Contemporary Sculpture

PROMPT: Write your Student Blog 2 Entry Comparing the sculptural processes and techniques, conceptual approaches of Gary Cooley and Richard Serra. How Gary Cooley's metal sculptures fundamentally different from Richard Serra's? How are their conceptual approaches different?

Sculpture is a form of art that usually produces three dimensional works. Both Gary Cooley and Richard Serra are masters in this type of art. Although their works both fall into the sculpture category, they are fundamentally very different. To start with, the approach to their art is very different. For example, Gary Cooley is more concerned with the process while Richard Serra’s primary focus is the end result. Their conceptual approaches are different because of this. The verbs discussed in Cooley’s work give the conceptual approach a more procedural important while Serra uses a traditional process and subject matter. His subject matter involves nature and commissions while Cooley’s subject matter isn’t the point of his art, the process of creating it is. The subject matter of Cooley’s is more about motion than a particular thing. They also differ by the techniques they use. Their metal sculpture techniques accomplish very different things by using a totally different process. Serra uses the lost wax method, one that has been used for generations. It’s a long process that uses subtractive sculpting and additive sculpting together to create the final product. Cooley uses a more modern and other different types of process for each piece. Most of his works revolve around additive sculpting. The scale also differs for these pieces. Serra’s more commercial pieces are smaller and can be displayed in someone’s home. The traditional role of an artist Serra most fills is to record the world. On the other hand, Cooley’s pieces are much larger and the role he fulfills is to see the world in new and innovative ways or to give tangibility to thoughts and ideas. Their target audience differs. As mentioned, Serra draws in a more commercial audience while Cooley’s art is more for viewers who appreciate abstract art. Their modes of representation are different. Cooley’s is more abstract and contemporary and non-representational while Serra’s are more natural and realistic. The people interested in this art would differ by their tastes in these modes of representation. Cooley is far more conceptually driven while Serra is more subject driven.  Although both are metal sculptures, they are fundamentally different.