Creating sculptures from fiber

Fri, June 2, 2017 / 10:24 am

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A man pours a resin liquid into a rubber sculpture mold in the Prambanan district, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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A man uses sandpaper to smooth a cement sculpture after molding it in Patuk village, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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Gondo Triyono, the owner of Artista Creative, makes a sculpture mock-up from clay that will become a mold at Patuk, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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Workers finish sculptures after the molding process at Patuk, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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A man assembles a part of a Yogyakarta royal soldier sculpture at Patuk, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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A man paints a Yogyakarta Sultanate royal soldier sculpture after molding it at Patuk, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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A man finishes Loro Blonyo (Javanese bride and groom) statues at Patuk, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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A man paints batik fabric details on a Yogyakarta royal servant sculpture at Patuk, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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A man paints a fiber sculpture using a fine brush at Patuk, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 21. JP/Aditya Sagita
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A man uses a fine brush to paint a Mary van Java sculpture at Pajeksan, Yogyakarta, on April 11. JP/Aditya Sagita
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A man finishes a sculpture of Mary van Java at Pajeksan, Yogyakarta, on April 11. JP/Aditya Sagita

People used to create sculptures from wood, stone, or even bronze, but with the development of technology, people now create sculptures from fiber, cement, or even plastic.

By having the molds, craftsmen can work more easily and practically. Using the molds enables them to create numerous pieces of exactly the same size and shape.

The fiber sculptures have attracted public attention because they are cheaper and lighter. They can be used as decorative ornaments, mannequins and souvenirs, or for religious purposes.

Craftsmen in Pajeksan, Yogyakarta, created a Maria van Java fiber sculpture that was recently sent to Vatican as an example of Indonesian art.

The prices for fiber sculptures can be high if they are produced in small numbers. The more that are produced, the lower the prices. To produce a sculpture, a craftsman needs to make the mold first from clay.

The difficulty of making a sculpture and its size will also affect the price. A sculpture that depicts a famous person’s face will be more expensive because it is more difficult to make.

Other components that also determine the price are of course the raw materials, which comprise resin, fibermat and talcum powder, the finishing materials and the labor. [yan]