Ancient Water Art
Artists have been using water in sculpture for thousands of years. The ancient Romans were famous for their beautiful fountains. Back then, the fountains had a functional purpose since they were sources of water for residents of the city. Although the sculpture that surrounded the flowing water was beautiful, the water itself was rarely used as part of the decoration. The art was the sculpture of the boy who held a vase or of a lion's head. Water flowed by gravity from the vase or the lion's mouth into a holding tank to be used by those who lived in the neighborhood.
Water Sculpture in the Middle Ages
Throughout the Middle Ages the sculpture in fountains dominated the scene. The water could be turned off and the sculpture would remain fascinating. Sometimes though, magnificent sculptures were created to pay homage to the water body that fed it. For instance, Malvern Water was so highly regarded in the Middle Ages that it became one of the first waters to be bottled. A visitor to Malvern, England will find the lovely spout at St. Anne's Well and the Barnards Green Trough, both sculpted to receive Malvern water. A water analysis shows that it is practically free of minerals and is as pure as most distilled water.
Water in Modern Sculpture
Some modern artists use the sculpture in the fountains to showcase the water itself. It no longer flows as an afterthought from the art. It is part of the art. Giles Rayner's sculptures, for example, interact with the water in the fountain. The beauty of the art is found in the way the water moves over the surfaces, swirls around a basin or splashes through the open spaces. The water body is always in motion and it is that movement that attracts and pleases the eye.
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