Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you doing today? I hope you're feeling really good.

My name's Ms. Absal and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm really excited about that because I love teaching art and also because of the subject of our lesson today.

We're going to be looking at sculpture and displaying sculptures.

I wonder if you've had much experience of creating sculptures of your own.

Don't worry, whether you have or not, we're going for you having a go at this today.

And our lesson is called 3D Design: displaying a sculpture.

It comes from the unit of work, Being Curious about 3D Design.

So I hope you're feeling curious about this lesson and that you have some enthusiasm and focus.

If you have all of that, I think we are ready to begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is, "I can create sculptural artwork and present it in a way that enhances its meaning through thoughtful display, lighting, and written interpretation." Yes, there's lots going on in our lesson today.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

Origami, plinth, and curate.

So what do these words mean? Origami is the art of folding paper into different shapes or figures, like animals or objects, without cutting or using glue.

Plinth is a small platform or base that a sculpture stands on.

It helps show off the artwork and makes it easier to see.

Curate is to choose, organise, and display artworks in a thoughtful way, like planning how an exhibition will look and what information goes with each piece.

These are our three keywords: origami, plinth, and curate.

Let's look out, listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our our lesson.

Our lesson is called 3D Design: displaying a sculpture and it consists of three learning cycles.

First of all, manipulate paper to create sculptural forms. Next, create plaster plinths and select lighting.

And finally, present sculptures in an exhibition.

Yes, we are gonna be displaying and presenting our work.

Let's begin by manipulating paper to create sculptural forms. Laura and Lucas are discussing form.

"A form is 3D, like a sphere rather than a circle." And Lucas, "Artists can use many different forms to create their sculptural works." Can you think of any ways to turn paper into a 3D form? Pause the video and share with someone.

I wonder what ideas you came up with.

Artists can use paper alone to create a wide range of forms through different techniques.

Scrunching, all of that, folding, origami, one of our keywords, and rolling.

I wonder if you came up with any of these ideas.

Let's have a check for understanding.

"True or false? Artists use paper with glue, tape, or card to create their 3D forms." Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this: "Artists can use paper alone to create a wide range of forms through different techniques such as scrunching, folding, origami, and rolling papers." Well done if you came up with an answer like this.

Artists who manipulate paper include: Miri Golan's paper sculptures make use of precise folding techniques.

Origami originated in Japan during the 17th century, evolving paper folding traditions in China.

It became a respected art form focused on creating intricate designs from a single sheet of square paper without cuts or glue.

Sabeena Karnik rolls paper expertly to create her quilling topography, which has a subtle relief form.

When making origami, artists go through a few stages.

So first of all, they choose the right paper type.

They use square sheets and fold on a hard surface.

They make sharp creases and are very precise.

And they follow the diagrams carefully.

Check for understanding.

"Which step is missing from this process? When making origami, artists: first of all, choose the right paper type.

Next they use hmm, some kind of sheets." Pause the video and share with somebody what is missing from this process.

Well done if you filled in that space with the word square.

They use square sheets of paper.

All right, over to you for your first task.

I would like you to manipulate paper in three ways to create sculptural forms. You could test scrunching, rolling, folding, twisting, or bending.

So many ways to manipulate paper.

So pause the video while you have a go at creating three sculptural forms by manipulating paper.

I'll see you when you're finished.

<v ->Okay.

It's great to be back with you.

</v> So how did you get on? There are many possible outcomes to how you could have created sculptural forms by manipulating paper.

And you may have created something like this.

Oh, I love these rolls of paper, the scrunching and it looks like there's some twisting going on there as well.

Maybe folding.

Here's Izzy.

"I'm impressed with the range of sculptural forms Andy has created.

I like the twisted forms." Fantastic.

Thanks for sharing that, Izzy.

Pause video and share with somebody nearby what do you like about their sculptural forms that they've created? Thanks for sharing your ideas with each other.

And now for the next part of your task, I would like you to create origami paper sculptures.

You could use the guides in the additional materials.

You should: choose the right paper type, use square sheets, fold on a hard surface, make sharp creases, be precise, and follow diagrams carefully.

So pause here while you have a go at creating your own origami paper sculptures.

I'll see you when you're finished.

So how did you get on with creating your origami paper sculptures? There are many possible outcomes, but you may have created a beautiful crane like the one we see before us.

Here's Andy.

