Commissioning a sculpture or artwork for a project: from idea to installation

A sculpture's effect in a space does not arise from its form alone. Where we first see it, how we pass by it and how light changes on its surface are also part of the encounter. Commissioning a sculpture for a project begins by talking about these relationships. You do not have to describe a finished form at the start; describing where the work will stand, the character of the space and the relationship you want it to create can establish a shared working ground.

1. Describe the work's place in the space

In the first preparation, think about the point where the work will be placed together with its surroundings. A sculpture encountered at the entrance, an installation seen from a staircase and a relief that relates to a wall create different viewing distances. Rather than a photograph showing only the front of the work's location, it is useful to also share the directions of approach and the passages around it.

If the space is not yet complete, you can mark the proposed location on the plan. In an existing space, photographs taken at different times of day make it easier to talk about light and use. These do not remove the need for exact measurements and on-site assessment; they give context to the first meeting.

2. Leave room for expectation and interpretation in the project brief

A short project brief does not mean that all aesthetic decisions are made in advance. Describe the story of the space, its users and what kind of encounter you want the work to create. For example, are you imagining a focal point noticed from afar, or a surface whose details are seen as you come closer? Explain exactly what you respond to in the references you like: the line, the rhythm, the look of the material or the relationship formed with the space.

A budget framework and a target date can also be part of this conversation. Sharing this information does not mean that any material, scale or schedule has been accepted in advance. The artistic proposal and the conditions of the project are evaluated together.

3. Move from sketch to production decision

In the workshop process of Zeynep Didem Bardakcı Studio, location, scale and material are considered together with the architectural team. After the sketches and digital drawings are reviewed and discussed with the client and the architectural team, production drawings subject to approval are prepared.

For the meetings at this stage, it can be useful to gather the decisions in a single up-to-date document. Which layout is being discussed, which measurement is still approximate and which surface option is being considered can be written down clearly. Setting a point of coordination among those giving feedback also helps reduce the risk of differing interpretations being passed to production at the same time. The approval and revision arrangement should be clarified within the project's own working conditions.

4. Talk about material and surface appearance together

A work looking metallic does not show that its whole body is made of that metal. In the quotation and project description, the main material, the production method and the surface treatment should be understood separately. When talking about brass, bronze or steel, instead of deciding on colour alone, ask about the proposed structure and how the surface will be achieved.

In the workshop process, the modelling method is chosen according to the project; mould and casting are used only when the chosen method requires them. In some works the surface is worked directly. Therefore, not every sculpture commission goes through the same production stages. When evaluating the process, do not treat the making-of photographs of another work as a fixed production recipe for your own project.

Brass Fluid: an example of the relationship between space and production

Developed for a mixed-use project in Istanbul, Brass Fluid relates to the marble walls on both sides of an entrance. Strips laser-cut from solid brass sheet were bent one by one in the workshop; the layout on the wall was tested with full-size templates. On the work's project page, the sketch, production and installation stages can be seen together.

This example shows that a wall work is not described only by the form on the surface. The distance between the pieces, their relationship to the door and their spread across the architectural surface are also part of the composition. When discussing your own project, you can similarly ask what the work adds to its place as much as how it looks on its own.

5. Discuss installation conditions early

How the work will be brought to its location and when that area will be ready are topics worth including early in the project conversation. Share the information available about doors, the transport route, ongoing construction work and working hours. Clarify with the architectural team from whom technical information about the wall or floor will be obtained. The appropriate fixing solution should be determined by the relevant specialists according to the conditions of the work and the building.

The production process described by the Studio includes delivery with on-site installation. In your own project, ask separately in the scope meeting how transport, site preparation, installation and post-delivery maintenance information will be handled. Talking about these topics provides a clearer start than assuming the same services and conditions apply in every project.

A short preparation list for the first meeting

• The space where the work is considered and the approximate placement point.
• If available, the plan, measurements and up-to-date photographs showing the surroundings.
• The story of the space and the relationship expected from the work.
• An explanation of the features you like in the reference images.
• If available, the budget framework and the target date.
• The architectural team and the people who will handle project communication.

You do not need to have made every decision. Sharing the confirmed information separately from the options still being explored makes visible which questions the meeting should start with.

Frequently asked questions about commissioning a sculpture

Do I need to have chosen a form at the start?

You can make the first preparation based on the space and your expectation. It is useful to share your references, especially explaining why they interest you.

Is every work produced by casting?

No. In the Studio's workshop description, the method is chosen according to the project; mould and casting are not required for every work.

Will the production time of another work also apply to my project?

Do not assume so. Discuss the schedule separately by sharing the scale, method and site conditions of your own project.

You can look at the workshop's production approach, and then share your space and short notes about the project. To discuss a work for your project, get in touch with Zeynep Didem Bardakcı Studio.