They show a variety of different styles and approaches in three dimensions.

The sculptures were made over the years 1840 to 2000. The oldest ones are realistic representations of things you can see. Others make shapes which make us think, but are not like things we see. Some newer ones like Hatoum's A Couple (of Swings) seem like things we know but are strange and are meant to suggest ideas.

For some artists the materials they use are very important. For others the material they use is irrelevant. Artists may be more interested in the subject, composition or message. Some artists deliberately make work which is not meant to last or which only exists as text or in digital form.