Applied Mechanics and Materials Online: 2013-08-08 ISSN: 1662-7482, Vols. 357-360, pp 2036-2039 doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.357-360.2036 2013 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Analysis of the Function of Urban Sculpture in Landscape Environment Yang Wang 1,a, Yan Chen 2,b 1 Institute of Art & Design, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China 2 Institute of Art & Design, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China a wangyang4398@163.com, b cnyn1127@sina.com Key Words: Landscape Environment, Urban Sculpture, Function Abstract: Along with the development of human society, people have raised higher demands for landscape environment. Urban sculpture, as an important part of landscape environment, also gradually attracts the attention of people. With increasingly wider application and bigger role in landscape environment, sculpture has unique function that cannot be replaced by other artistic forms and achieve the best artistic effect in landscape environment with its distinct expression form. 1. Introduction Against the backdrop of the development of urban construction, urban sculpture, as an indispensable part of landscape environment, is becoming a public culture of peace and interaction. As the highlight of the urban landscape environment, urban sculpture has multiple functional values. Divided into spiritual functions and practical functions, it could symbolize the national culture, enhance the urban cultural and artistic taste and beautify the environment with its leisure and entertainment functions. 2. Function of Spiritual Culture Urban landscape sculpture is heralded as the symbol of a nation s culture as well as the product of the accumulation of regional culture. It not only tells the history of the national development and embodies national spirit and traditions, but also represents the spiritual outlook of each historical period, reflects people s pursuit and beliefs since ancient times and displays their values and aesthetic tastes. Urban landscape sculpture, as a unique reflection form of human creativity, records the development course of civilization in the history of mankind s progress. Once possessing the unique artistic values, urban landscape sculptures could be preserved as the permanent materialized form of regional culture with great significance. 2.1 The Transmission Function of Regional Culture Regional culture plays a dominating role in various culture-related activities in human society. As an important part of part of regional culture, urban sculpture contains the regional cultural traditions and demonstrates the cultural level; from which, one could fathom the characteristics and temperament of a city. As a special formative art, urban sculpture is closely linked with the culture of a city. The value of an outstanding sculpture lies in its role of beautifying the city, but also giving full play to the characters of the city and inheriting the regional culture with the historical culture embodied and the aesthetic spirit of the times demonstrated. The cultural property shall be contained in artistry, thus All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Trans Tech Publications, www.ttp.net. (ID: 130.203.136.75, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA-09/05/16,00:26:46)
Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 357-360 2037 perfectly combining both the cultural transmission with the artistic quality. For example, the sculpture on Wangfujing Street accords with the profound culture of Beijing. Therefore, the urban sculpture has become an indispensable organic part of urban culture; which, in return, is also regarded as the main structure and the soul of urban sculpture. Urban sculpture shall be based on the regional culture of a city and combine the urban culture with the sculpture art so as to highlight the profound history, cultural features and the characteristics of times of a city. 2.2 Regional Symbolic Function Urban sculpture is the symbol and landmark of a city. In the process of constant development, urban sculptures with diverse regional features have emerged, thus playing a vital role in regulating the modern urban landscape environment and creating a diverse and pluralistic environment space. The artistic charm of sculptures, which are the great creation of human beings, have transcended the boundaries of art and become the symbol of a nation or a region. Urban sculpture has the function of regional symbol, which could be reflected in numerous examples. Merlion, the urban sculpture of Singapore, is a distinct image. It is said that this city was then named the Lion City when the westerners arrived in Singapore and saw a lion running into the forest. In this sense, the state policy of Singapore was made as opening to the outside world through sea route. According to this story, a traditional and modern sculpture that combines both the oriental and western aesthetic appreciation was finally created, which vividly reflects the features of this new country. Therefore, urban sculpture has the function of regional symbol, just as the architectures do. Above all, urban sculpture has the dual spiritual function of urban regional culture and urban regional symbol. The most frequently mentioned principle in design is the emphasis on regional cultural transmission and urban symbol. It is the same case with the design of sculpture. With the national development course carved into the shape and space of the sculptures, all the nations use the different beauty of sculptures to express their lifestyles and ideal values, thus accumulating the most valuable and essential spiritual treasure and enabling the civilization to enjoy infinite development. Only by doing so could the joint point of design could be found and better urban landscape sculpture created. 3. The Practical Function Urban sculpture is an important part of landscape environment art. A good urban landscape sculpture could not only enhance the cultural connotation of landscape environment and demonstrate the overall artistic appreciation of the local people, but also play a critical role in beautifying the landscape environment and instantly and effectively enhance the style and aesthetic appreciation of the landscape design. 3.1 Beautifying the Environment The urban sculptures in China are the products propping up in the process of the rising and development of urbanization. Urban sculpture not only embodies the culture, but also beautifies people s living environment. As a kind of artwork, sculpture has been possessed of aesthetic values. Meanwhile, it is also a part of the landscape environment by taking into account the characteristics of color, texture, size and modeling as well as the elaborate arrangement. Sculptures are of great aesthetic significance to both architectural and garden decoration as well as interior decoration, an artistic form that integrates sculpture with architectures. Along with the development of environmental renovation and the renewal of people s aesthetic perception, sculpture modeling has
