Human beings have used different medium for communication to express their internal feelings, imaginations, and thoughts since time immemorial. For these they had used line drawings, symbols, motifs and figurative manuscript in ancient period. In Stone Age they made their tools with stone for hunting. Later on the stone was used for expression of their intuitions and imaginations. The terracotta of different civilizations can explain their cultural development of that period. We have found so many terracotta figures from Indus Valley civilization which tells about the civilization of that era. For the presentation of art, Sculpture is a three dimensional medium. A good combination of folk acceptance, religious trusts, traditions and cultural activities can be seen in the art of sculpture. Terracotta, stone, wood, metal are the most important medium of making a sculpture. In these medium we find a specific regional affect and cultural identification of particular area.

Here I am going to focus on the art of 3-D expression-SCULPTURE.

The art of sculpturing is a visual expression of three dimensions in a solid form. It may be round or relief and it is in practice since immemorial time. People use a sculpture or a figure for expression, worship, decoration, fear, memory and identifications. The oldest Indian literatures; the Vedas, the Puranas, and the Upanishads have focused on the use and importance of sculpture in detail. Later the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and other literatures with Buddhism and Jainism have also described different types of sculptures and their role in religion and society. There are so many temples and kalamandapas everywhere in India and even in abroad. The medieval period of Indian history has lots of examples of such types of sculptures. So, the art of sculpture has played an important role in the development of religion, values and culture of the society. There are many places in our country famous for Indian sculptures. We all well know about Khajuraho, Elora, Konark, Sarnath etc. The sculpture from Gandhar, Mathura and Kushan are also able to describe cultural development of that period. Our country has vast cultural and religious activities. In these activities we use many types of sculptures for whole of the year. Some of them are permanent and the rest are temporary—means for the occasion of certain period (festival, vrata and pujas). Indian religion describes thousands of vrata and pujas, in which we need a specific figure in different part of this land. Indian religions have millions of gods and goddesses for worship and pray according to vrata and pujas.

Fine art (visual and performing) is a medicine for mental relaxation and it is a tool of meditation, self satisfaction, joy and expressions. In fine art, Sculpture is a branch of visual expression like Paintings. Where as Painting is a two - dimensional expression, but sculpture is a three - dimensional expression. There are many methods and process in practice to create a sculpture and so many types of materials are being used to shape or make a model or figure or a sculpture. Today this art has reached on glass, fiber glass, plastic and other innovative medium through the journey of terracotta, stone, wood, metal etc.  Types of sculpture may be based on as follows;

A. Stability (i) Temporary,
(ii) Permanent

B.  Shape - (i) Round, (ii) Relief

C. Medium or Material – (i) Clay (Terracotta), (ii) Plaster of Paris,
(iii) Cement, (iv) Wood, (v) Stone, (vi) Metal, (vii) Fiber glass/Synthetic Stone, (viii) Wax and lac,
(ix) Assembling with mix Media etc.

D. Method – (i) Modeling, (ii) Moulding-Casting, (iii) Carving,
(iv) Installation etc.

Apart of these we can also classify it on the basis of period, worship like ‘Shaiv’, ‘Shakt’, ‘Vaishnav’ ‘Budhism’, ’Jainism’ etc. We can also differentiate sculpture as Out door and In door Sculpture. Sculpture for Decoration, Worship and Life & Portraits etc.  Here I am going to focus on method based sculpture in brief which will be helpful to the young sculptor as well as traditional potter and sculptor :

1. Modeling : This is the oldest method of making a sculpture specially terracotta figure and sculpture for vrata and pujas. We use wet and flexible materials in this method. With wet clay, we can make easily a model or a figure either on wheel or in free hand. After drying we bake or fire it which is called terracotta. We have so many references of use of god’s created clay (earth) in Indian classical literatures. “The legend has it that Shiva created this earth with a lamp of mud brought by crab from Pataal.” Our civilization has developed with clay brought from the bottom of the sea. Traditional potters use this method since ancient period.

