Plastic Arts
The word "plastic art", derived from the term 'plasticize" meaning "to mold", essentially is meant to describe any art form that involves the activity of modelling or molding into three dimensions. The most common example of plastic art is sculpture itself. This is because sculptors hip, carve, shape, or module a range of traditional material like marble, granite, sandstone, bone, ivory, or wood. Some contemporary items were used as well, such as concrete, aluminum, and foam rubber. Another category of plastic art, when using clay, is known as ceramic pottery. This can include the usage of earth ware, maiolica, raku, and stoneware, as well as Chinese porcelain and celadon ware. Some more familiar kinds of plastic art that are commonly used to this day are collage, paper art, and Origami paper folding. Mosaics, ice sculpture, and sand art fall under this art form as well.
The origins of this category are actually found in the predominantly primitive prehistoric sculpture of Acheulian culture of the Lower Paleolithic. These artworks hold a humanoid effigy. The "Venus of Berekhat Ram" is a great example of such. Examples from the Upper Paleolithic includes some renowned ivory carving known as the "Lion Man of Hohlenstein Stadel" and "Venus of Hohle Fels". There were several carvings found in the Swabian Jura, as one of them is the ceramic "Venus of Dolni Vestonice.
Lion Man of Hohlenstein Stadel
Venus of Berekhat Ram
Venus of Hohle Fels
Ancient pottery is predominantly located in East Asia. The world's oldest known example is the "Xianrendong Cave Pottery" from the Jiangzi Province, China. Other ancient Chinese pottery includes the sherds in the Yuchanyan Cave in Hunan province. The largest discovery of plastic known to man is the hoard of terracotta sculpture from the Qin Dynasty in the Chinese Terracotta Army from Shaanxi province. As it was made in the era of Qin Dynasty art from 221 to 206 BCE, scholars estimated that is took about 38 years to make an altogether workforce of 700,000. Another indigenous form of plastic art from China is known as jade carving. In the Far East, jade is as precious as gold, silver, and diamonds.
Xianrendong Cave Pottery
As this art form was continuously used in several regions for millennia, this art form is relevant and continues to inspire many in the current century. We cannot forget the ingenuity behind the various materials used and the beautiful concept behind every single work that has been known to man. As we stare in awe at these ancient yet applicable works, let us not forget those who were involved in the advent of such an innovative way of art.
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