Which group of artists believes that sculpture should express the material it is made from?

The belief that sculpture should express the material it is made from is a hallmark of contemporary sculptors. This movement emphasizes the inherent qualities of the materials used, such as texture, weight, and form. Contemporary artists often experiment with a wide range of materials, including unconventional ones, to convey meaning and emotion, allowing the material itself to play a central role in the work. This approach can be seen in various contemporary art practices, where the exploration of medium becomes a crucial factor in understanding the final piece.

In contrast, the other groups of sculptors, such as classic, Baroque, and Renaissance, were more focused on themes of beauty, proportion, and narrative rather than the intrinsic qualities of the materials themselves. While they did consider the properties of materials, their primary concerns were often tied to tradition, idealized forms, and the evocation of specific messages or emotions through representation, rather than a deep exploration of the material as a form of expression.