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LONDON, Oct. 4, 2006 Joseph Beuys fat-and-rust pieces are rotting under the eyes; Eva Hesses sculptures are approaching a state of fragility where travel could be difficult; and even Damien Hirsts newly pickled shark will soon begin to decay. All three are examples of the changing idea of sculpture, according to The Independent.

Traditionally sculptures were constructed of nearly indestructible materials such as bronze and marble, but over the past 50 years, they have been made from such strange mediums that technical staffs at galleries have had to scramble to acquire a huge range of skills to try to slow down the artworks fast decay.

Artists have started to respond to this changing idea of sculpture by creating ephemeral works, such as Anya Gallaccios pieces made of roses, chocolate, or ice. Some, like Antony Gormley, have made pieces where the sculptural element is bound up with a theatrical finale. He recently constructed one of his familiar human figures, on a giant scale, for an arts project in Margate. Afterward he set the piece on fire, and it disappeared into ashes within half an hour.

Of course, most of these works are not truly short-lived anymore, the article reports. Thanks to film, the majority are just as carefully preserved as any marble by Bernini.