Art in public spaces is as old as mankind. It has never been just decoration, but always a means of communication: with the gods, from those in power, or from "the people" with each other and those in power. Where once the emphasis was on power and religion, today it is much more about dialogue, reflection and participation. Remembering has also always played a major role: from rituals, history, trauma or victory.
Art in public spaces is as old as mankind. It has never been just decoration, but always a means of communication: with the gods, from those in power, or from "the people" with each other and those in power. Where once the emphasis was on power and religion, today it is much more about dialogue, reflection and participation. Remembering has also always played a major role: from rituals, history, trauma or victory.
In most countries, contemporary art is being added to public spaces all the time. So too in the Netherlands, as you can read and see in BK Information. For example, in Esther Didden's column, in which she writes eight times a year about commissioning work in public space. In each issue we show you recent work in public space through images. And of course through the commissions and open calls we publish. Do not forget the 100 Key Works which w collected and published several years ago.
But enough about ourselves. Now that summer has arrived, many of you will be traveling abroad on vacation. There, you will probably also encounter a lot of art in public (or public) spaces. And we assume you have an eye for it. We would really like to collect the public artworks you encounter on your way abroad and publish them on our website. Therefore our question "to you If you come across a work of art in a public space abroad, take a photo and mail it to redactie@bk-info.nl. Please do include where the photo was taken and, of course, the creator and title of the work. We would be delighted to receive and collect your view of art in public spaces abroad.
Meanwhile, regarding art in public space, I refer you to no less than two articles on commissioning in public space, newly realized art in the Netherlands (in the magazine only) and the various calls for commissions you will find in this edition - and all the others.
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