Evolution of Public Art

Public art has transformed over time. Many original monuments and sculptures commemorated famous politicians or war veterans and placed individuals on a pedestal. When I was studying abroad in Italy, this was the primary form of public art. Almost every square was adorned with a statue of a famous white man. Gradually, art has become more modern and appears as if drawings or designs were lifted off of paper and three dimensionalized. Criticism soon followed the emergence of these modern monuments that  declared them “plop art.” This derogatory term refers to art that was placed in a site without any relevance or meaning. An example of this shown in the video is the Chicago Bean. Sometimes, public opinion is so averse to modern public art that the art becomes contested and ultimately removed. This was the case with Richard Serra’s “Tilted Arc” which sat outside the Javits Center in New York City. Although it was commissioned by the government, people protested that it interrupted their daily lives and it was eventually disassembled. This controversy raised the question of whether art has to be pretty or likeable in order to be considered art. I believe that art is about perspective and at least one person will find a piece of art worthwhile to examine. Richard obviously cared deeply for his piece as he has brought its dismantlement to court.