I think the reason why public art installations are so fascinating is that they are such a great example of how art and design can bring something out of nothing.
Great public art installations can become places where people feel a real sense of belonging, or create the feeling of being in a place like no other and give you a sense of what that place is all about.
Here is a list of the ten most breathtaking public sculptures from around the world:
1. Space Elephant by Jonathan Borofsky, Israel 2012
Space Elephant is a giant stainless steel sculpture inspired by an elephant emerging from the sea. The artwork was created for the Israel Diamond Center, Ramat Gan, Israel (2012).
2. The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, Denmark 1911
The Little Mermaid is a bronze statue based on the fairy tale “The Little mermaid” written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1837. It is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark right next to the Langelinie promenade which overlooks the harbor of Copenhagen and some major tourist attractions such as Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen’s main amusement park (1911).
3. L’Homme qui marche I by Alberto Giacometti, France 1990-91
L’Homme qui
There are various types of art that are often found in public places. Some of them are sculptures, murals, and other forms of visual artwork. Others are made up of lights or music for example. There is also a type of art that is more interactive where it involves the public either by asking for their participation in the artistic endeavor or simply by allowing members of the public to experience the art as they pass by.
The following are some examples of 10 public artworks from around the world done by famous artists and architects.
10. The Clock outside the Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster is home to many important British institutions including the House of Commons and the House of Lords, which are among the oldest democratic legislatures in the world. The Palace also houses Big Ben, one of London’s most famous landmarks. Completed in 1859, The Clock Tower is popularly known as Big Ben due to its largest bell being called Big Ben. This clock tower was designed by Augustus Pugin and Charles Barry who also designed other parts of this palace complex.
The Clock Tower has become one of London’s most visited tourist attractions. It has become an icon and a symbol not just for London but for Britain as well. It holds four bells which get chimed every hour and
Public art is a form of artistic expression that has been commissioned or permitted by a public body or citizen and installed in a public space.
Public art can be either temporary or permanent. It can be installed indoors or outdoors, on building facades, parks, bridges, plazas, streets, among other locations.
Artists who choose to work with public spaces may retain creative control over their work or cede the responsibility for it to the governing bodies that support their projects. The terms of sponsorship for a piece of public art will vary according to the agreement between the artist and the sponsoring party.
Trees have been a source of inspiration to many well known artists including Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. These amazing photographs are evidence of how artists have chosen not to neglect trees as subject matter in their work.”
Public art is a huge and surprisingly important part of our lives. It can be still and contemplative, active and exciting, or anything in between. The only thing it doesn’t have to be is ugly.
Public art is for everyone; it’s one of the things that makes us human. It’s meant to be enjoyed by all kinds of people, from all kinds of backgrounds, at any time of day or night, from every possible point of view, on every kind of media, in every kind of weather.
Treating public art like private property, with elaborate rules about when you are allowed to look at it and how much you’re allowed to see, takes away the whole point. But private property is still very powerful — more powerful, even, than governments — so many pieces must be carefully guarded against theft or damage by people who don’t actually want them around anyway.
Public art is a form of art that is created primarily for display in public spaces, usually outside and accessible to the public. The term has been used in the context of sculpture, but it encompasses other forms of art such as large scale installation art, site-specific art, or performance art.
Tate Modern: Bankside Power Station
Bankside Power Station (also known as Tate Modern), located on the south bank of the Thames in London, England, is a former power station which was converted into an art gallery in 2000. It is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in Europe. The power station closed in 1981 and stood empty until it was converted for the Tate Gallery who opened their doors there in 2000.
Power Plant: Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) is an art museum located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its collection contains nearly 25,000 works of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, and media arts. This includes the largest permanent collection of artwork by artist Georgia O’Keeffe, who was a long time resident of the city.
The museum was founded by local community leaders in 1885 as an “Art Museum Association”, an effort to bring fine arts to Milwaukee’s working class citizens. The
Prague Central Station
Regarded as the most beautiful train station in the world, Prague’s main station has been a place of transit since 1871. One of its highlights is the central hall, which is adorned with statues, paintings and mirrors. Another major attraction is the magnificent mural on the ceiling of its main hall.
The station underwent a complete renovation in 2006, during which time it was closed down. The refreshed structure opened again to passengers in May 2008 and won several prestigious awards for its stunning architecture.
The construction of this massive building began in 1868 and was completed seven years later. However, extensions have continued until today, making Prague’s main railway station one of the largest in Europe.
The structure boasts an elaborate mix of styles, including Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque and Neo-Gothic elements. This blend is said to resemble Prague Castle’s architectural style: a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic elements.*
The installation, created by the American artist Tom Otterness was originally made for the New York Sculpture Center in 1986 and later acquired by the Cooper Hewitt. The art piece is called “The New Recruits”, which portrays a boy and girl scout with an army of rats surrounding them.
It’s a controversial piece that has caused many arguments between parents and school officials who think that it promotes violence and cruelty against animals. Others believe that it’s not about promoting violence but more about exploring what is happening in this world at the moment, especially after 9/11 attacks.
What do you think? The question keeps coming up every year as students are required to make an art project using the piece as their inspiration. We’ve gathered some of the best examples for you to check out!
Should this art be removed from schools?
Are we promoting violence?