"I found that creasing carefully was very important to create a successful origami form." Great reflection.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle: create plaster plinths and select lighting.

These students are discussing how artists present sculptures in galleries.

"This sculpture is on a raised plinth, so we have to look up at it." "Yes.

It makes the work feel more important." "They have lighting just for this work." "The lighting helps show off the work to the best advantage." The use of pedestals or plinths can enhance sculptural works in a gallery setting.

Plinths raise the work to eyeline and give a sense of importance to the work, making it stand out.

Let's have a check for understanding.

"How can pedestals or plinths help improve the way sculptures are shown in a gallery? A, They can create a pathway to move between sculptures.

B, they help the sculptures stand out and look better.

C, they make it easier for people to touch the sculpture.

D, they make the gallery space feel darker and smaller." Pause the video while you decide which of these is how pedestals or plinths help improve the way sculptures are shown in a gallery.

Well done if you selected answer A.

Indeed, they help the sculpture stand out and look better.

Artists can use plinths and pedestals to create a sense of importance for their subject and work, including: Alan Michelson's "The Knowledge Keepers," 2024, is a pair of sculptures flanking the entrance of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, which are installed on plinths.

to symbolise the status of his subjects.

Arthur George Walker created many memorials where he positioned his sculptures of influential figures on pedestals such as his Statue of Emmeline Pankhurst in Victoria Tower Gardens, London.

"What effect does the lighting have on how we view these two sculptures?" So pause here and take a look at these two sculptures lit in quite different ways.

What effect is that having? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's explore how this lighting affects the way we view these two sculptures a little further.

So lighting can be used to enhance sculptures.

Strong directional light will create deep shadows and show textures.

Gives us a sense of drama.

And soft ambient light reduces shadows to evenly light all details.

So these are some of the key differences in the way that different kinds of lighting can be used to enhance sculptures.

Check for understanding.

"Which statement most accurately explains how different lighting affects how a sculpture looks? A, strong directional light makes the sculpture hard to see by hiding all textures.

B, soft ambient light creates deep shadows that highlight surface textures.

C, strong directional light creates shadows and shows the sculpture's textures.

D, soft ambient light creates strong shadows and makes the sculpture unevenly lit." Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, strong directional light creates shadows and shows the sculpture's textures.

Artists can manipulate lighting to the advantage of their work.

Angela de la Cruz uses direct lighting to showcase textures such as the light reflects from her work.

Matthew Simmonds uses lighting to showcase the depth in his carvings so that the details are clear and visible.

In this lesson, you will create a plaster plinth for your sculpture using casting.

To cast plaster to create a plinth, you should: select your container, cut down and smooth the edges, pour in plaster, carefully cut the container once the plaster is set, and release your plinth and smooth the edges.

So it's time for your next task.

I would like you to create a plinth for your sculptural artwork from task A.

So first of all, gather moulds for a plinth.

You could create a mould with clay or gather recycled materials that hold a shape similar to a plinth, a bottle, a yoghourt pot are all good materials to use.

And of course, we love recycling.

Make sure that the opening of your mould is the largest part so that you can remove the plaster plinth when set.

So pause the video while you gather your moulds for a plinth.

Good to be back with you.

How did you get on with gathering your mould for a plinth? Let's hear from Aisha.

"I have a plastic bottle with an interesting shape, but I'll have to cut it to remove my plinth." Jacob, "Yoghourt pots have a smooth texture to create a plinth and will be easy to remove." Great ideas.

And Sophia, "I aim to use a plastic muffin tray that came from some food packaging." Now of course, when working with plaster, there are some important things which we must consider.

So you must: avoid inhaling dust, work in a well-ventilated area, prevent skin contact with wet plaster to avoid irritation or burns, always add plaster to water to avoid clumping, stir gently to minimise dust and air bubbles, clean tools and surfaces before plaster sets and never pour plaster down the sink.

Blocked sinks are no fun for anybody.

And so for the next part of your task, as you cast plaster to create a plinth, I would like you to follow these steps: ensure your mould is prepared, measure the correct ratio of plaster and water, slowly add plaster to water to avoid clumping, gently stir until smooth and free of lumps, carefully pour the mixed plaster into the prepared mould, fill the mould gradually, tapping gently to release any air bubbles, and do not disturb the mould while it's setting.

Pause the video while you have a go at this part of your task, casting plaster to create a plinth.