2. Moulding-Casting : The term moulding-casting is made of two words. First the is mould which will be done after completion of the modeling of a figure with the help of plaster of Paris, rubber etc. and second is the process to complete the figure with help of the mould. In the field of sculpture this method plays an important role in creating a model of clay into cement, plaster of Paris, metal, fiber-glass etc. We can make a replica or a copy of a traditional sculpture of stone, wood or metal into a new medium i.e. fiber-glass, cement, plaster of Paris etc.

3. Carving : This is also an old method of making a sculpture in solid and hard materials like stone and wood. We can find the sculpture of stone since Stone Age. For the fulfillment of different types of needs and objectives people create a figure/sculpture in stone. We can find most of traditional sculpture made of stone which are based on carving method. Usually the sculpture of a temple is made of stone, it may be sand, marble or granite stone. “Many forms of Indian mythology can be engraved with tradition of decoration in wood. Several images of gods and goddesses are made in wood.” Folk cultural imitation can be clearly seen in the wooden Stambh (pillar). Carved wooden sculptures are also available in temple. For example the wooden sculpture of lord Jagnnath (Krishna) - Balbhadra- Shubhadra at Puri in Orrisa.

We can find sculpture of lord Buddha, Mahavir and other Hindu gods and goddesses everywhere in India. ‘Shivalinga’ is the most sacred and abstract form of lord Shiva and Shakti, which depicts about the nature and creator of the universe. Another famous sculpture of India is ‘Natraj’ a dancing (tandava nritya) figure of lord Shiva denoting pralaya (abolition) and for a new creation of life. Thus the carving method of making a sculpture is a solid and permanent medium. A young artist or a traditional carver can enhance his/her skill and wages with the appropriate training and knowledge.

4. Installation : This is an innovative media to express our feelings, imaginations and thoughts with the help of any materials. In this method we put some goods and materials and present it in a proper manner and titled it attractively. In this method the material are not important, only our presentation is valuable and so we call it installation and assembling. This is a perfect media only for modern and abstract creations. We can’t create a realistic figure in this medium. To work in this medium there is a need of artistic approach and knowledge of art trends.

Commercial aspects :

There is demand for sculpture in India and abroad. So it can be opted as a profession. In a year millions of sculptures are made with temporary and permanent materials. Today people want to install a sculpture on road-junction, park, in a lawn, corridor of a building or in a drawing room of a house.

Training and Education :

There are many courses available in the field of sculpture. There are some institutions which provide the degree and training programme with short term certificate courses in this field. The following institutions can be helpful in this:

ã    College of Arts and Craft, Lucknow, UP.

ã    Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP.

ã    M.S.University, Baroda, Gujrat

ã    Kala Bhawan, Vishwa Bharti, Shantiniketan, WB.

ã    Indira Kala Sangit Vish-waidyalaya, Khairagarh, CHH.

ã    MG Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot MP.

ã    Rajasthan University, Jaipur, Rajsthan.

ã    College of Arts, New Delhi.

ã    College of Arts, Chennai, TN.

ã    College of Arts, Patna, Bihar

ã    Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, MH.

The list is indicative

The degree courses BFA. (Bachelor of Fine Art) and MFA. (Master of Fine Art) in Sculpture or Design are available in many institutions. Some institutions provide the diploma and short term courses like clay modeling which are also helpful to begin a carrier in this field.

Opportunities :

The field of sculpture is a self-employment based area, in which a person can employ other people too. There is a large scope and opportunity in freelancing. Apart from freelance artist the jobs are also available in the government and private sectors. In brief we can focus on this as follow:

1.  Freelance Artist—A person can choose this field as a profession and also work for joy and self-satisfactions.

2.  Opportunities in the field of Teaching :

     A.  TGT. Teacher— For Central School (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya, DPS. and other famous school.

     B.  PGT. Teacher  (Intermediate School)—For  Higher Secon-dary Schools of government and private sector.

     C.  Teacher in Higher Education—Arts Colleges, Institutes and Universities.

     D.  Instructor/Trainer—For other institutions.

3.  Modeler—For national and government Museums, Cultural Conservation Centers etc.

4.  Private Sector—In plastic, glass, shoes and other Industries as Modeler and Designer.

The importance of fine art in employment generation has always been considerable.

(The author is Sr. Lecturer in Visual Art, Department of Professional Art, MGCG Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Dist. Satna (M.P.)