🗿Public Art and Urban Design Unit 9 – Temporary & Performance Public Art

What's It All About?

• Temporary and performance public art are forms of art that are not permanent installations in public spaces
• These art forms are often interactive, engaging the public in unique and unexpected ways
• Temporary art is designed to exist for a limited time, ranging from a few hours to several months or years
• Performance art involves live actions or events, often with the artist's body as the medium and the public space as the canvas
• Both temporary and performance art aim to challenge traditional notions of art, public space, and audience participation
• These art forms can be used to address social, political, and environmental issues, sparking dialogue and reflection
• Temporary and performance art can transform urban spaces, creating new experiences and altering the perception of familiar places

Key Concepts & Definitions

• Public art: Artwork that is created for and placed in public spaces, accessible to all
• Temporary art: Art installations or projects that are designed to exist for a limited duration
  • Can range from a few hours to several months or years
  • Often site-specific and responsive to the context of the location
• Performance art: A form of art that involves live actions or events, often with the artist's body as the medium
  • Can be scripted or improvised, solo or collaborative
  • Engages the audience in real-time, blurring the line between art and life
• Site-specific art: Artwork that is created in response to a particular location, taking into account its physical, social, and historical context
• Participatory art: Art that actively involves the audience in the creative process or the final work
  • Can range from simple interaction to co-creation and collaboration
• Ephemeral art: Art that is intentionally short-lived or transient, often leaving no permanent trace

Historical Context

• Temporary and performance art emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the broader conceptual art movement
• Artists began to challenge traditional notions of art as a permanent, object-based commodity
• The Fluxus movement, which began in the 1960s, emphasized interdisciplinary and experimental approaches to art, often incorporating performance and audience participation
• The Happenings of the 1960s, organized by artists like Allan Kaprow, were early examples of performance art that blurred the boundaries between art and life
• The Situationist International, a group of artists and theorists active in the 1950s and 1960s, advocated for the creation of "situations" that disrupted the everyday and challenged the status quo
• In the 1970s, artists like Vito Acconci and Chris Burden pushed the boundaries of performance art, often using their own bodies as the medium
• The 1980s and 1990s saw a proliferation of temporary and performance art in public spaces, often addressing social and political issues
  • Artists like Krzysztof Wodiczko and Jenny Holzer used projections and text-based works to engage with urban environments and audiences

Types of Temporary & Performance Art

• Installations: Large-scale, site-specific works that transform a space and engage the audience
  • Can incorporate various media, such as sculpture, video, sound, and light
  • Examples: Christo and Jeanne-Claude's "The Gates" in Central Park, New York
• Interventions: Artistic actions that disrupt or alter the everyday experience of a public space
  • Can be subtle or confrontational, often challenging social norms or power structures
  • Examples: Banksy's street art, Barbara Kruger's billboard installations
• Participatory projects: Works that actively involve the audience in the creative process or the final work
  • Can range from simple interaction to co-creation and collaboration
  • Examples: Candy Chang's "Before I Die" walls, Tania Bruguera's "Immigrant Movement International"
• Performances: Live actions or events that take place in public spaces
  • Can be scripted or improvised, solo or collaborative
  • Examples: Marina Abramović's "The Artist is Present," Tino Sehgal's "This Progress"
• Festivals and events: Organized programs that showcase temporary and performance art in public spaces
  • Can range from small-scale, community-based events to large international festivals
  • Examples: Burning Man, Nuit Blanche, Performa

Planning & Execution

• Temporary and performance art projects require extensive planning and coordination with various stakeholders
  • Artists must secure permissions, funding, and logistical support from local authorities, property owners, and community groups
• Site selection is a crucial aspect of planning, as the location can significantly impact the work's meaning and reception
  • Artists must consider factors such as accessibility, visibility, and the social and historical context of the site
• Collaboration with other professionals, such as engineers, fabricators, and technicians, is often necessary to realize large-scale or technically complex projects
• Community engagement and outreach are essential to ensure that the work is relevant and meaningful to the local context
  • Artists may conduct research, workshops, or public meetings to gather input and build support for the project
• Documentation is an important aspect of temporary and performance art, as it helps to preserve the work and its impact beyond its ephemeral existence
  • Artists may use photography, video, or written accounts to document the work and its reception

