Christine: Public Art

Public art is one of the most effective ways to spread a message through art to the general public. In my opinion, public art can be some of the most impactful, especially since it often uses the context of its surroundings to add to its message. One of the most iconic examples of this is Banksy. I had the opportunity to visit a Banksy exhibit when I was in Amsterdam last year, which was extremely interesting and gave me more insight into the world of Banksy. Something that I find fascinating about graffiti in particular is how street art can go from being considered “vandalism” to priceless works of art. It shows so clearly that art’s value lays in the interpretations of the audiences. Public art utilizes this to spread a larger message.

Another interesting example of public artwork I have personally seen is the Southbank Mosaics in London along the Thames, depicting the history of London.

My favorite of all of the public art I have interacted with is a hidden gem of Venice. Throughout the city, there are deserted apartments and buildings that are made into popup art galleries, just off of the beaten path, but still public spaces where people are free to wander, explore and learn. These art spaces are what I remember most clearly about that trip that I took with my family around 4 years ago. Depicted is one of a neon string of lights that spelled out: “the sky is the limit.” There were others, such as words on the wall asking the viewer: “how far can you see?” Each different building had a centralized theme of the inside art, but each piece was unique and interesting in its own way and definitely invokes a good ponder about your life.