Public art is any artwork that is created in a space open to the public and outside of a gallery or museum context. It can take a variety of forms including sculptures/statues, architecture, site-specific installations, murals, graffiti, actions, interventions, land and environmental art, and even performance art. The aim of public art is often to serve multiple functions at once, such as aesthetically beautifying spaces, education, commemoration, activism, and representation of a community’s ethos.
The history of public art spans thousands of years and a diverse range of cultures and societies. A common feature of public art is its ability to reflect the social, cultural, and political issues of a particular place or time. It can also energize and activate people and communities in the same way that music, theatre, dance, and film can.
Many modern public artworks are designed to inspire direct hands-on interaction from the public. This may include kinetic sculptures that contain light, video, or musical components. An example is the hydraulophone, an architectural centerpiece at the Ontario Science Centre that allows visitors to block jets of water to play music. More recent interactive public artworks have tended to explore themes related to identity politics and social activism. These are sometimes called “new genre public art” or “relational art”. Examples of this include Mel Chin’s Fundred Dollar Bill Project, and the Favela Mosaico project in Vila Cruzeiro do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sculptures and paintings are perhaps the most familiar forms of public art, but it can also take the form of other media such as photography, printmaking, and digital projection. For example, the artist Nick Azidis uses a special technique to transform building facades into ancient illustrations for his projection artwork in the Melbourne suburb of Gertrude Street.
Because public art is usually located outdoors, it must be designed to withstand the elements. This means that the location must be carefully chosen and surveyed before the creation of an artwork, to ensure it is suitable for its environment. It is important to consider factors such as rainfall, sunlight, wind direction, and whether trees or plants could potentially damage the work. The permanence of the artwork should also be considered. It is important to determine if it will be maintained or if it will be removed at some point in the future, as well as who will own the artwork when it is installed.
Creating public art can be a lengthy process, with planning, development, and construction often taking several years to complete. However, integrating the creation of public art into development projects can be an effective way to keep people engaged during this long period. It can also help to create a sense of ownership of the finished project by the local community. As a result, it is becoming increasingly popular for developers to commission or incorporate public art into their new projects. In addition, organisations that promote and support the creation of public art are now beginning to take a more active role in the conceptualization of works.