This month I am delighted to have a guest post from Ana Fota. Ana is a freelance journalist who operates at the intersection of communication, culture and politics. Her newsletter Nap at the Opera is a beautiful weekly cultural brief for those who love art, but aren’t experts - or as she puts it: Those who go to the opera, but occasionally nod off in the third act! And if you’re looking for a media trainer or some freelance support, I highly recommend connecting with her on LinkedIn.
Reframing Using Art
In July 2019, three bright pink see-saws were installed into the new border wall separating Texas from Mexico.
The wall, courtesy of then-president Donald Trump and his restrictive immigration policy, became a symbol of division, protectionism and xenophobia. Through this public art installation, people on both sides of the wall were given a way to partake in a moment of joy, of shared humanity. It literally encouraged building bridges across divides.
Then came the headlines.
“Artists turn part of border wall into a playground,” reported the London Evening Standard. “Seesaws on the border bring both sides together,” said CNN.
“Protest seesaw links kids on both sides,” reported Voice of America — although photos show it wasn’t just kids mounting those things.
Culture is a powerful vehicle for dialogue. Art can be a powerful tool in keeping dialogue alive in a democratic society.
Public art, by its definition, can bring a community together and create a sense of shared purpose.
Public art is defined by:
Accessibility — in public places, obviously, and can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.
Longevity — it’s often installed and left around for years, becoming part of the fabric.
Art for Identity
Think of Chicago: what comes to mind? The wind? Sure. What else? The bean?
Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor created the Cloud Gate, more commonly known as “the bean,” for a public square in central Chicago in 2006. It has since featured in countless tourist photos.
Where words are not enough, art brings a different form of communication and a form of identity into the equation.
I was recently speaking with Andrew Manning of the EU National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) about the programmes the organisation has taken on pertaining to climate change awareness.
Science has fallen short of changing perceptions, he explained, so other means are now explored. Culture can be “used as a vehicle in a site-specific way,” he told me, meaning cultural projects can be tailor-made for a community’s needs, in the interest of getting people engaged in civic dialogue.
American philosopher John Dewey, a big believer in democracy and education and social reform, called art “the most universal and freest form of communication.”
Other times, public art can just bring about newfound appreciation for the daily beauties we encounter. Like fruit. This piece by contemporary sculptor Claes Oldenburg, simply called “Spoonbridge and Cherry Fountain” is fun and memorable!
The EU does it too!
Our dear European Union has also tapped into the power of public art too.
“The Future is Europe,” a message plastered across a building that can be seen in the just as you cross Schuman Roundabout, giving eurocrats and everyone working in the bubble a sense of purpose. Very important as they walk to their offices on a chilly Friday morning, on a street filled by tractors honking and farmers throwing manure.
They are part of something bigger than themselves, the mural tells them. They are shaping the future.
Lessons for Communicators
Art offers a way to explain complex, expansive topics through a visual medium.
Evocative communication can have a lasting impact. Once you make your audience feel something, they become engaged and are more likely to stay engaged for longer periods of time. By tapping into their humanity, you are drawing people in a way that builds loyalty.
By circumventing words and communicating through a different and indirect medium, you are engaging audiences before they are realising they’ve become part of the discussion.
Great reading. As a former student of art history and communicator I cannot agree more.
Thank you, Tom!