Understanding Public Art: Divergent Perspectives

This research study looks at the process of public art production, from initial conceptualization to final reception. The novel finding of this research is that everyone involved, i.e., the artists, commissioners/funders and the audiences have a different understanding of the various processes of production and consumption of public art. The field of public art, being vast and complex, required using a multiple method approach. Other than using an interview method, the study involved the use of case studies of two types of projects, one permanent and one temporary, the Angel of the North and the One and Other respectively. Analysing the interviews in the first analysis chapter revealed that, artists had their own motivations for coming into the world of art, and creating art in and for the public realm. The artists also shared the different challenges that they face while creating public art and their ideas about what they think public art is. One of the important things noted was that there are no clear ideas about the responsibilities of an artist in understanding audience response. The case study of the Angel of the North shows that there will be a multiplicity of engagement patterns, owing to the existence of a broad audience. In the case of the One and Other as well, multiplicity of participation has been noted. The thesis finds that the stakeholders involved, which includes the artists, commissioners/funders and the audience, understands and sees public art differently. Finally, my thesis arrives at the conclusion that there will be unexpected and multiple ways of engagement patterns with public art projects, owing to the existence of a broad audience, with everyone viewing the art object or art practice differently.