Additionally, you could experiment with dipping your paper sculptures into plaster at this point to create more stone-like outcomes.

If you wish to have a go at this, pause here and explore.

So how did you get on with your task: casting plaster to create a plinth? Here's Andy.

"I've created a range of smooth plinths from the different recycled items." They are looking great.

Your artwork is gonna look amazing on them.

Plastic bottle, paper cup, yoghourt pots, love those, and a butter tub.

Who knew all the uses for these things? And now I'd like you to experiment with displaying your sculpture on the plinth and explore different lighting.

You could: use torches to create directional light to highlight depth and textures, use natural light for more soft ambient lighting.

You might want to take photos to document the different lighting.

Pause the video while you have a go at this part of your task.

How did you get on with experimenting with displaying your sculpture on the plinth and exploring different lighting? There are many possible outcomes and you may have tried something like this.

We've got some ambient light.

We've got some strong, dramatic, directed light.

These are looking great.

Well done.

And now we're onto our final learning cycle: present sculptures in an exhibition.

"Lucas, Andeep, and Alex are looking at the sculpture in a local park." "Who made this and when did they create it?" "What is it called and what is it about?" And, "What is it made from?" So many questions.

Where could they find this information? Pause the video and share with someone.

Perhaps, you talked about an artwork label.

Artworks often have an artwork label which shares important information about the work.

For example, here we have the artist's name, Alan Michelson, their year of birth, 1953, the artwork title, "The Knowledge Keepers," the creation date, 2024, and the materials, bronze and gilded platinum.

What other information have you seen included on an artwork label? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Check for understanding.

"Why do artworks in galleries and museums often have a label next to them? A, to help the artwork stay safely in place on the plinth.

B, to share important information about the art and artist, C, to show the price of the art if someone wants to buy it, D, to tell people not to touch the artwork." Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected B, to share important information about the art and artwork is usually why there is a label next to the artwork.

Curators are the people who put together or curate exhibitions.

This means they choose, organise, and display artworks in a thoughtful way, like planning how an exhibition will look and what information goes with each piece.

Curators and artists select information to accompany artworks to enhance the viewer's understanding of the work.

This could be about the collection of artwork or even about the artist themselves.

Check for understanding.

"Why do curators and artists choose the information that goes with an artwork in an exhibition? A, to confuse visitors and keep them meaning hidden, B, to decorate gallery walls with more writing, C, to help viewers understand the artwork better, or D, to make the exhibition more expensive to visit?" Pause the video while you decide why curators and artist choose the information that goes with an artwork in an exhibition.

Well done If you selected answer C, it helps viewers understand the artwork better.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to curate an exhibition of your sculpture and plinth from tasks A and B with an artwork label.

Write an artwork label that includes: your name, your artwork title, the artwork creation date, the materials you used.

You could choose to add more information about the work if you think it will add more understanding.

So pause here while you have a go at creating your own artwork label.

Great to be back with you.

How did you get on with curating your exhibition of your sculpture and plinth from tasks A and B with an artwork label? You may have created something like this.

Here's Andeep's label.

"I called my work 'Wings of Stone' as my crane is now solid." A great title, Andeep.

"I tested folding my card so the information is free-standing." For the next part of your task, I would like you to create a mini sculpture exhibition.

You should arrange the plinth, sculpture, artwork label, and lighting.

You could consider the backdrop and place your work on plain paper.

So pause the video while you curate your mini sculpture exhibition.

So how did you get on with curating an exhibition of your sculpture and plinth from task A and B with an artwork label? You may have curated something like this.

Here's Sam.

"Andeep and I displayed our work together to resemble a flock of birds or planes.

We titled the exhibition 'Stillness in Motion.

'" I love that.

In our lesson, 3D Design: displaying a sculpture, we've covered the following: artists can use paper alone to create a wide range of forms through different techniques, including origami and quilling.

The use of pedestals or plinths can enhance sculptural works in a gallery setting, plinths raise the work to eyeline, giving a sense of importance to the work, lighting can be used to enhance sculptures, curators and artists select the information to accompany artworks to enhance the viewer's understanding of the work.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

I loved our exploration of how we can display sculptures, creating your sculptures from paper, creating your plinths from plaster, and then using lighting and all your curatorial skills to bring the whole thing together into an exhibition.

Wow, you've been busy.

I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.