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Exploring Shape in Contemporary Art

This document discusses how artists use geometry in their artwork. It provides an example of a sculpture by artist Alois Kronschlaeger that incorporates various geometric shapes and lines. The sculpture explores space through its use of squares, cubes, horizontal, diagonal, and vertical lines that intersect at right, acute, and obtuse angles. The artist considered the length, width, and depth of the space where the site-specific sculpture would be displayed when creating it. Readers are encouraged to get creative and make their own sculptures combining various boxes and tubes at different angles, then draw their 3D creations.

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Hartford Courant
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36 views1 page

Exploring Shape in Contemporary Art

This document discusses how artists use geometry in their artwork. It provides an example of a sculpture by artist Alois Kronschlaeger that incorporates various geometric shapes and lines. The sculpture explores space through its use of squares, cubes, horizontal, diagonal, and vertical lines that intersect at right, acute, and obtuse angles. The artist considered the length, width, and depth of the space where the site-specific sculpture would be displayed when creating it. Readers are encouraged to get creative and make their own sculptures combining various boxes and tubes at different angles, then draw their 3D creations.

Uploaded by

Hartford Courant
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Art and Geometry Article written by the staff at Bruce Museum


Visual arts and geometry share many concepts. Geometry is all about shapes and their properties. When we look at the
world around us, we see it in three dimensions: length, width and height. So how do artists use length, width and height
when they create?

The geometric shapes and intersecting lines in the sculpture pictured by contemporary artist Alois Kronschlaeger show his
interest in exploring space through geometry. What shapes do you see? Are they squares (two-dimensions of height and
width) or are they cubes (three-dimensions with depth)? How can you tell which is which on this flat surface? Do the lines
provide any clues?

A line can vary in width, length, curvature, color or direction. There are horizontal (side to side), diagonal, or vertical (up
and down) lines. What types of lines do you see in
the sculpture? Multiple lines can run parallel and not
cross, or lines can intersect, creating angles. Right an-
gles are L-shaped and measure exactly 90°. An acute
angle is less than 90°, while an angle greater than 90°
is called an obtuse angle. What types of angles are
made by the lines in the sculpture?

Alois Kronschlaeger
Grid Structure, #1, 2014
The artist at work on the
site-specific installation at
the Bruce Museum, May 2014
Photo by Mary Ann Lendenmann/Bruce Museum

Alois Kronschlaeger
Grid Structure, #1, 2014
Photo by Cynthia Ehlinger/Bruce Museum

Did you know? Get Creative!


When artists create, they think about shapes and Use geometry to inspire your own contemporary art! Collect a variety of
lines, but some artists also think about the spaces boxes and tubes in different shapes and sizes. Experiment with different
where their work will be displayed. Art that is cre- arrangements and place them together at different angles – acute, obtuse
ated for a particular space is called “site-specific.” and right angles - before using tape to connect the forms in your own
When Alois Kronschlager created his sculpture, he three-dimensional sculpture. Experiment with different surface textures
used geometry to think about the length, width and colors to finish your sculpture. Once you’ve finished, try drawing
and depth of the space in which it was placed. your sculpture, demonstrating its three dimensions (height, width and
depth).

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