Who is writing this and why?
Introduction
This research project on the public art scene in Singapore is an independent study conducted by artist & architect Maija Kovari (read her bio here), during October 2016. In this one month project, she will study the local public art on site and meet professionals in contemporary art and urban planning. The aim of the study is to understand the structures that have led to the abundance of high quality art in the public spaces of the city, and to see, if there are methods that could also be used elsewhere, especially in Finland, to advance the involvement of art in urban planning and design projects. The results of the study will be reported in on this site, as well relevant social media sites.
About Maija Kovari
Art in public space can, at its best, support people in finding their shared, common values, helping different groups coexist in a meaningful and respectful way.
From this point of view, the field of art has a lot to offer to the traditional design field on how to build cities that feel like home to us all.
After working as an architect in the field of urban planning an design, and as a contemporary artist specialized in sculpture and installation, Kovari has been involved in the advancement and development of good practices in the field public art in Finland in recent years. (A summary of her studies can be found here on her personal website.) Since the beginning of 2016 she runs the independent consulting agency Public Art Agency Finland (PAAF), that helps organizations combine the two fields in a cost effective, high quality manner. PAAF's clients include companies involved in urban planning and design, such as Ramboll Finland and WSP Finland, as well as several Finnish municipalities.
The aim of this study is to share good practices, and learn from each other. As cities world wide get bigger and bigger, including an ever more diverse groups of people, the meanings communicated to us by our public space becomes more important than ever. Art in public space can, at its best, support people in finding their shared, common values, helping different groups coexist in a meaningful and respectful way. From this point of view, the field of art has a lot to offer to the traditional design field on how to build cities that feel like home to us all.
In collaboration
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike)
Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) is an expert and service agency for promoting the arts. Taike together with its arts councils and boards awards grants to professional artists and subsidies to communities in the field of the arts. Taike operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Culture and is funded from the state art budget. LEARN MORE
Greta ja William Lehtisen Säätiö (The foundation of Greta and William Lehtinen)
Greta ja William Lehtisen Säätiö is a private foundation that was founded by the textile artist Greta Skogster-Lehtinen and counsellor William Lehtinen in 1968 to support the arts and strenghten national and international cultural connections. LEARN MORE (in Finnish)
I would like to thank the these organizations for their generous support to this study.
- Maija Kovari