I started writing this post as a platform for another one concerning the art I have seen appearing more frequently at shopping malls. However, when I started my research I came across the term Public Art and realized that it is a much more vast and interesting subject matter than I could ever imagine.
Public Art can generally be described according to two categories:
1. An artwork which has been created for and placed at a public space which is easily accessible to all;
2. Any artwork which is purchased with public funds, irrespective of whether or not it is accessible to the public at large.
When we think of Public Art in the context of the first description, we think of monuments, statues and paintings depicting a country’s heroes and history. From the great temples of ancient Greece to the statues of the Emperors of Rome, public institutions (such as governments, churches, etc.) have commissioned great artworks over the centuries and some of them with less than noble intentions.
Public Art has been used on numerous occasions for the purposes of propaganda – from ancient times to the modern day. In ancient Rome for example, Amphitheaters and other public buildings along with the accompanying statues and frescoes were built with the political advancement of the involved patrons in mind. The medium then changed and in 1966 to 1976 posters were used for Public Art propaganda during the Cultural Revolution in China. Stalin’s regime also used posters to enforce the political viewpoints of the Soviet Union.
Even today we see statues erected in the name of political figures we “should” consider heroes (which is a matter of personal opinion) and posters which advocate political parties and their views. Public Art is not always commissioned or created with dark intentions in mind – it can be uplifting and an asset to a city, it can make people think and help them to enjoy the pleasures of all art forms, and it can be a reminder of a city or country’s history.
Public Art has developed a new, present-day definition as well: it can also be a message from a person or group to society in general – as a form of creative communication. Public Art is also not limited to physical objects anymore and consists of almost any form of expression in contemporary society.
As part of this subject, my next three posts will focus on some of the modern aspects of Public Art: Art in shopping malls and Corporate Art, Graffiti and Street Art. So keep reading and discover the fascinating features of Public Art.
Blessings,
Mel
Next week: Art in shopping malls and Corporate Art.
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