The Written Word as a Catalyst:

When words and sculpture converge, a unique artistic synergy is born. The written word has long served as a catalyst for creative expression, and when it finds its way into the realm of sculpture, it adds an additional layer of depth and meaning. Sculptors harness the power of language to infuse their works with narratives, inviting viewers into a world where stories unfold through tactile forms. From abstract pieces that provoke introspection to figurative sculptures that depict specific tales, the integration of written words invites us to engage with art on a more intimate and cerebral level.

Exploring Themes and Concepts:

One of the intriguing aspects of modern sculpture that incorporates the written word is the exploration of various themes and concepts. Sculptors often draw inspiration from literature, poetry, and philosophical texts, using excerpts or entire passages to infuse their works with deeper meaning. By selecting specific words or phrases, sculptors can convey a particular mood, highlight social issues, or reflect on personal experiences. The fusion of writing and sculpture allows for a multi-dimensional interpretation, enabling viewers to connect with the art in a more profound and introspective manner.

PapersOwl Writing Service: Enhancing the Artistic Process:

In the realm of writing, services like PapersOwl provide valuable assistance to artists and individuals who seek professional writing support. PapersOwl offers a wide range of writing services, including essay writing, research papers, and content creation, which can be beneficial for sculptors seeking to integrate the written word into their artistic process. By collaborating with professional writers, sculptors can articulate their vision more effectively, ensuring that the words chosen align with their creative intent. PapersOwl’s expertise can help sculptors refine their ideas, construct compelling narratives, and enhance the overall impact of their sculptural creations.

Examples of Noteworthy Sculptures:

Numerous modern sculptures stand as compelling examples of the art of storytelling through the written word. One such masterpiece is Jaume Plensa’s “Crown Fountain” in Chicago’s Millennium Park. This interactive installation features two towering glass block towers displaying the faces of Chicago residents. Embedded within the glass blocks are LED screens that showcase an ever-changing stream of text, including snippets of conversations and stories collected from the local community. Plensa’s creation merges sculpture, technology, and the written word to reflect the diversity and stories of the city’s inhabitants.

Another striking example is Barbara Kruger’s thought-provoking installation titled “Untitled (Your Body is a Battleground).” Kruger’s work combines bold, large-scale typography with a photographic image, challenging societal norms and highlighting issues related to feminism and women’s rights. The juxtaposition of text and image in Kruger’s sculpture prompts viewers to reflect on the power of language and its impact on our perceptions of gender and identity.

Conclusion:

The art of storytelling in three-dimensional form through the fusion of writing and modern sculpture opens up a world of creative possibilities. By incorporating the written word into their works, sculptors infuse their creations with narratives, evoke emotions, and invite viewers to engage with art on a deeper level. Whether through the exploration of themes and concepts, collaboration with professional writing services, or the creation of thought-provoking installations, the written word continues to enrich and transform the realm of modern sculpture, creating a captivating space where stories come to life in a tangible and visually arresting manner.

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In this article, we will explore the 10 most expensive sculptures ever sold at an auction, and learn more about their creators, their meanings, and their impact on the world of art.

Sculptural art does not seem to drop in prices for the last few years. In fact, it may even increase in value as part of the overall art market trend. The Mei Moses All Art Index, which tracks re-sales of artworks at auction, registered a 17% increase in the value of art across categories in 2021. The global art and sculpture market is also expected to grow at a considerable rate during the forecast period from 2022 to 2030.

Of course, these trends may vary depending on different factors, such as supply and demand, quality and rarity, historical and cultural significance, or personal preferences. Some sculptures may appreciate more than others over time.

Here is the list of the most expensive sculptures in 2023:

