Detail

14. Konstantin Brancusi : Kiss Gianlorenzo Bernini : David
mass: closed, unified
form, The outside size
and bulk of an object,
such as a building or a
sculpture; the visual
weight of an object.
volume: form and the
open space within the
form, also the area of
influence the sculpture
has
Describes the space
within a form, such as
that of a container or
building.
CONCEPTS OF SCULPTURE: VOLUME

15. CONCEPTS OF SCULPTURE / VOLUME
Look at the four views of Gianlorenzo Bernini’s David

16. CONCEPTS OF SCULPTURE / VOLUME

17. Look at the thin human figures of Alberto Giacometti on the left and compare the sculpture with
Japanese bonsai art - miniature trees and forests
• How can separate parts form a whole?
• What qualities do they need to have?
CONCEPTS OF SCULPTURE: VOLUME