Why is Public Art Typicly Extremely Abstract?

Every landscape architect should create their own artwork or sculpture during their career at some point to understand the transition and development of the initial idea or concept through to the construction phases and siting……..I mean why not take the jump from designer to artist………All art is research in many ways if you think about, as is landscape design and the end results of that are not always what you expect or end up with. To be commisioned to provide artwork by a client can only ever be a gamble on their part if you are to provide original art in the true and pure sense of the word.
In relation to traditional and/or figurative sculpture take the examples of soviet or southeast asian communist artworks where the gigantic proportions of Stalin or Chairman Mao statues provide the abstract element relating to scale, they are still figurative artworks like the statues of a GI soldier from WWI or WWII and / or Civil War general in the Town Square although their scale seems to give them another element and power.
When you think about it there is no one better placed than the LA to decide or provide what artwork will fom the centrepiece of their brilliant conception……in other words all back to college to get your BA’s in Fine Art….and there is another string to our alrerady heavily strung bows.

Mack, this is an interesting question and conversation…

It is my opinion that all Landscape designers/ architects ARE Environmental Artists in a general sense. The site is the blank canvas and we create an experience for the user by applying our design skills with a practical understanding of building skills. This is an amazing opportunity to manufacture three dimensional theater at its best. However, if we fail to generate a truly creative atmosphere by neglecting site specific analysis, inclusive of opportunities and constraints… only then… does it fall flat as just one more built work that may speak to the intended programming, but does not speak to the spirit of place.

Commissioned Public Art, more specifically, should be designed to do just that. ‘Should’ is the key…although we have all witnessed projects that have been unsuccessful in that attempt. To me, it is because the commission recipient failed to consider the surrounding built environment as part of his conceptual proposal. He/she also failed to work in tandem with those in charge of the site design.

Yes… some Public Art looks as though it just fell from the sky and landed haphazard on a concrete slab in the center of the site. And, it is true that those who allowed this to occur may have selectively agreed to a particular style or artist that would seem to be more acceptable/ non-objectionable to the general public. Such a waste of time and resources… but the biggest waste, to me, is the opportunity to create meaningful space.

“Paris and other big cities in europe have a huge amount of traditional art in every corner and in almost every street. For me it’s a great influence and really big bag of ideas.”

Absolutely! Paris is an amazing city to spend time in and to learn how to dwell with public art. The notion of art as an ‘after thought’ or as only a centerpiece to ‘decorate’ a space is blurred there. How delightful to witness children crawling all over the great works of Maillol in the Tuileries…or skating in the shadows of the Eiffel tower. Or to see the surprised look of the weary traveler as he exits out of the train station and is somewhat dazed by the glare and confusion of shining stacked clock faces.

Small and large parks are jammed into every conceivable space as one turns the next corner. But most importantly… these areas are actually utilized by the local inhabitants… as they offer such a reprieve from the noise and activity of city life.

These spaces use art/ architecture as an interactive method to engage the user. It is part of the experience of place and never intended as something untouchable or to be merely viewed from afar.

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http://www.paris-in-photos.com/parisblog/february2009/gare-lazare.jpg

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