1. L’Homme au doigt (Pointing Man) by Alberto Giacometti: A bronze sculpture of a thin man pointing his finger, created in 1947. It sold for $141.3 million in 2015 at Christie’s New York. It is considered one of Giacometti’s most iconic and evocative works.
2. L’Homme qui marche I (Walking Man I) by Alberto Giacometti: Another bronze sculpture of a thin man, this time walking with his arms at his sides, created in 1960. It sold for $104.3 million in 2010 at Sotheby’s London. It is regarded as a symbol of humanity and resilience.
3. Balloon Dog (Orange) by Jeff Koons: A stainless steel sculpture of a balloon dog with a glossy orange finish, created in 1994-2000. It sold for $58.4 million in 2013 at Christie’s New York. It is part of Koons’ Celebration series that explores childhood themes and consumer culture.
4. Tulips by Jeff Koons: Another stainless steel sculpture with a glossy finish, this time depicting a bouquet of tulips in different colors, created in 1995-2004. It sold for $33.7 million in 2012 at Christie’s New York. It is also part of Koons’ Celebration series that celebrates life and love.
5. Le Grand Vélo (The Big Bicycle) by Pablo Picasso: A painted iron sculpture of a bicycle with oversized wheels and handlebars, created in 1950-1951. It sold for $29 million in 2021 at Sotheby’s London. It is one of Picasso’s playful interpretations of everyday objects that reflect his interest in Surrealism and Cubism.
6. Madame LR (Portrait de Mme LR) by Constantin Brâncuși: A carved wood sculpture of a woman’s head and torso with abstract forms, created in 1914-1917. It sold for $27 million in 2009 at Christie’s Paris. It is one of Brâncuși’s experiments with simplifying human figures to their essence.
7. Balloon Swan (Yellow) by Jeff Koons: Another stainless steel sculpture of a balloon animal with a glossy yellow finish, this time depicting a swan with an elongated neck, created in 2004-2011. It sold for $25 million in 2017 at Christie’s New York. It is also part of Koons’ Celebration series that expresses joy and beauty.

8. La Muse Endormie (The Sleeping Muse) by Constantin Brâncuși: A bronze sculpture of a woman’s head resting on its side, created in 1913. It sold for $24.6 million in 2017 at Christie’s New York. It is one of Brâncuși’s variations on the theme of sleep and dreams.

9. Reclining Figure: Festival by Henry Moore: A bronze sculpture of a reclining female figure with curved forms, created in 1951. It sold for $24.5 million in 2016 at Christie’s London. It is one of Moore’s explorations on the relationship between human body and landscape.

10. Oiseau dans l’espace (Bird in Space) by Constantin Brâncuși: A bronze sculpture of an abstract bird soaring upwards, created in 1928. It sold for $23.8 million in 2005 at Christie’s New York. It is one of Brâncuși’s attempts to capture movement and flight through minimal shapes.

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1. The “Jean Arp” collection by Georg Jensen

In 2012, Danish jewelry brand Georg Jensen released a collection inspired by the abstract sculptures of Jean Arp, a German-French artist known for his biomorphic forms. The collection features pieces in sterling silver and 18k gold, with fluid lines and organic shapes reminiscent of Arp’s sculptures. One standout piece is the “Arp Cuff,” a silver cuff bracelet with a sculptural shape that wraps around the wrist.

2. The “Flora” pearl earrings by Ana Khouri

Brazilian jewelry designer Ana Khouri created a pair of pearl earrings in 2019 inspired by the sculptures of French artist Jean Arp. The “Flora” earrings feature organic shapes in gold and white pearls, with a sense of movement and fluidity that evokes Arp’s biomorphic forms. The earrings are part of Khouri’s larger “Flora” collection, which explores the relationship between nature and sculpture.

By the way, on Delagem.com you will find a decent collection of pearl earrings (and much more affordable, too).

3. The “Goddess” necklace by Cindy Chao

Taiwanese jewelry designer Cindy Chao is known for her elaborate and sculptural pieces, often inspired by nature and art history. In 2018, she unveiled the “Goddess” necklace, a stunning piece featuring a 104.03-carat yellow diamond set in a sculpted gold and titanium frame. The design is inspired by the goddesses of ancient Greek mythology, and the necklace resembles a flowing gown or robe. Chao’s use of gold and titanium creates a sense of movement and fluidity, much like the draped garments of classical sculptures.

4. The “Boucheron Pearl and Diamond Necklace”

In 2017, a pearl and diamond necklace by French jewelry brand Boucheron sold for over $600,000 at auction. The necklace features a large, baroque pearl at its center, with a sculptural diamond and gold setting that resembles a blooming flower. The design is inspired by the art of the Rococo period, known for its ornate and whimsical sculptures and architecture. Similar pearl necklaces are represented by Delagem.com.

5. The “Panthére de Cartier” collection

As mentioned earlier, the iconic Panthére bracelet was inspired by the sculpted panthers that were popular in Art Deco design. Cartier has since expanded the Panthére collection to include rings, necklaces, earrings, and watches, all featuring the panther motif. The pieces are made of gold or platinum, with diamonds, emeralds, and onyx accents. The Panthére de Cartier collection embodies the sleek and powerful aesthetic of Art Deco sculpture.

