Art is an important part of all of our lives, especially public art that we engage with on a regular basis. This article will go over 5 public art installations from around the world that have made a huge impact on everyone that sees them.
Art is a social and communal experience. As the artist Romero Britto said, ““Art is too important not to share.”
Public art installations allows entire communities to bond over and experience art together. Every person that views and experience the art will have an individual reaction and will take a specific and unique meaning from that art. That’s why public art is so powerful. It allows everyone to experience it in their own individual way while still bonding with others over the communal experience.
In this post, we wanted to take a look at some of our favorite public art installations from around the world. These range in location from New York City to Korea to Paris and in meaning from multicultural art to social commentary to simple joy.
Let’s get started!
1. Magic Carpet - Siona Benjamin
The ACA Gallery in Chelsea commissioned artist Siona Benjamin to create installation art on a topic or theme of her choosing. Her installation “My Magic Carpet” featured a tent-like enclosure with obvious inspiration from her Indian-Jewish background.
This enclosure allows viewers to enter and view an intricate and bright carpet on the floor surrounded by a pale pink tent, pillows featuring her signature blue faces, and featuring the word “Shema” (the word for “Hear” in Hebrew).
The space evokes a feeling of calmness and rest with many saying that it provides a space for those who are “cast away” a space to exist. This makes sense when you think about Benjamin’s background: Indian and Jewish people often found themselves as wandering nomads cast away from various lands and societies.
2. Fearless Girl - Kristen Visbal
One of the most famous pieces on this list, the Fearless Girl features a young girl standing up to the classic sculpture of the charging bull. This sculpture created by artist Kristen Visbal sits right on Wall Street.
Many take the meaning as an anti-capitalist stance: that we need to stand up to the “bulls” of Wall Street and corporate America. Others view it from the lense of gender inequality; many women and girls face discrimination or poor treatment in our society, especially in corporate and work life.
It’s the latter that was perhaps the intention (not that that means the former is any less of a valid interpretation). At the time it was made, Visbal was commissioned by the investment firm called State Street Global Advisors.
At the time it was built, all 787 board members were male. The purpose of the sculpture was to showcase a strong female figure. And perhaps put a bit of pressure on the firm to include all genders in their executive and board positions.
3. Accumulation - Yang Minha
Let’s branch out from the US, shall we? Situated in Seoul, South Korea, this public art installation looks like you’re about to dive into an intergalactic wormhole.
Artist Yang Minha created this angular tunnel-like structure in 2017 out of a series of geometric metal squares. The structure projects images of stars, the night sky, and neon lights that make it appear like it belongs in a movie about space travel.
See the awesome art in action with this video. Many feel that the installation’s theme centers around reality, time, and living in the present moment. Whatever the case, you definitely feel firmly in the moment when you’re experiencing the existential beauty of this installation.
4. Pigalle Basketball Court - Stéphane Ashpool
Breaking away from the more serious installations we come to the fun and exciting Pigalle Basketball Court in Paris, France. This fully-sized basketball court is more than just a place to play a game of pick-up. The colors are bright and varied with the entire area creating a feeling of joyful and communal art space.
This joint effort between NikeLAB, the brand Pigalle, and artist Stéphane Ashpool has created a beautiful result. It often gets redesigns every few years with the current 80s/90s retro vibe following current trends with purples, blues, and geometric shapes galore.
To get a bit deeper with meaning and theme, the court appears to have a sure link with youth culture and trends. This showcases the connection between current trends and sports culture throughout the world.
5. Yobosayo - Yang Soo-In
Lastly, we have another Korean artist’s creation with the Yobosayo sculpture outside Seoul City Hall. This interactive sculpture is shaped like a large and cartoonish ear, and it’s interactive. When you speak into the ear, people in the City Hall can listen to what you say. In Korean, Yobosayo is a word that’s somewhat like “hello” or “hey”: it’s meant to get someone’s attention.
That’s why the placement of this sculpture is so meaningful. It’s making a connection between civilians and getting the attention of their government. Not only that, but you can say whatever you want into this interactive art installation.
This underlines the importance of free speech in South Korea (especially considering their neighbors to the north).
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