TABLE OF CONTENT:

• Evolution of Modern Art In India

• Modern Art Vs Contemporary Art

• Modern Art Styles

• Impressionistic Sculpture

• Cubist Sculpture

• Abstract Sculpture

Sculptures have been an integral part of Indian art history and culture across centuries. These include the bronze, limestone, and terracotta sculptures that were a part of the Indus Valley civilization, the majestic life-size statues, and the beautiful marble Buddha statue cut out from rocks during medieval times in the Ajanta and Ellora caves.

Abstract Modern Face Sculpture

All these sculpting wonders reflect the great skill and craftsmanship of the artisans from all over India and their ability to carve something unique and inspiring from different types of materials. Hence it is not surprising that sculpture art continues to be a preferred mode of artistic expression across the country.

Evolution of Modern Art in India

Sculpting, like most other art forms, underwent significant changes with time and became more form-oriented. Most Indian sculptures were designed to reflect the life and culture of the people living in a region or were inspired by religious and philosophical practices of the time.

However, the trend changed significantly during the nineteenth century with a shift in focus from originality and experimentation in sculpting. This was mainly due to the growing influence of Western perception of sculpting, which presented a generally authoritarian outlook of this ancient Indian art form.

The artists and travelers from the West failed to acknowledge and appreciate the radically different form of sculpting that was practiced in the Indian subcontinent. Consequently, they deemed the richness of the traditional sculpture abstract art to be blasphemous compared to the revered classical rendition of this art form in the West.

Large Abstract Ganesha | Modern Art Sculpture

Additionally, the establishment of British art schools in India further eroded the traditional sculpting practices in India while emphasizing the creation of perfectly balanced forms. This gradually led to the evolution of modern Indian art, which essentially combines the various aspects of both traditional techniques and Western methods of sculpting.

Modern Art Vs Contemporary Art

Most people tend to use the terms modern art and contemporary art interchangeably besides categorizing them both as modernistic art forms. However, there is a significant difference between these two types of artworks, and understanding the same can help people to make the right choice.

👉 Modern Art: Contrary to popular belief modern art evolved long before contemporary art and represented a break from tradition. It focused on proposing new ways to understand the idea and objective of sculpting as a modern abstract art form.

It promoted the imitation of nature, expressionism, abstraction,  and other aspects of traditional methods of sculpting. With the evolution of modern artwork, sculpting was no longer restricted to being dependent on anatomy or architecture to be considered worthy of notice.

👉 Contemporary Art: Contemporary art refers to the various art forms that are created in the present time. Contemporary sculpture helped to expand and multiply the possibilities of sculpting as an art form. Contemporary sculpting developed due to the profound evolution of modern art over several decades.

It focused more on geometric figures, space, movement, and subjectivity, to create aesthetically appealing sculptures. The most important feature of any contemporary stone statue and sculpture is that they provide a break from the past and focus on innovation.

Modern Art Styles

Modern art refers to the works created between 1860 and 1970 using different techniques and styles. Since this art form focused on challenging traditional methods and beliefs and promoting new ideas and art abstracts, it resulted in the development of the following main styles in sculpting. 

👉 Impressionistic Sculpture: This style of sculpture was introduced by Auguste Rodin in 1900. He replaced the sharp lines and chiseled features of a traditional marble sculpture with more realistic forms and aspects. Rodin was the first artist to create these kinds of sculptures and hence he is credited as the founder of modern art.

👉 Cubist Sculpture: The cubist style of sculpting began in 1909 and continued to evolve through the early 1920s. During this period, the sculptors started creating artwork using disparate materials rather than carving a traditional Italian marble sculpture. They even created sculptures similar to traditional ones using only plaster and clay molds. Pablo Picasso was one of the most famous cubist sculptors known for his innovative works of art.

👉 Abstract Sculpture: This style of sculpting was promoted by  Constantin Brâncuși to revolt against the naturalism method of Rodin and his contemporaries. Brâncuși created a white marble statue that distilled down the subjects to their essence. His work became synonymous with 20th-century sculpting and he impacted modern sculpting quite significantly with his vocabulary of reduction and abstraction.

Wrapping Up

The style changes, the different use of materials, and the aspects that the sculptures focus on have made modern and contemporary sculpting styles significantly different from traditional methods of sculpting. However, this has only helped in popularizing the art form among the masses, who prefer minimalistic sculptures that are carved both in traditional and contemporary styles. Consequently, sculptures have become an integral part of home decor for enhancing the overall look and appeal of both the interior and exterior spaces.