6. The “David Yurman Venetian Quatrefoil” collection

David Yurman is a jewelry brand known for its use of natural materials and sculptural designs. The Venetian Quatrefoil collection features pieces inspired by the ornate architecture of Venice, particularly the quatrefoil shape seen in many Gothic and Renaissance buildings. The pieces are made of sterling silver or 18k gold, with gemstones such as citrine, peridot, and amethyst. The intricate, interlocking shapes of the collection evoke the intricate details of Gothic sculptures and architecture.

7. The “Métiers d’Art Hommage à l’Art de la Danse” watch by Vacheron Constantin

Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin created a stunning timepiece in 2014 inspired by the art of dance. The Métiers d’Art Hommage à l’Art de la Danse watch features a series of sculpted gold dancers in various poses, set against a background of enamel and diamonds. The design is inspired by the ballets of Edgar Degas, known for his sculptures and paintings of dancers. The watch combines the precision and elegance of watchmaking with the fluidity and movement of dance sculptures. The watch sold for over $100,000 at auction.

8. The “Pharaohs” collection by Bulgari

In 2019, Italian jewelry brand Bulgari released a collection inspired by the art and architecture of ancient Egypt. The collection features pieces in gold, lapis lazuli, and malachite, with sculptural shapes inspired by Egyptian gods, pharaohs, and hieroglyphics. The “Pharaohs” necklace, for example, features a gold pendant in the shape of a falcon, a symbol of the god Horus, with inlaid lapis lazuli and diamonds.

9. The “Calder” collection by John Hardy

In 2017, jewelry brand John Hardy released a collection inspired by the wire sculptures of American artist Alexander Calder. The collection features pieces in silver and gold, with fluid lines and abstract shapes that resemble Calder’s playful and whimsical sculptures. The “Calder” earrings, for example, feature delicate wirework that creates the illusion of movement and balance.

10. The “Artemis” collection by Lydia Courteille

French jewelry designer Lydia Courteille created a collection in 2018 inspired by the goddess Artemis, known in Greek mythology as the goddess of the hunt and wilderness. The collection features pieces in gold and silver, with sculptural shapes and gemstone accents that evoke the natural world. The “Artemis” necklace, for example, features a sculpted gold pendant in the shape of a stag’s head, with diamonds and sapphires for eyes.

11. The “Buddha” necklace by Cartier

In 2015, Cartier released a stunning necklace inspired by the art and iconography of Buddhism. The “Buddha” necklace features a large, carved emerald in the shape of the Buddha, surrounded by smaller emeralds and diamonds. The design is inspired by the statues of the Buddha found throughout Asia, which often feature intricate carvings and precious materials.

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Today the situation is changing rapidly: there are more and more women artists at exhibitions, in galleries, at auctions. For example, at the largest exhibition of contemporary art, the 59th Venice Biennale, which takes place from April to November this year, most of the participants are women and non-binary people. This emphasis is deliberate, to show the contribution that women artists have made to contemporary art and that there are indeed many of them.

It’s hard to call this trend new, but now it’s gaining more and more momentum.

Unusual Locations
More and more often modern art can be found in the most unexpected locations: on a city’s central square, in a temple, in a restaurant or even a mall.

There is nothing specific in the fact that art surrounds people in their daily lives; examples can be found in any era: religious frescoes on the walls and plafonds of cathedrals, sculptures in palace parks, paintings and engravings in aristocratic mansions.

The contrast is striking when modern art objects are exhibited next to classical art. For example, in Venice inside the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, works by contemporary artist Ugo Rondinone are on display alongside Renaissance paintings as part of the “Burn, Shine, Pari” exhibition.

Such art interventions are usually temporary and allow us to look at classical works from an unusual angle, discover new meanings in them and raise the status of contemporary art, which is also capable of speaking about the sublime and the beautiful – just in a different language.

Participatory art
I’m talking about art that involves the viewer and turns him or her from a bystander into a participant in the creative process.

A recent example that I saw this summer was a skatepark-like installation at a contemporary art exhibition where anyone can bring their own skateboard and ride it. This art-object is presented at the exhibition documenta 15 in the German city of Kassel, which every 5 years becomes the main point of art-experiments. The work of the Thai collective speaks the language of action, attracting the attention of young audiences and making the exhibition space more democratic and accessible.

Another example of the public’s active interaction with an art object is Carsten Höller’s installation in the form of a large slide, down which not only children, but adults as well can descend. To offer an unconventional experience or to resurrect long forgotten experiences is capable of art that is not afraid of experimentation and challenges the familiar.

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NFT – This is the kind of digital asset that represents something unique. The familiar tokens Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and others belong to the class of fungible assets. In this, they are similar to traditional (fiat) money.

