Outdoor Collections

What is outdoor cultural material made of?

Outdoor cultural material includes a vast array of items made from varying materials.

Sculpture gives an indication of the range of materials. Traditional sculptures tend to be made from:

• metals such as bronze and, less frequently, cast iron;

• stones such as marble, sandstone, granite, limestone and bluestone; and

• wood—this is used less frequently, probably because it is generally considered to be less durable.

Close-up of one component of a timber sculpture. Photograph courtesy of Artlab Australia, reproduced with permission of Carrick Hill

In recent years, a greater range of materials have been used. They are used in combination with each other, and with the more traditional materials. There is now sculpture which uses materials as varied as:

• concrete;

• glass;

• terracotta;

• fibreglass;

• corrugated iron;

• terrazzo; and

• painted metal.