Volumes could be written on the subject of how to display artwork but in the
following paragraphs I'll try to give you an overview of the most influential factors involved and the
effects they have. With this knowledge in mind, you will be better
equipped to display your bronze in a way that will maximize the effect you
desire.
You'll
find it's helpful to begin
by defining your objective; what effect do you want to engender? Are
you trying to create a pleasant entry way to welcome guests or impress them with your
opulent appreciation for the arts? Perhaps your goal lies somewhere
in between. In any case, the way in which you use the factors
explained below will
determine how much or how little attention your bronze will attract. Size The
size of your bronze matters but always remember, size is relative. Consider the space where the sculpture will be
located. In too small a space, a large sculpture will be viewed as
overwhelming whereas a small sculpture in a large room could go completely
unnoticed. Therefore, the size of the space where your bronze will be displayed
is as important as the size of the bronze itself. A large sculpture in a small space will get more attention
than a small sculpture in a large space. Placement When
guests enter and travel throughout your home or business, they naturally
face in the direction they're moving. So placing your sculpture where
people
naturally look is a good way to focus
attention on it. To direct a guest's attention toward your sculpture,
place it at the end of a well traveled hallway or flight of stairs;
immediately inside or outside main entry or elevator doors; or on a patio
in line with an irresistible view such as a garden, pool, or more distant
objects like the ocean or mountains. To reduce the attention your
sculpture receives, move it away from or "off center" of where people naturally look. Another
placement factor is height. Objects at eye level are noticed far more than objects
above or below eye level. Consider this fact carefully. Will
your guests likely be standing, as in an entry way, or seated at a table
or in a sofa. Proximity The
closer the sculpture is to viewers, the more they'll focus on it. If
your audience will be very close to the sculpture, such as in a small
foyer of a home, too large a sculpture will be make an aesthetic
viewing point impossible. Keep in mind that most people will
first want to view an art piece as a whole, so strive for an appropriate
distance between viewer and sculpture in order to provide them with a good
viewing opportunity. Also be mindful of obstacles that might prevent them from
getting a "closer look". A fountain or planter that
surrounds your sculpture might act as a moat, preventing guests from getting
a closer look. Lighting Lighting
plays a enormous part in the affect your sculpture will have on
viewers. To illustrate, consider what happens in an
auditorium. With the house lights on, there is no real focal
point. The audience's eyes wonder around the auditorium.
However, when the house lights dim and the stage lights brighten, the
audience's eyes are directed toward the stage. When the stage
lights dim and a single beam of light shines on a sole performer on stage, all eyes
focus on him. In
like manner, the amount of lighting, the type of lighting, and how it
compares with other available light in the room, will determine
how much attention is focused on your sculpture. Even a small
sculpture stands out in a darken room when it's well lighted. The
general rule is: the bigger the difference in lighting, the more
focus will be directed toward the lighted subject; the less difference in
lighting, the less focus. Image The
more outrageous the sculpture, the more out of place or
inappropriate the subject, the more it will get noticed. On the
other hand, an appropriate subject may not receive as much attention but
it can definitely enhance the
ambiance of a space--the likeness of a famous sports figure outside a
stadium, dolphins in the lobby of Marine World, or a grape picker in
front of a winery. Consider the surroundings before displaying your
sculpture. Is the image going to create the effect you want in the
space in which it will be seen? Distractions Finally,
the number and intensity of distractions will compete for the viewer's attention.
Distractions can be anything that affects your five
senses but will most likely be limited to visual or auditory distractions.
Therefore, loud music, televisions, flickering lights, other art work,
even other guests and their actions create various levels of distraction.
Obviously, the fewer distractions, the more focus can be placed on your
sculpture. This
also brings up pre-existing focal points. Most homes and businesses have a focal
point of some sort; some visible feature that grabs a guest's
attention. It's where your eyes naturally look as you walk up to the
front door or when you enter a room. It might
be a fireplace in a living room or a towering wall leading up to a vaulted
ceiling. Try to identify the preexisting focal points in the space
where you plan your display and then use that point to draw attention to, or
distract from, your bronze. More focus will be placed
on items in, on, or around the focal point, while items further away from
it will be noticed less. Conclusion Some
art collectors really like to talk
about there art. They want guests in their home or business to notice
their art and hopefully comment on it. Other's seem to
have no interest in garnering attention. They simple
want to surround themselves with beautiful things. Whatever your
personal leaning, getting what you want has a lot to do with how you
display your bronze. It's all a matter of balancing the factors
above to create your desired results. |