Soft Sculpture
Definition
This term refers to sculptures made from flexible, pliable materials such as fabric, rubber, or foam, as opposed to traditional rigid materials like stone or metal. Soft sculpture often explores themes of softness, vulnerability, and impermanence, challenging conventional notions of sculpture as a static, durable medium.
History
Soft sculpture emerged as a distinct art form in the 1960s, particularly with the rise of Pop Art and the exploration of new materials in sculpture. Artists like Claes Oldenburg and Yayoi Kusama used soft materials to create playful, often oversized sculptures that challenge traditional expectations of form and material in sculpture.
Notable Examples
Yayoi Kusama
Accumulation No. 1, 1962
Key Artists & Movements
Key figures include Claes Oldenburg, whose Floor Burgeris an iconic example of soft sculpture, using canvas and foam to create a humorous, oversized hamburger, and Yayoi Kusama, known for her soft, fabric-covered sculptures like Accumulation No. 1, which explore themes of repetition, accumulation, and obsession.
Techniques & Materials
Techniques involve the use of sewing, stuffing, and assembling soft materials to create three-dimensional forms. Artists may use fabric, foam, rubber, and other pliable materials to create sculptures that are often tactile, inviting touch, and interaction. Soft sculpture challenges traditional notions of sculpture by emphasizing impermanence, flexibility, and the sensory experience of the work, often creating playful or thought-provoking contrasts with more rigid, conventional sculptures.
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