Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Public Art Reaction


Malcolm MacDougall’s “Microscopic Landscape 2010” is a sculpture located in Union Square, just outside the entrance to the park. It’s big and red, and yet it fits in with the hustle and bustle dynamic of Union Square in Lower Manhattan. Since it is big, it commands attention. I noticed it immediately because of the size and color, and thought about the relevance of the placement. There must be a specific reason why the artist would want to display this outdoor installation in a busy location. Perhaps the artist’s intention for the sculpture is for people to stop in the middle of their busy day and notice the movement in the artwork. I noticed tourists and local pedestrians took the time to examine the sculpture. They took pictures of the pieces by itself and standing next to it. I thought it attracted a little too much attention because that particular area isn’t very big, there’s traffic zooming by really closely, and there was the crowd of people huddled by the artwork. If the sculpture were located in a less dense neighborhood like Gramercy, it most likely wouldn’t have the reception it does now. The sense of movement wouldn’t be parallel to a quieter neighborhood. The intention of the piece would be lost in translation. The purpose is to draw attention to the sculpture and notice the subtle movement.


Citation:
Malcolm D. MacDougall
"Microscopic Landscape 2010"
Metal
2010


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