Carving a niche
Sculpture can have a massive influence on any city or public place, writes VISI blogger Dee de Kock.
I love photographing sculptures whenever I travel and I get such a terrific feeling of fulfillment whenever I see a great statue – either in an appropriate, well-documented site, or as a surprise when I walk around the corner of a building. It brings a moment of quiet pleasure and design appreciation whenever I see a beautiful piece.
Of the cities I’ve been to, Barcelona is a particular favourite in this regard, with many beautiful artworks that left a huge impression on me.
The city underwent a major re-development prior to the Olympics in 1992 (much like Cape Town in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup) and artists were commissioned to produce a mixture of beautiful, functional and edgy works that positively enhanced the city.
Cape Town creations
With Cape Town bidding for the “Design Capital of 2014” title, it seems that the Mother City is once again upping its game with some artistic flair.
A collection of pieces along the Sea Point promenade tells the story of unity and freedom. Using the analogy of a dragonfly and a little girl, the artist created a story for the viewer through a series of different sculptures dotted along the walkway.
People move enthusiastically from one to the next to continue the tale – getting some exercise as they discover how the story, with its powerful message, unfolds.
To a large degree, we are mostly unconscious of our surroundings and tend to go about our environment without much thought or emotion on a daily basis. We all need a trigger to set a thought in motion, then, once introduced, the thought clicks into the consciousness and is observed.
Since my son developed an interest in graffiti, for example, I have started noticing it all over the city, where previously I didn’t notice any. Rather like flying a helicopter, we can use peripheral vision – looking at things not as though through a tunnel, but such that we are still aware of an object although not looking directly at it.
Art that awakens the public
By introducing art to the streets, we can prompt and awaken a sense of observation, public interest and often controversy. Sculptures in public areas are subject to public criticism, and the artist is always aware of the fact that they might not get it right.
In my opinion, the six-metre tall Nelson Mandela sculpture in Sandton Square does not do the iconic leader justice; it is far too large for the space it is in and the proportions of body, face and limbs are incorrect, making him look uncharacteristically awkward. This is a missed opportunity to salute a great man.
Likewise, a nine-metre statue of Martin Luther King, destined for pride of place in the heart of Washington DC, was sent back for a face-lift because city officials thought he looked too much like a tin-pot dictator.
In Budapest I photographed the very famous statues of two lions guarding the chain bridge over the Danube. At the unveiling of the sculptures, a child noticed that the lions did not have tongues and legend has it that sculptor, János Marschalkó, was so distraught at forgetting to carve the lions' tongues that he killed himself by jumping off the bridge into the Danube.
Sculpture must speak clearly
Sculptures are a three-dimensional way of conveying a very important message and the artist needs to be clear as to what that message is.
On a recent trip to Amsterdam I spotted the amazing piece of slumped figures which completely reflected the way I was feeling. After a long flight, the sculpture made me want to just sit there and rest. In fact I had to shoo away the people who were doing just that (lying on the sculpture) to capture the shot.
Quite the opposite is Man with Ladder in London. It actually makes me feel like work.
Temporary sculptures are a fantastic means of sending a public message for a period of time. This Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer in Covent Gardens in December is an example.
Street sculpture in public spaces creates an installation environment that turns regular, often unused, space into art space. What’s more, everybody in and around a street sculpture becomes a part of it.
A two-dimensional work, being confined to surfaces, will never tell as potent a story as a three-dimensional sculpture.
Seeing art on the streets evokes a passion in me. It makes me feel proud of art and design and aware of the importance they are now gaining worldwide.
Art used to be contained to galleries and reserved for art lovers only, but by exposing it to the streets we can broaden the horizon for many more individuals, enabling them to discover a new interest in life – art! And for that I am so thankful.
About Dee:
Dee de Kock has two beliefs in life: if you don't love it, don't do it. And when you do it, do it with passion. Throughout her extensive career she's been strict in applying these principles and her impressive track record proves that it's been a philosophy worth adopting.
Dee is a versatile designer who doesn't consider any challenge too big. Her enviable amount of energy, coupled with the good judgment to know when a project has run its course, means that she always has something new and exciting up her sleeve.
dee@deedekock, www.deedekock.com
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