Sculptures
Plastic arts by definition, sculptures are unique, special and a true assets sometimes. There are so many models as there are materials, techniques and styles. Thus, from jewelry that is considered a miniature form of sculpture, to kinetic sculptures, bas reliefs, busts, stacked art, statues and many others, one has a wide range of spectacular art works to admire. Sculptures decorate, symbolize and give meaning to a place, not to mention that when discovered as an integrated part of ancient cultures they are real treasures and items of world heritage. Sculptures use various kinds of materials with a different resistance to the passage of time, mechanic factors, dust and weather conditions.
The most common material for the carving of sculptures is stone, with marble and limestone in particular. Porphyry and granite have also worked as primary matter but they are not so very common. Then, precious materials like jade, silver, ivory and gold are true delights for a sculptor's hands. As for sculptures meant for common purposes, wood, ceramics, terra cotta and cast metals also work well for the matter. Presently there is a tendency to replace some of the traditional materials with new ones such as stained glass and recycled metal parts.
A special place in any art gallery would be occupied by Asian sculptures that have a unique specificity relevant for the cultural background and the tradition of vast areas from the Middle and Far East. Most of the Asian sculptures make the ritual religious basis for the major cults: Buddhism and Hinduism. Take for instance Thai sculptures, they are almost exclusively representations of Buddha images. Such religious art works are present in almost any temple you'd visit in Asia, but they are also to be seen in collections in many collections from various and prestigious museums in the world.
Other fine examples of sculptures as representations of a cultural background are African 3D representations with elongated bodies, angular shapes and human features. Such sculptures are also part of religious cults specific to the local cultures. They are usually placed as offerings to the gods. The materials of which the sculptures are made vary depending on the region, but one thing is for sure, at a close analysis, sculptures have a decorative, functional and religious part that cannot be denied. And if the Western civilization has put more emphasis on the decorative aspects, not the same thing can be said about the rest of the world.