Public Art: Shaping the narrative of the Indian

Public spaces are a reflection of society and its culture. With urbanization and
integration of the global economy, it is essential to build an image for a city.

The image of the city is its soul— its distinctiveness, sense of aesthetic and
cultural aspects define its appearance.

Art is a strong medium to propagate or spread a message; it holds the power of

creativity and can aesthetically express a cause, value, or an issue that society
embraces. It reflects upon who we are as a city and what we like ourselves to be
surrounded with while affecting the sub-consciousness of the community at
large.

Public art evidently contributes to the visual quality of an urban environment.

Art adds massive value to the
social,
cultural,
economic and
aesthetic value of a city. art contribute to a city’s identity, its legibility,
encouraging community pride, a sense of belonging while enhancing the visitor
travel experience.
As citizens, we identify with cities and remember places that have been empowered
with their own icons and have created landmarks. Appeasing and engaging public art
leaves an imprint on the passer-by’s mind, thus manifesting itself as a significant
factor in the visual recognition of a particular area.

Different types of art can result in promoting various kinds of collaborations and
engagement; static art can be quiet and contemplative, whereas dynamic art is often
thought-provoking and open to various interesting interpretations.

Along with predominant social relevance, the cultural importance of public art is an
integral component of its overall value. Inhabiting space on an everyday basis in the
form of sculpture, statue, installation etc.

art is created as per site context and the community, generating awareness amongst
the viewers and emphasizing the broader context of their surroundings. These
installations and artworks create unforgettable memories, or what constitutes the
imageability of a place, or neighborhood.

Not only does it provide professional opportunities to budding artists, but it also
cultivates an environment in which the creative class thrives.
Globally, public art serves as a catalyst to economic success boosting the tourism
sector and playing an important role in drawing crowds.
Current Condition

With rapidly changing urban development, the value of art and culture in Indian
cities is fading away. The rich Indian landscape has rather poor policy support
towards the development of cultural infrastructure, unlike social and economic
infrastructure like schools, hospitals and corporate offices.

The approach of building an identity for the city is lacking along with a lesser
priority towards the art and culture industry.

This line of inquiry explains why art is becoming a subject as well as an object.