“If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.” - John F. Kennedy
It’s true that art and culture are rather closely tied together; one feeds of the other. We can often learn about our history, values, struggles and ambitions, through art. Furthermore, we can use art to address the pressing questions of our own times through its various mediums. Today, for instance, much of our art explores censorship, abstract ideas, and many more topics. This is because our society is debating these very topics.
Image: JR Art
Is there demand for big art?
Yes, there definitely is. We like things that stimulate our minds and senses, and in our increasingly fast paced world, thought provoking art provides us with much necessary pauses for reflection. Sculptures, beautifully graphitized scenes, giant tapestries complimenting natural settings, and so on, are found sprinkled around like hidden gems, and once we come across them, they often make us stop and wonder.
Is big art political?
To some degree it could be. A lot of the time artists seek out inspiration for their creations. Usually that means tapping into something personal and using it as a starting point. In 2011, JR, a rather influential artist “received the Ted Prize, which offered him the opportunity to make ‘A wish to change the world’. He created Inside Out, an international participatory art project that allows people worldwide to get their picture and paste it to support an idea, a project, an action and share their experience.” Art can even change social norms, and to a rational extent, the world.
Why is there an increasing number of giant art galleries?
In recent times, there’s a growing tendency in the art world to make pieces that are “larger than life”. According to the WSJ article written by Kelly Crow, art galleries are now trying to expand their spaces to house all of the exciting new large-scale artworks that are gaining popularity. They now feature screening rooms, auditoriums, even gardens. Artists like New York-based Roxy Paine and Richard Serra have both turned out massive works that wouldn’t ordinarily fit into a typical gallery space, and if curators want to showcase the best, they must accommodate them accordingly.
Of course, if you happen to need to transport any world-changing pieces of art, we sincerely hope you use Navis Pack & Ship to do so. Don’t be like Matthew Day Jackson, whose 13-foot long roadster got temporarily wrecked by his crew during transport.
By Steve Goble, VP of Marketing Communications for Navis Pack & Ship. When he's not spilling packing and shipping secrets, he's spending time with his family at a San Diego Padres or Chargers game. Connect with Steve on Google+ and LinkedIn.