2038 Architecture, Building Materials and Engineering Management been widely applied to different landscape environmental function fields, thus creating rich artistic environment and enriching people s life. Urban sculptures, with beautiful shapes and smooth lines, have enabled people to aspire for a better life. Liu Kaiqu, a great artist, once said, The sculptures standing both on the streets and squares and in the parks may always send forth artistic rays at both day and night in all seasons. The urban sculptures, once finishing construction, may exert substantial and everlasting bearings on people s life. The charm of a good urban sculpture work lies in its role of forming a visual focus in the urban landscape and coordinating the spatial environment with its visual tension and integrating into the urban landscape, which achieves the effect of beautifying the environment by providing people with a pleasant visual space. 3.2 Regional Identification Function In landscape environment, urban sculpture also has the regional identification function besides its role of beautifying the environment. The regional symbolic function of urban sculptures contains a very important concept of regional identification, which is the expression of the regional culture and symbol as well as the regional identification features. Urban sculptures play a vital important role in this regard. Urban landscape environment is a public space with different functions, such as social public meeting places and places of leisure and entertainment. Urban landscape sculptures that could beautify the environment and cultivate one s taste, once placed in the environment, will give full play to its role of identification and guidance and make urban landscape sculptures as the highlight of the city image with its broad range of topics, diverse styles and unique appearance. Meanwhile, urban sculptures are also combined with other forms, such as signboards and landmarks, to organize the outside landscape together, form an invisible bond in the landscape space and serve as the identification of regional space, thus guiding people to enter into other space and adding changeable and specific marks to the space with diversified scenery; urban sculpture is also conducive to the form of recognition of regional brand and the expression of the cultural images and spiritual performance as it could become the effective symbol that differentiates different functional regions in landscape environment. For example, there are symbolic sculptures in front of the stadium with certain functions to clearly demonstrate its functions; these sculptures could specifically reveal the functions of the architectures simply with its clear directive functions instead of the words or large-size signboards with bright colors. 3.3 Function of Leisure and Entertainment Besides the function of environmental beautification and regional identification, urban sculptures are also possessed of the function of leisure and entertainment. Since the founding of China, urban sculptures appeared as the monuments and served the political demands; since the reform and opening up in 1980s, they are built with the theme of science and technology as well as civilization; however, in the 21st century, as people s material life has been greatly improved, sculpture accessories with the function of leisure and entertainment became popular among people because it could regulate the atmosphere of the public landscape environment, provide people with a place for leisure and entertainment and enable people to get closer to the environment. For example, sculptures of representational figures are built on Wangfujing Pedestrian Street, such as the Old Beijinger Pulling the Rickshaw and Child Interest, which could demonstrate the public nature of the urban sculpture and bring about leisure and entertainment to people with the intimacy embodied in the artistic works.
Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 357-360 2039 3.4 Economic and Commercial Functions Along with the rapid development of the times and economy, business demands also impart commercial elements to some of the sculptures, which, besides its cultural values, also advance the urban economic development and become an indispensable economic investment objective in cities. Urban sculptures, together with other environmental elements, constitute the urban landscape environment. The existence of urban sculptures has affected the urban landscape environment, enhanced cultural images and created the cohesive force of visual space, thus engendering great investment potential for environment. These sculptures grasp the customers attention with large scale, high cost, novel design and even other unconventional methods. Meanwhile, with appetency, these sculptures are easy to understand and popular among children. Some successful sculptures are superior in popularizing the image of the company and attracting the customers. For example, Ronald McDonald has become the spokesman of McDonald. Sculptures are also of great importance in tourism industry. In many European countries, urban sculptures are heralded as the focus of urban cultural landscapes as well as the paramount tourism resources. The unique urban style and sculptures have brought about substantial national revenue to countries, such as Paris, Athens and Rome. In China, Terra-Cotta Warriors, the Ming Tombs and the Dunhuang Caves have all along attracted a large numbers of tourists from both and abroad. The Urban Theme Parks, like Beijing International Sculpture Park and Changchun International Sculpture Park that were built a few years ago, are also attracting numerous visitors. As the beautiful urban scenery line and the famous scenic spots, they have also brought direct commercial benefits to the local cities. 4. Conclusion A good architecture is just like the name card of a city. Likewise, an excellent urban landscape sculpture could also become the symbol of a city, for example, the Statue of Liberty in U.S.A. and the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen. Urban sculptures role and connotation are self-evident in modern society and play a critical role in landscape environment with unique functions that cannot be replaced by other cultural and artistic forms. Urban sculpture is an important part of landscape environment and the symbol of national science and technology, economic power and the comprehensive national strength. Meanwhile, the national spirit and strength could also be vividly reflected in the beauty and magnificence of urban sculptures, which also drive the urban economic development. References: [1] Ma Qinzhong. Sculpture Space Public Art [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Xuelin Publishing House, 2004. [2] Xu Hao. Urban Landscape Planning [M]. Beijing: China Architectural and Industrial Publishing House, 2006. [3] Duan Hanming. Introduction to Urban Aesthetics and Landscape Design[M]. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2008.
Architecture, Building Materials and Engineering Management 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.357-360 Analysis of the Function of Urban Sculpture in Landscape Environment 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.357-360.2036