Art’s stamp on public spaces
Art has the power to foster cultural change and initiate dialogue transcending all boundaries. In the public sphere, be it murals or sculptures, it has always existed in ancient and traditional art and architectural marvels such as temple walls or caves of Ajanta and Ellora. In the contemporary era, public art has taken new shape in forms of experimental art through street art, graffiti and public installations among many others.
A public space is a collective representation of the identity of a city and its culture through the lens of aesthetics. With globalisation and urbanisation on the rise and cities being recognised through their unique characteristics, it is essential to relook at the role of public art in transforming spaces into vibrant hubs of creativity shaping their distinctiveness.
While contemporary art in the private sphere is largely limited to a niche audience, public art breaks the white cube barrier and aids in a sense of community building as it provides access to a larger public, mainly forming the community. Not only does it spark conversation and dialogue through creative expressions, it also becomes a symbol of a community space that is defined by site-specific art installations or murals.
Institutions such as foundations, museums, government bodies, private companies have played a huge role in supporting public art initiatives in the country. St+art India, a not-for-profit organisation, has created iconic landmarks through their unique public art projects across the metro cities and have also organised multiple art festivals in the country.
Projects like these have played a pivotal role in shaping up India’s urban landscape by transforming public spaces while collaborating with local communities and cultivating cultural exchange. Recently, the RMZ Foundation also installed public art installations at their corporate park resulting in a stimulating environment in their workspaces.
Apart from not-for profit organisations, it is also necessary for private corporations and public bodies to promote art in urban spaces such as airports, railway stations, public parks etc. to integrate art into everyday life. In this regard, GMR proves to be an excellent example. Airports managed by GMR all across the country harbours public art of varying scale and genres becoming a welcoming sight. Government bodies like BMC has been promoting public art, bringing art to be a part of infrastructure programmes like flyovers or bridges accentuating Mumbai’s identity as a global metropolis.
There is a rising interest in art within the public domain which is not specific to a country but a global phenomenon. The scope for public art is immense, not limited to enhancing aesthetics, but playing a key role in forming the character of contemporary urban spaces. As the value and need of public art projects rise globally, the way forward for India can be facilitated through collaborations between government and private bodies and joint projects resulting in further enhancing the identity of urban India.
Sunaina Anand
Founder and Director, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
sunaina@artalivegallery.com