High-relief in art

5 articles

High-relief, in art, is a sculptural technique where figures or forms project prominently from a flat background, creating a pronounced three-dimensional effect. Unlike low-relief, which has shallow depth, high-relief sculptures often have significant depth and dimension, with parts of the subject matter almost fully detached from the background.

This technique has been used for millennia in various cultures, from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to classical Greek friezes. A high-relief allows for detailed and dramatic representations, making it a powerful tool for storytelling and emphasizing the subjects’ importance. It adds a sense of vitality and realism to the artwork, engaging viewers with its tactile quality.

Bernard Nebieridze - Kolkheti (კოლხეთი), 1992, ceramic, 217 square meters, installation view, Green Bazaar, Kutaisi, Georgia feat

The market relief of Kutaisi – The largest of the Soviet Union

Ceramics / 8 minutes of reading
The Kolkheti relief, also known as the Kutaisi Market relief, is a striking ceramic panel located at the entrance of the Kutaisi Central Bazaar in the city of Kutaisi, Georgia. The artwork, created in 1985, is a high-relief that depicts various historical and mythological figures, as well as individuals who have contributed to the development […]

The market relief of Kutaisi – The largest of the Soviet Union Read More

Tezuka Osamu’s Characters on Parade, 2019, Kokusai-Tenjijō station, Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan feat

Osamu Tezuka’s ceramic relief in Kōtō, Tokyo – Astro Boy & Beyond

Ceramics / 8 minutes of reading
Osamu Tezuka is often referred to as the Walt Disney of Japan. Regarded as one of the most legendary Manga artists of his generation, Tezuka sometimes went by other celebrated titles, including “god of manga” and the “godfather of anime”. In 2019, 30 years after his passing, a large ceramic relief was installed to pay

Osamu Tezuka’s ceramic relief in Kōtō, Tokyo – Astro Boy & Beyond Read More

Fumiko-Hori-Utopia-2014-45-x-55-meter-ceramic-relief-installation-view-International-Lobby-on-1st-Floor-of-Terminal-Building-Fukushima-Airport-Japan-feat

At age 95, Fumiko Hori created this mural for the Fukushima Airport

Ceramics, Murals / 4 minutes of reading
Fumiko Hori supervised the installation of the mural herself, quite an impressive feat for a woman aged 95 at the time. The giant relief wall was based on Hori’s original painting at the CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio. The relief carving at the airport helps to create an illusion of depth on an otherwise shallow surface. The

At age 95, Fumiko Hori created this mural for the Fukushima Airport Read More

Olympic Flame mosaic at the end of the central hall in the metro station Olimpiiska, Kyiv, Ukraine feat

Olimpiiska – One of Kyiv’s most intriguing metro stations

Architecture, Installations, Mosaics / 4 minutes of reading
The Olimpiiska Station, located in Kyiv, Ukraine, stands in the same spot as the former Ploshchad Lev Tolstoy station and serves as a prime example for Soviet-era art. This period was marked by strict censorship and ideological control, with art expected to align with state interests and promote communist ideology. It is a part of

Olimpiiska – One of Kyiv’s most intriguing metro stations Read More

Katsuhiro Otomo - Kinka Doji Riding the Waves Accompanied by Fujin and Raijin, 2015, ceramic relief, 8.7 x 2.8 meter, installation view, Sendai Airport, Japan feat

Katsuhiro Otomo’s mural at the Sendai Airport – Riding the Waves

Ceramics / 4 minutes of reading
Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of Akira, the 1988 Japanese animated cyberpunk action film, is one of the most well-known manga artists, animators, screenwriters, and film directors in the world. Though he is best known for his manga series and film adaptations, Otomo crossed over into the sculpture world when he was asked to design a

Katsuhiro Otomo’s mural at the Sendai Airport – Riding the Waves Read More

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