Urban Art 7

This is a memorial to Oscar Wilde entitled 'A Conversation to Oscar Wilde" shaped like a coffin. It is near Trafalgar Square in London. I happened upon this unique bit of urban art while wandering around this area. For more details on this scupture go to: http://www.icons.org.uk/nom/nominations/wildestatue

Urban Art 6

This is a fountain in a park in central London. This picture was not taken by me, but one of my friends. I like the submerged aspect of this fountain. Notice that people are sitting around enjoying the sound and the motion of the fountain. Urban art can create an ambiance. You can be certain that the design of the fountain and the surrounding pavement was not by accident as it was planned to be aesthetic. I particulalry like that this fountain is approachable. One of the joys of being an urban flaneur is discovering such places as this.

Urban Art 5

This is a statue of Dorival Caymmi (April 30, 1914 – August 16, 2008) on the promenade in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil "who was considered to be one of the most important songwriters in Brazilian popular music."
(Biography of Dorival Caymmi, Wikapedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorival_Caymmi .) A statue can remind the people of a city of its heritage.

Urban Art 4

Here is a fountain in the center of Erdine, Turkey. I like this because it is a piece of urban art that people can be a part. Also, it does not distract from the overall atmosphere of the surroundings, but enhances it. Overall, it is just fun. Why can't  urban art be fun.

Urban Art 3

A sand castle on the promenade in front of Ipanema's beach in Rio de Janeiro. This is as a temporary urban piece. It definitely qualifies; even kitch can be considered urban art. The detail on this sand castle is amazing. Yet, its lifetime is short lived. However, much of art last only a brief time, but can be as sublime as those that are more permanent.

Urban Art 2

Another image from my trip to London last summer. This is a statue of Oliver Cromwell in front of Parliment. Urban art gives the city memory of things that happened in its past. Cromwell is thought of as a hero by some and a villian by others. Should he be in front of parliment? I guess it is too late. because there he stands.

Urban Art 1

Here is an obvious example of urban art found in one of the parks along the Thames in London. This is an Henry Moore sculpture. What does urban art bring to the city?
As stated earlier, urban art should bring to the citizen a sense of wonder, controversy, whimsy or beauty. This piece of art fulfills these criteria. While some may not like abstract sculpture, one can not help but notice this piece. Isn't this what art should do? Should not urban art distract a person from their utilitarian journey for a while and cause them to think? In my case as a tourist to London, the scupture enhanced my walk because of it.

Urban Art

An urban area is often thought of as innately functional consisting of dwelling places, shops, services governmental structures and industries and related activities. This yields a very sterile definition of urban areas, but unfortunately many cities are no more than this. A city should be a place where its citizens experience whimsy, irony, wonder, controversy, enlightenment and beauty. Urban outdoor art is a means to bring some of these elements into a city. Many modern cities are devoid of such urban art, because of the dull and utilitarian nature that many view the city--particularly local decision-makers. However, the citizens only have themselves to blame if they elect those who are deficient in their ability to be creative or imaginative. (If they have "creativity defincient disorder", then their abiity to confront other more mundane issues will probably be less than stellar.) In the next few posts, I would like to post some examples of urban art. I would also encourage the readers of this blog to also send me their photos of urban art with a brief explanation about the location and significance.