Impact on Urban Spaces

• Temporary and performance art can transform the perception and experience of urban spaces
  • They can highlight overlooked or underutilized areas, and create new ways of engaging with the city
• These art forms can foster a sense of community and social interaction, bringing people together in shared experiences
  • Participatory projects, in particular, can encourage dialogue and collaboration among diverse groups
• Temporary and performance art can also serve as a catalyst for urban regeneration and revitalization
  • They can attract new audiences and economic activity to neglected areas, and inspire long-term changes in the built environment
• However, the impact of temporary and performance art can be complex and contested
  • Some projects may be seen as disruptive or controversial, particularly if they challenge dominant power structures or social norms
  • The ephemeral nature of these art forms can also raise questions about their long-term impact and sustainability

Notable Artists & Works

• Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Known for their large-scale, site-specific installations that transform landscapes and urban spaces
  • Notable works include "The Gates" in Central Park, New York (2005), and "Wrapped Reichstag" in Berlin (1995)
• Marina Abramović: A pioneering performance artist known for her endurance-based works that explore the limits of the body and the relationship between artist and audience
  • Notable works include "Rhythm 0" (1974) and "The Artist is Present" (2010)
• Banksy: An anonymous street artist known for his subversive and politically charged works that appear unexpectedly in public spaces
  • Notable works include "Girl with Balloon" (2002) and "Mobile Lovers" (2014)
• Ai Weiwei: A Chinese artist and activist known for his large-scale installations and performances that often address social and political issues
  • Notable works include "Sunflower Seeds" (2010) and "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors" (2017)
• Theaster Gates: An American artist known for his community-based projects that transform abandoned buildings and spaces into cultural and social hubs
  • Notable works include "Dorchester Projects" in Chicago (ongoing) and "Sanctum" in Bristol, UK (2015)

Challenges & Controversies

• Funding and resources: Temporary and performance art projects often require significant financial and logistical support, which can be difficult to secure
  • Artists may struggle to find sponsors or grants, particularly for politically charged or unconventional works
• Permissions and regulations: Working in public spaces often involves navigating complex bureaucratic processes and regulations
  • Artists may face challenges in obtaining necessary permits or permissions, particularly for large-scale or disruptive projects
• Public reception and criticism: Temporary and performance art can be polarizing, particularly if they challenge social norms or dominant power structures
  • Some projects may face backlash or censorship from authorities or the public, while others may be embraced as thought-provoking or transformative
• Ephemerality and documentation: The temporary nature of these art forms can make it difficult to preserve and disseminate the work beyond its initial context
  • Artists must grapple with questions of documentation and archiving, and the potential for the work to be misrepresented or misunderstood over time
• Gentrification and displacement: In some cases, temporary and performance art projects may contribute to processes of gentrification and displacement in urban areas
  • The increased attention and economic activity generated by these projects can lead to rising rents and property values, potentially pushing out long-term residents and communities

Future Trends

• Increasing use of digital technologies: Artists are increasingly incorporating digital tools and platforms into their temporary and performance art projects
  • This includes the use of social media, augmented reality, and virtual reality to expand the reach and interactivity of the work
• Growing emphasis on social and political engagement: Many artists are using temporary and performance art as a means of addressing urgent social and political issues
  • This includes projects that focus on climate change, racial justice, income inequality, and other pressing concerns
• Expansion of community-based and participatory practices: There is a growing interest in projects that actively involve local communities in the creative process and the final work
  • This includes initiatives that prioritize collaboration, co-creation, and the empowerment of marginalized voices
• Blurring of boundaries between art and other fields: Temporary and performance art are increasingly intersecting with other disciplines, such as science, technology, and urban planning
  • This reflects a broader trend towards interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to art and social change
• Increased attention to sustainability and ecological concerns: Many artists are exploring ways to create temporary and performance art projects that are environmentally sustainable and responsive to ecological challenges
  • This includes the use of biodegradable materials, renewable energy sources, and projects that raise awareness about environmental issues