THE ART OF CASTING: SCULPTURAL PORTRAITS OF FOUNDRIES

The article presents an overview of metal sculptures created by foundries, who tell the world about themselves and their work through visual means. The considered samples of decorative casting demonstrate not only high skill, technological art, zeal and courage of specialists in working with hot metal, but also the artistic component of their activity. Decorative metal casting, to which the considered examples belong, is a component of foundry production - one of the oldest and most significant primary processes of forming metal structures known to mankind. Metal casting developed along with its industrial revolutions, largely serving as both a driving force and a kind of indicator of innovations and achievements of these eras, becoming the basis of procurement processes for the production of machines and mechanisms. Foundries, who were active participants in these historical and civilizational processes, are presented in this article from the perspective of their sculptural reflection. They embodied their skills in the form of decorative art, in particular in the creation of numerous monuments, sculptures and bas-reliefs, which are important cultural artifacts and symbols of the development of the industry, reminding of the key role of foundry in shaping the economic and social foundations of society. At the same time, the considered sculptural products can serve as symbolic “messages to the future”, reflecting the contribution of the industry to the formation of technological and cultural traditions. The review did not ignore the signs of the modern trend of digital transformation of foundry production, showing the cast sculpture to a computer designer, and also sought to provide examples of decorative castings from different countries of the world. These works not only preserve the memory of the achievements of past generations, but also inspire the further development of engineering and technical thought and artistic skill.