What is fungibility? You can exchange any banknote of 1,000 rubles to another banknote of the same denomination, and the value of your assets will not change. Likewise, any two bitcoins have the same value in the market and can be exchanged at the same time at the same rate to another currency, or the same goods and services can be obtained for them (in those countries where it is allowed).

An example of non-exchangeable real assets is real estate, art objects, or any other assets that cannot be exchanged for exactly the same ones with the same value. It is impossible to find two identical apartments located at the same address, on the same floor, with the same layout, area, and view from the window. Some characteristics will definitely be different.

All possible assets can be divided into: Interchangeable and Non-Interchangeable, and into Physical and Digital. Unique items in online video games, NFT certificates and crypto-art items themselves refer to Digital Non-exchangeable assets
A big and long-standing problem in the world of digital art is how easily it can be copied and distributed. Once something is copied and replicated for free, the value of that asset drops, and all perspective of the market disappears. For something to have value, it needs to be scarce.

Blockchain helps digital artists solve this problem by introducing the idea of “digital scarcity”: producing a limited number of copies of items and tying them to unique tokens that confirm ownership.

A token in this case is a digital certificate that is stored in a secure and decentralized database – a blockchain. It confirms your right to something unique. You can attach it to anything: JPEGs, GIFs, MP4s, even music. This token, proving ownership of the “original” file, is stored in the blockchain.

NFT is intellectual property, your right to which is publicly proven on the blockchain.

Everyone can download and share your picture, they can even print it out and hang it on their wall, but only you will own it. And only you, respectively, can sell the artwork.

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• Reflexive Direction. Representatives of this trend in sculpture are inspired by classical sculpture, recognized masters of this art form and their works, creating art objects according to classical “schemes” and the most obvious motifs. However, it is completely impossible, and not necessary, to call this approach trivial: after all, sculpture was and remains an extremely complex area of art. For example, in painting, the artist creates a two-dimensional image, flat, while the sculptor must observe a lot of proportions, literally, in natural format.
• Postmodern. Here we can combine everything that was said above: here the sculptor is trying to shock, and if not to shock, then to convey to the viewer a certain thought and a completely certain message. Such works cannot be called unambiguous, almost always they cause a tangible resonance. In this case, the most unusual materials are used. No, of course, can be used and the usual, but against the background of the exploitation of interesting forms and subjects used and interesting materials, sometimes even completely unsuitable, at first glance, in this field. Extremely popular are various kinds of installations rather than sculptures.
• Technological direction. Science is stepping forward and more and more popular, for example, 3D-printers, capable of using a special mechanism to create real, pre-designed masterpieces. This direction, of course, is heavily criticized by various retrogrades, but despite this, it is extremely promising.

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Also modern sculpture gradually acquired a new feature – dynamism (kinetic sculpture), and with the arrival of modern technology and new materials, it is no longer associated with any special technical skills of the sculptor.

Historically any sculpture was defined by its two main elements – mass and space. In modern style sculpture, these elements lose their former importance. Monolithic forms are giving way to light and transparent constructions made of all kinds of materials that allow the sculptor to capture the effect of movement in space.

Such elements as volume (including negative), surface texture, play of light and color become the key elements in the visual palette of the modern sculptor.

The structure and expressiveness of the surface of modern sculpture is especially important, as it gives an idea of the internal structure of the sculpture itself, as well as determines its interaction with the surrounding space, thus acquiring a metaphysical meaning. The curved convex surface demonstrates integrity, completeness and the presence of inner power.

The concave surface, on the contrary, shows the invasion of space into the sculptural mass, its disintegration and destruction. Flat surfaces give an idea of the stiffness of the material, its immunity to pressure from inside and outside.

The sculptor may also use several types of surfaces in the same object to demonstrate the instability and struggle of internal and external forces that often accompany the processes of growth, expansion in space.

Unlike a painter who creates light effects with the colors of his painting, the sculptor must operate exclusively with external light directed at the sculpture, distributing incoming light and creating shadows across the surface of his work.

This is why it is always important for the sculptor to understand in advance where his work will be placed. Thus, Indian sculptures look best in bright natural light, and the work of Gothic sculptors – in semi-darkness and dim light of medieval cathedrals.

There are two opposing trends in the color of the sculptures. Sculpture of our day most often involves revealing the natural color of the materials used. At the same time, some sculptors cover their works with bright colors, sometimes far from non-natural shades, which, in fact, is a continuation of historical traditions.

Today it has become difficult to define the boundaries between modern sculpture and ceramics or metalwork. The roles of the sculptor and the industrial designer are often indistinguishable – sometimes sculptural techniques are used in design, for example in the development of the body of a new car.

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