Public art can take a variety of forms. Historically it has referred to the classic bronze statue of a soldier on horseback in a park, but today public art is a broad term that can include murals, sculpture, memorials, integrated architectural or landscape architectural work, community-based and crowdsourced artwork, experiential art, digital new media, and even performances and festivals. These works are planned and executed outside of a gallery context and often interpret the history of a place, its people or address a social issue.
While public art is designed for a wide audience, it doesn’t have to appeal to all tastes. It can provoke thought, encourage communication and engagement, express a community’s values, transform a space and heighten awareness. It also can inspire reflection and create a sense of place that defines the character of a community.
The concept of public art is constantly evolving to respond to the needs and challenges of our times. Today, public artists are increasingly concerned with fostering community participation during the design process and building lasting partnerships between communities and their designers. This is in response to a growing recognition that public art should reflect the concerns, aspirations and history of the people it serves, as well as the unique physical features of the place where the artwork is installed.
Some pieces of public art can be quite controversial. This is due in part to the fact that not all art can appeal to everyone and is an indication of the richness of a diverse society. In some cases, controversy can be a good thing if it leads to a deeper discussion about the subject matter of the artwork.
A recent example of public art that has caused a great deal of controversy is a piece of public sculpture by Anish Kapoor called Cloud Gate in Chicago. The piece is a reflective surface that looks like the sky when seen from different angles. The piece references a number of ideas and cultures including liquid mercury, Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism.
Other examples of controversial public art are murals and street art. Street art is usually a large scale mural painted on the side of buildings or in a park. It is typically a commissioned work by a city or organization, although it can also be created by community members as part of a street art festival. Murals and street art often reference historical events, celebrate local culture or simply beautify a neighbourhood. They are also an effective way to raise awareness about a particular social or environmental issue. Street art can be found in cities around the world including Bristol, London, Paris, Berlin and many others. Many cities have famous street art districts that encourage and support street and graffiti artists. Some of these districts are now tourist attractions in their own right. They are also known for their thriving street art scene and for hosting street art festivals. Many of these festivals showcase the work of up-and-coming local street artists.