TALKING THROUGH YOUR ARTS – BUT IS IT ART?

When people ask, “But is it art?” They usually do so because they suspect that the answer is “No”.  When confronted with objects of the sorts we may call a disturbance or a nuisance, the value of art both for creators and consumers requires a particular kind of intention, a special sort of relation to the present and past practices of artists and viewers.

City of Sydney has commissioned an urban street art project for this year’s Summer Living Colour project.  The installation is a garland of 2,000 colourful plants arranged in a geometric floral pyramid that features a graffiti-tagged green wall. This artwork has been valued as art by way of invitation.

The concept of the work explores nature and other street art within an urban landscape sculpture.  The collaborative designers Sprout Landscape Architects and ‘street’ and ‘graffiti’ artist Beastman, aim to create a work that responds to the environment by engaging the public to react.

Beastman is an alias for Sydney-based artist Brad Eastman who says of this work, “I think people are going to get a pleasant surprise at how unique it is when they see it.”

So how do we see things? In October last year a survey was conducted to identify safety concerns in the community with partner agencies NSW Police and the Thomas Kelly Foundation. A Citizens Policy Jury of 43 people is presently convening recommendations that include cleaning up rubbish and graffiti. The soon-to-be announced strategy would be drawn up with the assistance of the Australian Institute of Criminology.

The Police Minister seems to be clear about what is NOT art, with his recent comments on Council’s Art Off The Wall brochure, which advertises the Martin Place artwork. “It is extremely disappointing to see City of Sydney Council promoting graffiti which is not only illegal, but a blight on our urban landscape,” said Gallagher to a Daily Telegraph reporter.  He continues on with his answers to ‘what is art’, in a straight and narrow translation of vandalism under the disguise of art, causing us to feel unsafe, whilst also driving our young to crime.

In deciding what is legitimate art from a legitimate complaint is ambiguous. In a recent media release Council states that illegal graffiti ‘hotspots’ are inspected daily and removed within 24 hours.

While Council supports street art (or graffiti), a clear definition of what this type of art is, is as pot-holed and curbed as some of its streets.  It may be trivial and worthless, but ART rather than NON-ART at a general level matters more. (AS)

BY ANGELA STRETCH