Why does it seem so common that modern sculptures of iconic figures look so bad? Soccer star Ronaldo, NBA legend Dwyane Wade, and even the great Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. have been frankly disgraced by sub-par and strange renditions. Is creating a great statue a lost art, or are we being unfair? This week, we talk to a real sculptor to find out.
I imagine the technology exists to 3D print using concrete or a similar durable material, or to automatically etch/laser a block of stone based on a 3D file. And I'm sure there's a 3D capture of LeBron for a video game or movie. Does it feel disingenuous or cheap to make a statue using a computer vs having it designed from scratch by a person?
Those works are subpar! We must cease attempting to spare the artists’ feelings. This issue fundamentally stems from inadequate training and preparation. We need to uphold a higher standard for public art! If I were to assign blame, it would certainly rest with the cities and committees that are vetting and selecting the wrong artists. Comprehensive research can reveal the quality of work an artist has consistently delivered. I believe that if these committees were more educated in art, this situation would likely not arise. Consider Blair Buswell, one of our local exemplary sculptors here in Utah who is recognized among the living greats!
Moreover, it is worth noting that many of today’s distinguished sculptors are backlogged with commissions due to their high demand, which means they are not applying for municipal art commissions. It is possible that the artists who submitted proposals for these public art calls were of comparable skill to the more renowned candidates, and the committee simply lacked suitable options. Without knowledge of the other applicants for the same proposals, it is challenging to make definitive judgments. Typically, in a public art call, artists compete against many peers in a lengthy selection process wherein three finalists are chosen. Each must then present their work to a committee, which narrows the selection down to two finalists and ultimately to one. This process involves numerous opportunities and many individuals in the decision-making of selecting the artist.
I don't hate the winter park FL MLK... is he proportional? No. But the cartoony look kind of works I think? The other two though... hoo boy. Cristiano might have been okay if his head wasn't so big in proportion to his face... and poor Dwyane. Those lines around his mouth just look so weird.
I think we can learn from the DC MLK examples: if you're going to make a statue of someone modern, make it really big and put the face high up so people can't examine it too closely!
This episode is funny, I went to art school and never could handle the idea of sculpture, its so hard! Michelangelo's David is the Biblical David from David VS Goliath - there are other famous "David" statues too, even one by another Ninja Turtle, Donatello.
The talk of painting Vs sculpture also made me think of Arrested Development and the Adam costume.
The unfinished DC MLK one is a metaphor for the Civil Rights Movement being a work in progress
I imagine the technology exists to 3D print using concrete or a similar durable material, or to automatically etch/laser a block of stone based on a 3D file. And I'm sure there's a 3D capture of LeBron for a video game or movie. Does it feel disingenuous or cheap to make a statue using a computer vs having it designed from scratch by a person?
Those works are subpar! We must cease attempting to spare the artists’ feelings. This issue fundamentally stems from inadequate training and preparation. We need to uphold a higher standard for public art! If I were to assign blame, it would certainly rest with the cities and committees that are vetting and selecting the wrong artists. Comprehensive research can reveal the quality of work an artist has consistently delivered. I believe that if these committees were more educated in art, this situation would likely not arise. Consider Blair Buswell, one of our local exemplary sculptors here in Utah who is recognized among the living greats!
Moreover, it is worth noting that many of today’s distinguished sculptors are backlogged with commissions due to their high demand, which means they are not applying for municipal art commissions. It is possible that the artists who submitted proposals for these public art calls were of comparable skill to the more renowned candidates, and the committee simply lacked suitable options. Without knowledge of the other applicants for the same proposals, it is challenging to make definitive judgments. Typically, in a public art call, artists compete against many peers in a lengthy selection process wherein three finalists are chosen. Each must then present their work to a committee, which narrows the selection down to two finalists and ultimately to one. This process involves numerous opportunities and many individuals in the decision-making of selecting the artist.
The Dirk Nowitski statue in Dallas is pretty good. The colors are kind of weird, but good idea to go for iconic shot form than detailed likeness
I don't hate the winter park FL MLK... is he proportional? No. But the cartoony look kind of works I think? The other two though... hoo boy. Cristiano might have been okay if his head wasn't so big in proportion to his face... and poor Dwyane. Those lines around his mouth just look so weird.
I think we can learn from the DC MLK examples: if you're going to make a statue of someone modern, make it really big and put the face high up so people can't examine it too closely!
This episode is funny, I went to art school and never could handle the idea of sculpture, its so hard! Michelangelo's David is the Biblical David from David VS Goliath - there are other famous "David" statues too, even one by another Ninja Turtle, Donatello.
The talk of painting Vs sculpture also made me think of Arrested Development and the Adam costume.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/fans-appalled-tina-turner-statue-draws-heavy-criticism/vi-AA1NAgpI?ocid=socialshare