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Realism vs. Abstraction in Human Figure Statues
From the dawn of time, artists have been creating statues of people. Have you ever noticed how some statues are incredibly lifelike, and how others appear more unusual and perhaps a little odd? In the art world, there is a big debate on realism v/s abstraction in human figure statues.
Advantages
Artists have long been creating realistic and abstract sculpture of the human figure. “Artists practiced really hard over thousands of years to make statues that looked like a real person and that really shows, like, every muscle and wrinkle that you have on your body,” said Andres. But over time, some artists began creating more abstract statues that resembled shapes and patterns rather than real people.
It can be bewildering to figure out what realist and abstract statues of the human form mean. Realistic statues can often enhance the true concept of the beauty of the human body, but abstract statues can relay feelings or ideas in a more artistic approach. Realistic statues make some people feel as if they are seeing a real person, even while an abstract statue could prompt a person to consider what the artist was experiencing when they created it.
Benefits
It’s very significant to consider how realism and abstraction might shape perceptions of what people see in human figure statues. When you gawk at a lifelike statue, you can sense that the novelty of the uncanny valley has vanished. But when you encounter, say, an abstract statue, you may feel a little mystified or curious about what it means. The same statue would have one effect (or none) on one homeless person; another effect (or none) on the next; and so forth.
Summary
Ultimately, the real vs. abstract debate on human figure sculpture is an interesting one that artists have been considering for years. When you see statues in museums or in parks, do you like statues that look exactly like real people or that make you look at the world differently? Art is a matter of representing ideas and feelings, and the world of human figure statues needs both realism and abstraction. So the next time you gaze at a statue, spend a little extra time considering whether it looks realier or more abstract— you might learn something new about art!
